Delta Highway

1/1/08

This open road finds me weary and cold,

But the wind ices over the ache.

Pain to the body brings peace to the soul.

The sun gives way to the horizon.

I cannot run to the mountains here;

Barren trees are the only mask.

Natal fields stretch on forever,

All is numbed by Wind’s fiery blast.

My heart is seared but not totally closed.

I can learn to love again.

A lonely freedom calls ahead,

Will I choose to go or stay?

Ok, so this question has been irritating my soul for quite some time...I'll admit, I come to it from a critic's, not an artist's, perspective, being but an amateur musician, a poor writer, and one having no talent whatsoever for "art proper".

That said, I greatly enjoy analyzing these areas of creativity--music, writing, "art", film, theatre, etc., and my current lack of true skill in any of them has freed up more time to abstractly philosophize about art's true meaning and purpose, especially for the Christian. I haven't come up with much.

"Good art" seems to be a nebulous term, at least in today's world. The masses define good art as that which gives them the greatest payoff or highest thrill, that which sells at the box office or "looks the coolest"--these are superficial benefits at best and sad commentaries on man's fallen state at worst. On the other hand, the intellectuals, for the most part, seem to laud that which tickles their personal fancies and slam anything that doesn't fall under said category.

To use a weird analogy, the way I view good art seems to be much the same way Justice Potter Stewart thought about "obscenity" in the Supreme Court case Miller vs. California. "I can't describe it...but I know it when I see it." This is obviously a broad, nebulous perspective in itself, and I am really not sure I want this to be my sole examination for "good art." In all honestly, I would love to have the ability to put a finger on it.

So here is what I have come up with so far as I have chased precision on this topic. It is obviously a work in progress--I haven't even scratched the surface--and my thoughts on the issue expand every day. I fully and humbly admit my ignorance in this area (hence my turning to each of you), and I would love to get your feedback as we pursue excellence in this field in an effort to glorify our Creator with the little creativity with which He has so graciously blessed us...

"Art is not created purely to entertain the senses, but to enrich the inner man. If it does the former without stirring the soul or adding depth to one's character, it cannot truly be called art. Art must be excellent in touching the heart--we cannot rightly name "good art" as that which is nothing more than mindless entertainment that appeals solely to the superficial and sinful whims of fallen mankind."

Your thoughts?