Michael goes solo to talk about exploited art in its four forms: propaganda, pornography, pomp, and product. He discusses why subjecting art to an agenda undermines the powerful purpose of art, and why the church should be the place artists feel most free and empowered to pursue their callings with integrity.

Why Are So Many Christian Artists at Odds with the Church? (article (https://renewthearts.org/why-are-so-many-christian-artists-at-odds-with-the-church/) and podcast (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/008-why-so-many-christian-artists-are-at-odds-with-the-church/))

12 Years a Slave: History vs. Hollywood (https://www.historyvshollywood.com/reelfaces/12-years-a-slave.php)

Art and the Evangelical Imagination (with Karen Swallow Prior) (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/art-and-the-evangelical-imagination-with-karen-swallow-prior/)

“The Sentimentality Trap (https://firstthings.com/the-sentimentality-trap/),” by Benjamin Myers

Young People are Having Less Casual Sex … (https://www.businessinsider.com/teens-less-casual-sex-generation-parents-did-2021-3#:~:text=Data%20from%20the%202019%20General,sex%20is%20going%20to%20happen.%22)

Frank Zappa Interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZazEM8cgt0)

The Artist and the Problem of Fame (Part 1) (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/the-artist-and-the-problem-of-fame/)

Patrons and the Problem of Fame (Part 2) (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/patrons-and-the-problem-of-fame/)

Why Art, Like the Gospel, is not a Commodity (https://renewthearts.org/why-art-like-the-gospel-is-not-a-commodity/)

On Aquinas and the Four Idols (https://www.sahilbloom.com/newsletter/the-four-idols-money-power-pleasure-fame)

Join us for a generous sampling of the “Porchlight Mini-Conference on Hospitality” we held on July 6, 2025 at Audiofeed Music Festival (https://audiofeedfestival.com/) in Urbana, Illinois. Featuring presentations from Cary Brege and Michael Minkoff, a host panel on art hosting and hospitality, and a selection from Porchlight artists who performed to close out the day, we hope this episode inspires you to pursue a deeper involvement with the beautiful work of art hospitality.

03:45 — Cary Brege (https://renewthearts.org/behind-the-porchlight-havenwood-hosts-embrace-creativity/), “Hospitality and the Kingdom of God”

30:30 — Michael Minkoff (http://michaelminkoff.com), “Artists: The Church’s Unwanted Gift”

58:19 — Porchlight Host Panel Q&A

1:54:03 — Porchlight Artists

Chase Tremaine (https://chasetremaine.com/) / “Carseat (https://chasetremaine.bandcamp.com/track/carseat)”

LINKS

A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers (https://www.labridocumentary.com/watch), full documentary

RTA Ep. 66: On “A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers” (with Houston Coley) (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/on-a-kingdom-of-tea-and-strangers-with-houston-coley/)

Michael talks with Ciara Reyes-Ton (https://www.mountcarmell.com/founder) about science, art, and faith. Ciara is a cellular and molecular biologist, singer-songwriter, and founder of Mt. Carmell Worship Collective (https://www.mountcarmell.com/). In this conversation, Ciara talks about her history as a scientist and an artist, and how both science and art interact in the Christian’s spiritual life.

Stay tuned to the end to hear “To Become Human (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2B5qd7RSqP4),” the first song Ciara wrote at the intersection of faith and science.

Michael is joined by film-maker and YouTuber Houston Coley (https://www.youtube.com/@houston-coley) to discuss Coley’s feature documentary, A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers (https://www.labridocumentary.com/), which follows five strangers as they spend a summer together at English L’Abri. They discuss the film and touch on community, communal art, hospitality, imagination, Christian art, and more.

A Kingdom of Tea and Strangers will be available to watch on YouTube on the Art Within channel (https://www.youtube.com/@artwithinofficial) May 10, 2025.

Stay tuned to the end to hear “Living Room Song (https://open.spotify.com/track/2BaDq71ev9qSBolFpFvUiL?si=a6391990a2484052),” by Evan Wegner and Áron Szlávik from the documentary soundtrack, Songs from the Shelter (https://www.labridocumentary.com/concept-album).

