[Christmas Wreath, 2008, JAVanDevender]
Philippians 4:8 whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things.
One of the more unhealthy aspects of our modern culture is an warped view of "realism." I suppose a lot of it stems from the residue overflowing out of the academic sphere, where the conscious attempt to "de-mythologize" cultural issues is so smugly present. Those infected with this predisposition take it upon themselves to make certain that nothing and no individual is ever presented as fundamentally 'noble'.
Thus "realism" is understood as emphasizing that individuals, life, history, etc. are all essentially comprised of an essential sordidness. Great heroes, especially Dead European/White Males are always presented as "flawed" men, people of their time, who may have stumbled into greatness but at root do not possess any special qualities which might raise them above the herd. From this last statement, you can readily see that, from my perspective, the great attempt at "leveling" is always an attempt at reductionism, lowering the bar of striving. If everyone is sordid then there is no reason to emulate anyone else and certainly no reason to try to achieve heroic status ourselves.
The first thing that is lost in this perspective is "hope" because "hope does not disappoint" (Rom. 5:5) and this rooted and foundational cynicism is essentially "hopeless" and therefore "disappointed." The proof of this last statement is self-evident.
However it is our Christian duty to not fall into this trap. And no where is it more important for us to avoid this than in the arts. Yes, I know that the presence of evil in this world requires Christian art as true art, to reflect the reality of misery. But reflecting misery and portraying it as sordid and hopeless are not identical propositions. Misery does not dominate this life unless we are hopeless. In the presence of even the greatest difficulty, Paul enjoins us to let our mind dwell on noble things. Contemplating great art is an exercise in renewing hope for it is the communication of beauty, even in the presence of pain. The best artists never lost hope though they lived in terrible times. It is a feature of modern cynicism that such a basic idea is now viewed as sentimental rather than "real."
Let your mind dwell on this - there is beauty and it is possible for human beings to be noble. Jesus was a man, a true man, as well as God. It was not His divinity that made Him noble - it was He that made His humanity noble - and through Him, though sinner we may be, nobility of heart and mind are attainable in this life and guaranteed in the next.
Perhaps our art ought to thus express itself.
[Jacob van Ruisdale_Windmill & Town]
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