Turkish Surgeon, Christian Butcher.
One of these paintings portrays man as heroic, intelligent, and beautiful. The other portrays man as a grotesque monster. One of these painting extols technology as facilitating man's virtue. The other portrays invention and shelter as the tool of the Devil. One of these paintings portrays a benevolent universe full of promise and joy. The other portrays the universe as an ugly, Kafkaesque nightmare.
Guess which one of these paintings was made by a Christian? Guess which one was made by a secular humanist? I'm ashamed of the answer. If Christians are to witness to the world, they need to use the later view of man, instead of the former.
posted by Protagonist @ 3:16 PM
9 comments
9 Comments:
Cordair Romantic Realist galleries must be the only art galleries anywhere on the planet that don't have vomit-covered horse carcasses, dung-smeared Madannas, and dildos superglued to swingsets.
"Grotesque monster?" One person's grotesque is another's whimsy. I enjoy the bright colors of the second, and think the flat hues of the first portay technology as inferior to nature, both human and inanimate. (Contrast the warm tones of the sun and flesh with the cold blues of the surrounding megalopolis.)
Isn't that another man lying facedown in the first painting? Perhaps a "benevolent universe full of promise and joy" includes same-sex relationships.
My point: art criticism is an inherently subjective enterprise.
Okay, on closer inspection, I'll retract the question about gender; that's an inert female.
"Technology inferior to man"?
What the hell do you think produces every bit of technology from the simplest fire to the most majestic building? Ants? Kangaroos?
Every piece of technology from a stick on up is a record of the mind of some man who produced.
If you read what I posted, you'll notice that I said "technology inferior to nature," not "to man."
"Technology as inferior to nature, both human and inanimate."
Human nature is synonymous with technology. There is no human life without technology.
To say one is inferior to the other, is to divorce man from what he produces.
Then insert "technotopia" or "technology run amok" or "technology gone too far." Each is a common Romantic trope.
Larsen's 'First Heat' is a great example of romantic realism showing the nature of man to produce.
Tom is correct in stating that man by his nature must create technology and apply his mind if he is to survive. From the most primitive hut in Africa to the skyscappers of New York, man applies his mind to continue his life here on Earth.
Only to the extent that he is capable and his environment warrents it however.
Perhaps a theme to look at in the Christian work here is that of anti-technology. If that is the case, then one may say that this artist is against human life...
Seems to be a recurring theme according to Rand.
Jim, we haven't met but I'd like to say that I think we'll have some interesting conversations. Too bad your sites consist of one (1) post each... let me know when that changes.
Travis, don't know if you'll see this, but my primary site is decorabilia, where I post often. I welcome your comments.
Post a Comment
<< Home