Michael welcomes Chase Tremaine (https://chasetremaine.com/) to the Renew the Arts podcast to discuss the impact of technology on the way we make and receive art. Just a few generations ago, all art was received communally, with live performances and in-person reception the only possibility. Now, recording technology and internet connectedness has completely transformed the arts. Chase and Michael discuss what this massive shift has meant for us. Technology has certainly benefitted the arts, making it more accessible and attainable, and potentially more democratic. But at the same time, this shift has radically increased the depersonalization and individualism of the arts, both for artist and audience. What have we gained and what have we lost in this almost invisible shift, and what can we do to counteract the inherent obstacles in our advancements? How do we go about one anothering in an age that has made all of us individually feel other?

Stay tuned at the end to hear “Sing for Me,” by Chase Tremaine, a track available for download exclusively on Chase Tremaine’s Friend’s Club (https://friends.chasetremaine.com/).

Michael returns for the 2025 RTA podcast season with an offering of three word-pictures for patrons and artists. First, “Space Station Christianity” seeks to answer the question, “Are the arts and beauty actually essential?” Second, “Antibiotic vs. Probiotic Culture” seeks to show the distinction between Culture War and Culture Care. Finally, “Miniature for Scale” frames some advice for making art about larger-than-life realities. We hope these word-pictures help to clarify your relationship to the arts as we delve this season into “flourishing” with the arts.

Stay tuned until the end to hear “Brother Please,” (https://warblermusic.bandcamp.com/track/brother-please) from the single America! (https://warblermusic.bandcamp.com/album/america), by Warbler. Many thanks again to Ryan Lane of Civilized Creature for providing our theme music for the season, in this case an instrumental version of his track “Spirit Move” (https://civilizedcreature.bandcamp.com/track/spirit-move) from the album Whose House (https://civilizedcreature.bandcamp.com/album/whose-house).

Kevin Kelly, Out of Control (https://kk.org/mt-files/books-mt/ooc-mf.pdf), pdf

Biosphere (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere_2)

“Are Sermons Enough to Preach the Whole Counsel of God?” (Part 1 of 2) (https://renewthearts.org/are-sermons-enough-to-preach-the-whole-counsel-of-god-part-1-of-2/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

“Are Sermons Enough to Preach the Whole Counsel of God?” (Part 2 of 2) (https://renewthearts.org/are-sermons-enough-to-preach-the-whole-counsel-of-god-part-2-of-2/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Noella Marcellino (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Noella_Marcellino)

“Miniatures Add Grand Scale,” (https://theasc.com/magazine/jan04/sub2/index.html) by Simon Gray

Mystery and Manners (https://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Manners-Occasional-Prose-Classics/dp/0374508046), Flannery O’Connor

For the final episode of this year, join Michael to discuss your questions for a Christmas mailbag episode. Michael answers questions about Kevin Kelly’s “1,000 True Fans Principle,” the difference between pride concerning earned skills and narcissism concerning gifts, how Christians should approach magic in fantasy books and/or movies, what fiction Michael has been reading and why he cares about fiction, and whether or not Christians should buy cheap, plastic Nativity scenes for their yard.

Stay tuned at the end for the album version of Civilized Creature’s “Humble and Lowly (https://civilizedcreature.bandcamp.com/track/humble-lowly),” off his excellent record Earthen Vessel (https://civilizedcreature.bandcamp.com/album/earthen-vessel), released in 2023.

