Faith in the Arts

Today, we finish our mini series about the resurgence of interest in the Christian faith in the public arts by thinking about how this change in the culture should affect Christians practising in the arts. How should wider cultural trends affect artists? Perhaps even more importantly, how should the demands of our audiences affect what we create at all? 

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Artwork and references

Liz Lerman (Choreographer)

Plato’s world of forms (The Republic by Plato)

Nicolas Bourriaud- Relational Aesthetics

The Christian faith is back in the arts. Check . And that's a good thing. Well,kind of. Today, we continue the conversation by thinking more idealistically. What would we expect happen if faith was back in the arts in a purely positive way? Would there be more Christian artists practising at a high level? More Christian themes being considered? More Christian influence on the art world? Or something else entirely? 

You may have noticed that Marlita starts by saying this is our last episode in this series but we're enjoying it too much so we'll do one more. Out early September.

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Artwork and references

MIA- MI7

Francis of Assissi exhibition at the National Gallery https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/exhibitions/past/saint-francis-of-assisi

John Hendrix- Myth Makers (Graphic Novel) https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mythmakers-Remarkable-Fellowship-Tolkien-Graphic/dp/1419746340

Denzel Washington

Lakwena Maciver

Namesbliss

Thinkers:

Alvin Plantinga

William Lane Craig

So, it seems that in some senses faith is back in the arts. But is that a good thing? In this episode, we explore how the recent increased interest in Christianity in culture and the arts might affect the culture, the church and those of us working in the arts. Is this a new day for the Christian imagination or should we be wary about the type of Christianity that is back in the arts right now?

If you'd like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources and artists

Music:

Stormzy

Kanye West

Chance the Rapper and Jay Electronica (How Great is Our God, Just a Drop)

John Darnielle (the Mountain Goats) (The Life of the World to Come)

Fine art and academia:

Eric Gill

William Blake

Caravaggio

The Book of Kells

The Lindisfarne Gospels

Performing arts (dance and film):

Russel Brand

The FITA team is back! And since we we’ve been away, there seems to have been some subtle shifts in the faith/art conversation. Popular culture seems more interested in Jesus and the Christian faith than they were a few years ago and Marlita, Ally and Jonny want to talk about it. If you do too, join us for our mini series that asks ‘is faith back in the arts?’

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources and artists

Music:

Soweto Kinch- Soundtrack to The Apocalypse (Birmingham rapper/jazz musician)

NamesBliss (London based grime artist)

Knives Out 3 (dir. Rian Johnson)

Stormzy

Fine art and academia:

Vincent Van Gogh

Andy Warhol

Genesis Tramaine

James Elkins- On the Strange Place of Religion in Contemporary Art

Jonathan Anderson- The Invisibility of Religion in Contemporary Art

Performing arts (dance and film):

Matthew Rushing (dancer with Alvin Ailey) 

Chris Pratt

Russel Brand

Denzel Washington

Mark Wahlberg

Hollywood Prayer Network

First Reformed (dir Paul Schrader)

Conclave (dir Edward Berger)

As Christians, we are called to love people. This means that we should support and serve others and not exploit of steal from them. We all know this! But how does this apply to the art traditions that we practice within? How do we actively contribute to them, rather than exploiting them? How can we be blood donors rather than vampires? And where do sharks fit in? That’s what this episode is all about.

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show 

Resources and References:

This episode follows on from our last episode on Barrowclough's album 'The Riddle and the Spyglass'.

Professor Skye - Whiteness in Rap Music & Hip-Hop Culture: Creating A Hip-Hop Class Part 11 (Youtube video) - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sn9fOt-hZbY

Eminem - White America

Eminem - Stepping Stone

Lucy Mckenzie - https://lucymckenzie.com

Michael Mcdonald - I keep forgettin

Kendrick Lamar - The Blacker The Berry

Robin Thicke/Marvin Gaye ‘plagiarism’ issue - https://ethicsunwrapped.utexas.edu/case-study/blurred-lines-copyright

Olivia Rodrigo/Paramore ‘plagiarism’ issue - https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-58327849 

But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment. (2 Peter 3:10)

And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” (Revelation 21:5)

For in him we live and move and exist. As some of your own poets have said, ‘We are his offspring.’ (Acts 17:28). Probably drawing from the 6th century BC Greek poet Epimenides, and the 3rd century BC Stoic philosopher Aratus.

