Even Michelangelo admitted that he was just working for his own greatness within the genre of Christianity because that was the subject matter prevalent at the time (and I assume he was being paid by the church).
Yes, IMO it is a creativity killer in the sense that every potential theme or motif gets passed through the "is-this-appropriate/acceptable-from-a-Christian-point-of-view" filter. Thus devout Christian artists are not really free, they are constrained by what their faith tells them is the "right" way.
"I'm a mannequin. That's what I am, I'm a mannequin." -The Twilight Zone
On the other hand, there is something to be said for finding creative ways to work within confinement. All art, in a way, explores a similar process. Obviously medium limits options for creating art, and a "Christian-filter" would work in an analogous manner, only as a content-filter.
In a way, the one way in which a "free" artist is limited is in their ability to approach limits. They could certainly try to create art within a certain restriction (such as imagining themselves as a devout Christian), but they would never approach it from a place of truth. It would always be a representation of an imitation.
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It depends on what the individual believes being "devoted" means and requires. Does s/he believe that his/her subject matter must always relate to God/Christ? Does s/he worry about going to hell if his/her thoughts drift into an "un-Christian" area?
I think creativity can be stifled if the individual doesn't feel his imagination is free to go where it will.
“If they let Jack do it his way the show would be just 12” – snorgtees.com
No. I'm a Christian and I don't feel like it "kills my creativity". There are a million things a person can come up with even if they're "limited by Christianity".
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Thanks everybody for the interesting and thoughtful discussion.
shareI just don't think, as a Christian, that Christianity HAS to be the only subject matter you choose. And even if it is there are various themes within Christianity that an artist can explore. There are various personal relationships with Christianity that can be explored. If you have a crisis of faith you can explore that.
I don't think it limits artists at all. It isn't the ONLY thing about a person. People are so multi-layered with so many varying interests that there are many things that could come to mind when they decide to create art. That one thing doesn't have to define that person or their work. Sure it is a BIG part, but it isn't the only part.
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There are no "restrictions". Art is an expression of what an artist feels and thinks. A devout Christian wouldn't paint something totally against his beliefs because he wouldn't feel like painting a picture like that. An atheist would have "restrictions" because he wouldn't feel like paining pictures that would affirm Christianity.
shareAnyone bound by ANY dogmatic belief system would feel constrained by "Does what I am expressing in this piece of art match what I profess to believe in?" And their art would be hampered in that way because no one wants to be viewed as a hypocrite.
"I'm a mannequin. That's what I am, I'm a mannequin." -The Twilight Zone
Nope, I don't look at my art and think that at all. A lot of my art has nothing to do with Christianity because that isn't the only aspect of who I am or what I think is important. One of my close friends is also Christian and she is one of the most creative people that I know. Some of her work reflects her beliefs, some of it reflects other things.
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Twitter: HeckYeahHeckNo
KayCee, your response and all of your posts in this thread are misconstruing the point. No one is saying that a Christian artist must always deal with Christian themes in their art, which is what you are arguing against...but no one is saying that.
The theme in question could be anything. For example, if someone is feeling really sensual - a man or woman - and they want to make a really raw, raunchy, graphic piece of art dealing with the joy of having sex....well, a Christian artist is probably going to be more constrained in their interpretation of that theme - the nudity, the explicit sexuality, the potential encouragement of promiscuity...none of those are necessarily acceptable to most devout Christians. So even though a devout Christian individual undoubtedly has the same natural desires that every human being has, they probably would not express it in as graphic, shocking, morally-questionable way as non-Christian artist might, because such a depiction is not acceptable to the majority of Christians' sensibilities.
And if a Christian artist DID make a very graphic and raw piece about the joy of screwing, then they would lose a lot of credibility as a Christian artist because Christianity does preach sexual modesty and sexual restraint...so that artist would be seen as a hypocrite or a pseudo-Christian because they are professing one thing (Christianity) and expressing another (sexual abandon).