The Technium: 1,000 True Fans, by Kevin Kelly (https://kk.org/thetechnium/1000-true-fans/)

Out of Control, by Kevin Kelly (https://www.amazon.com/Out-Control-Biology-Machines-Economic/dp/0201483408)

Three Stages of Learning: How to Become a Master (https://renewthearts.org/three-stages-of-learning-how-to-become-a-master/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Harry Potter: Natural Law or Supernatural Sorcery? (https://renewthearts.org/harry-potter-natural-law-or-supernatural-sorcery/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Sufjan Stevens – Silver & Gold (https://renewthearts.org/sufjan-stevens-silver-and-gold/), review by Justus Stout

Here at Last is Love (https://www.amazon.com/Here-Last-Love-Selected-Thompson/dp/1498218105), by Dunstan Thompson

3:10 — Mailbag Season 3 (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/310-mailbag-season-3/) (Go to ~7:15 for discussion of “Piss Christ”)

“Bethlehem,” by Annie Dillard (https://thevalueofsparrows.wordpress.com/2012/12/23/advent-meditation-bethlehem-by-annie-dillard/)

Michael discusses narcissism, why it seems so prevalent among artists, and how to address it. Using an excellent podcast from Martyr Made’s Darryl Cooper called “The Underground Spirit (https://www.martyrmade.com/featured-podcasts/the-underground-spirit) (https://www.martyrmade.com/featured-podcasts/the-underground-spirit)” as his jumping-off point, Michael explores Dostoevsky and Nietzsche, the meaning of narcissism, the nature of giftedness, the struggle of prodigies, the isolation of the artist, and the resentment and pride of communities, recommending tools for addressing narcissism and pride in both gifted artists and the communities that include them. Stay tuned at the end for “I Cannot Forget (https://warblermusic.bandcamp.com/track/i-cannot-forget),” a track from Warbler off of the record Wrestling (https://warblermusic.bandcamp.com/album/wrestling).

LINKS

The Underground Spirit (https://www.martyrmade.com/featured-podcasts/the-underground-spirit) (https://www.martyrmade.com/featured-podcasts/the-underground-spirit), on the Martyr Made podcast, by Darryl Cooper

The Prodigy, by Amy Wallace (https://www.amazon.com/Prodigy-Biography-William-Americas-Greatest/dp/0525244042)

The Nothing Human Podcast (https://michaelminkoff.com/nothing-human-podcast/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Atlas Didn’t Shrug and Neither Should We (https://michaelminkoff.com/ricky-bobbys-eternal-christmas-atlas-shouldnt-shrug/), by Michael Minkoff, Jr.

Michael interviews Roy Sneed, a missions specialist who trains cross-cultural workers in the four uses of storytelling for missions and evangelism. With seasoned wisdom and disarming humor, Roy explains his storytelling approach, telling a few of his stories along the way.

Stay tuned until the end to hear a track from Physick, “In the Whirlwind,” from the unreleased EP Shoal Creek Valley.

Resources:

Missions and Oral Preference Learning (from Mission to the World) (https://www.mtw.org/stories/details/ministering-to-oral-cultures-in-the-21st-century)

Art and Incarnational Evangelism (https://michaelminkoff.com/incarnational-evangelism/)

Are Sermons Enough to Preach the Whole Counsel of God? (Part 1 (https://renewthearts.org/are-sermons-enough-to-preach-the-whole-counsel-of-god-part-1-of-2/) and Part 2 (https://renewthearts.org/are-sermons-enough-to-preach-the-whole-counsel-of-god-part-2-of-2/))

In this promised second part of our podcast on the problem of fame, Michael discusses how an uneven distribution of support in the arts harms patrons, patronage, and communities. He then explores some ways artists and patrons can solve this problem. Stay tuned at the end of the episode to hear “5 Year Town (https://open.spotify.com/track/187FbdIb75wMKG0i0HK5ld?si=be44670777a143a8)” by Jacob Davis Martin (https://open.spotify.com/artist/7C6G03p2coJ5rTYvq2ohE5?si=f4658db757a74d27), from his record Ain’t It All Just Golden (https://open.spotify.com/album/0luWTHb7q1RxJvwmTRgMYS?si=T4fFoewhR3i4iZ4vXo98UQ).

You can listen to the first part of this podcast, The Artist and the Problem of Fame (https://renewthearts.org/podcast/the-artist-and-the-problem-of-fame/), here on our website.

Jack Conte SXSW 2023 Keynote Address (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zUndMfMInc) (Thanks to Carly Taich for recommending this to me!)

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