The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it. (Psalm 24:1)

We’ve heard about Ally’s art. We’ve heard about Marlita’s art. Today, we focus on Jonny’s or, should I say, Barrowclough’s.

If hip-hop geekery is your thing, you won’t be disappointed. If it’s not, don’t worry though. The conversation explores the kaleidoscopic nature of art, the joys of collaboration, the unusual ways in which Christianity infiltrates culture and how we all can find our places in our artforms.

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources and References:

Barrowclough - The Riddle & The Spyglass https://barrowclough.bandcamp.com/album/the-riddle-the-spyglass

Johannes Tetens, 18th century German Danish philosopher

Scarface - Never seen a man cry

Tupac - Brenda’s got a baby

Geto Boyz - My mind’s playing tricks on me

Prince Paul - Prince among thieves

Souls of Mischief - Montezuma’s Revenge

Snoop Dogg - Bible of Love

Kendrick Lamar - Good Kid Maad City

Today, Macclesfield based ceramicist, Rachel Ho introduces us to her fabulous ‘ Gift to the City’ project, sparking all sorts of trains of thought. The restorative power of art. Artists as priests. Paying the bills. And, as a podcast first, today’s episode is sponsored by a popular energy drink. Kind of.

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources and References:

Micah Purnell (text based artist) https://micahpurnell.com/

Orla Gilkeson (painter) https://orlagilkesonart.com/

Kate Nash’s experience of the music industry- https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygdzn4dw4o.amp

What do you think of when you think of prophetic art?

Does your mind instantly turn to the subversive power of beauty, energizing hope, alternate realities, toppling empire and the ministry of attentiveness? No? Well, perhaps you should spend an hour with Dr Mary McCampbell and the FITA team!

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources and References:

Books:

Imagining our Neighbours as Ourselves: How Art Shapes Empathy - Mary McCampbell

The Prophetic Imagination - Walter Brugemann

The Church and The Fiction Writer - Flannery O’Connor (included in the book ‘Mystery and Manners)

Art and artists:

Lakwena - Nothing can separate us- https://www.vigogallery.com/exhibitions/58-lakwena-maciver-nothing-can-separate-us-covent-garden-london/overview/

Alvin Ailey Dance Company Victory Boyd (singer)

The Handmaids Tale - Margaret Atwood

Life After God - Douglas Coupland

Magnolia (dir Paul Thomas Anderson)

Tree of Life (dir Terrence Mallick)

Samuel Taylor Coleridge (poet)

Bible References:

Matthew 23:13-39

Luke 1:46-56 (Mary’s Song)

Isaiah 55

Psalm 88

Today’s guest is internationally acclaimed tap dancer, Andrew Nemr. He leads us on a riveting journey through the history of tap dance, the fracturing of the media landscape, sharing your process, the morning pages and recovering from burnout. Oh, and how art practice can serve as a model for Christian discipleship.

To acquaint yourself with Andrew’s work, visit andrewnemr.com and artistformation.com.

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected] . If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

Resources, artists and references

Andrew’s visual art- https://whatweleavebehind.online

Kendrick Lamar- Watch the party die (for the more perceptive, you’ll notice that this was recorded before GNX dropped)

Yussef Dayes- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YASaUI9bhQY

Savion Glover

Steal Like An Artist- Austin Kleon

The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron

Anselm Mcdonnell is back! Building on the last episode’s focus on the avant garde, the conversation moves on to music in general. How is music different to other artforms and how does music specifically relate to Christianity? After all, it’s just wiggly air, isn’t it?

If you’d like to join the conversation, please email us at [email protected]. If you’d like to help us continue to make more episodes like this, you can donate to us directly through our website www.faithinthearts.show

References

Music at key moments in the Bible (Job 38:4-7, Luke 2:13-14, Revelation 14:1-3)