So just to reiterate, I'm not saying that a Christian artist is constrained because they feel they have to do Christian themed art all the time. I'm saying that ANY subject matter would likely get passed through that Christian filter that a devout Christian would naturally have, and so they would probably be hesitant to express some topics in as natural a way as a non-Christian (or non-Muslim, or unobservant Jew, etc) would, because the non-Christian can just let his feelings and ideas flow without thinking about Jesus and what he preached.
"I'm a mannequin. That's what I am, I'm a mannequin." -The Twilight Zone
But not all artists create raunchy or sexual art. What I'm saying is there are so many life themes in general that it doesn't even matter that a person is Christian. Because not everyone wants to create art that has anything to do with those themes. I don't think it is limiting because if it isn't important to you, if you feel no interest in expressing it than why would you express it? There are hundreds of artists who are creative and not Christian, who do not choose to focus on taboo or sexual subject matter.
If art is an expression of yourself, than being modest would mean that you would have no reason to create art that is raunchy (or whatever) because it has absolutely nothing to do with how you view the world. It isn't limiting, it is just a part of life that a person may not be interested in exploring in their art.
There are too many interesting and beautiful themes out there. Not being concerned with some of them isn't going to hurt a person's art.
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Twitter: HeckYeahHeckNo
Yes, a "Christian artist" is limited in what they feel they should do. But then so is a realist artist or a surrealist artist.
But there is a big difference between a Christian artist and an artist who is a christian.
Truthfully, any artist that places a sort of genre or title above them is constraining themselves whether it be an 'abstract' artist or a 'pop' artist.
Wow. A Christian Feminist. You are as rare as the Gay Republicans!
On topic, I think when it comes to Jamie Lynn, yes it stifles her. That lame wheel piece she did with her "car dancing" was just tacky and bad. Would she have done the same piece if she was an atheist?? I dare say, no.
Rock/Paper/Scissors/Lizard/Spock
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Are you talking about me? Who said I was a feminist?
I'm just annoyed that people are questioning a person's creativity based on their religious beliefs. I also don't see what Jamie Lynn being tacky has to do with her religious beliefs.
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Twitter: HeckYeahHeckNo
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Not at all but being a young bimbo is.
Beauty Fades, Dumb is Forever.
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I loved Jamie Lynn's personality. She had chutzpah and grace and came across as very smart. But those one-dimensional line drawings got old really fast. I agree with you in that I think she could make a really fantastic cartoonist if she can find a way to combine her wit and insight and her drawings.
shareI don't think so.
Christianity's mythology is incredibly rich and inspiring stuff.
If a Christian artist feels that the only appropriate expression of his/her point of view is a Rated G sort of schematic, then that could stifle creativity.
But a Christian artist who refuses to blind himself/herself to the humanness within the mythology? I'd think that artist couldn't exhaust his/her creativity in a lifetime.
Check out the work painter Ed Knippers has done. Google him.
It depends on if it limits your world view. Some people are devote Christians but are still tolerant and open minded.
Now if the artist was close minded then yes that is a creativity killer. But that doesn't necessarily mean the person is Christian.
But as much as I personally find Christian art dry, there is always enough room to move in a niche. It's just up to the person to work around it.
i am late coming in on this discussion, but it is quite interesting. i was raised in a christian house hold in a denomination that holds very strict beliefs. in this faith independent thinking is greatly discouraged therefore those of a creative mindset are pretty much stifled because anything outside of the magazine, brochures, and books we are given to help us understand the bible is considered "worldly" and from Satan. it has taken me half of my life to finally get enough mental strength to follow my passion for makeup artistry and special effects makeup; i was told that was not an appropriate career choice for a christian when told one of our elders what i wanted to do work when i graduated from school.
i guess it depends on what faith you are part of. not all are as restrictive. however, just going on my own personal experience i do think that depending on one's individual experience with Christianity it can affect their creativity. in my case sometimes i hold back because i feel guilty that what i am doing is will be seen as "wrong" in the eye of all the people i grew up with. but then i end up hating myself and being unsatisfied with the work because i know it could have been so much more if i had just let go and "gone with my gut".
so for me personally the answer to the question that started this thread would be Yes. however, i will not say that this holds true for everyone because i do not have the right to make a blanket judgment like that.
anyway, i just wanted to add my two cents.
peace