Encouraging artistic ability?

[Neto]

I would be interest to hear more opinions regarding art, poetry, stories, etc - creative works that have a message. Personally, other than a few pictures of old tractors or cars, I really have no interest in creations that have no provocative point to communicate. (And 'provocative' does not have to be challenging to moral standards.) Much of what poetry pieces that appear in Christian periodicals (and the lyrics of the modern 'worship songs' for that matter) are so trite or forced (as in weird word choices just to make something rhyme) that they deaden the mind, not waken or lift it.

[Soloist]

I would be interest to hear more opinions regarding art, poetry, stories, etc - creative works that have a message. Personally, other than a few pictures of old tractors or cars, I really have no interest in creations that have no provocative point to communicate. (And 'provocative' does not have to be challenging to moral standards.) Much of what poetry pieces that appear in Christian periodicals (and the lyrics of the modern 'worship songs' for that matter) are so trite or forced (as in weird word choices just to make something rhyme) that they deaden the mind, not waken or lift it.

Poetry is a useful skill and should be encouraged for song writing and such. A dear friend of ours wrote a poem for my son after he was killed and it was very sweet and touching.

[steve-in-kville]

Poetry is a useful skill and should be encouraged for song writing and such. A dear friend of ours wrote a poem for my son after he was killed and it was very sweet and touching.

Believe it or not, I subscribe to a few poetry/literary reviews (don't judge me!). Lets just say that the poetic boundaries I learned in school don't exist. With styles like free-verse and the like, I would hesitate to call some of it poetry... but I try to keep an open mind

[Neto]

Poetry is a useful skill and should be encouraged for song writing and such. A dear friend of ours wrote a poem for my son after he was killed and it was very sweet and touching.

Believe it or not, I subscribe to a few poetry/literary reviews (don't judge me!). Lets just say that the poetic boundaries I learned in school don't exist. With styles like free-verse and the like, I would hesitate to call some of it poetry... but I try to keep an open mind

When I was in (public) HS (my Junior year, I think, 1972-73), what they called "Concrete Poetry" was a "thing". Figures or designs as 'poetry', and also made up of random thoughts or phrases which didn't have to make any kind sense. The teacher would put music on, and you just drew or wrote what ever kind of nonsense that came to mind. I just remember writing something about purple mags rolling through some kind of sky, I don't remember what. But it was in my Sophomore year, I think, that I wrote what might have been my best poem. It was a classroom English assignment, to be completed during that hour, any kind of writing. Maybe it wasn't all that good, I don't know, because the teacher never gave it back to me. I just remember that when I handed it in she read over it, and looked at me with a really stunned expression, and asked if I was "in love". Maybe it was because she thought I was too young, or not the sort to have the kinds of feelings I expressed in that piece, but it sure would be interesting to me now, to read it as my "older self".

[MaxPC]

I would be interest to hear more opinions regarding art, poetry, stories, etc - creative works that have a message. Personally, other than a few pictures of old tractors or cars, I really have no interest in creations that have no provocative point to communicate. (And 'provocative' does not have to be challenging to moral standards.) Much of what poetry pieces that appear in Christian periodicals (and the lyrics of the modern 'worship songs' for that matter) are so trite or forced (as in weird word choices just to make something rhyme) that they deaden the mind, not waken or lift it.

When we would go to museums to see artwork, I always felt that the art was also about recording events and people, much as a photographer does.

What of photography as art when the subjects are not pornographic but instead, record daily scenes and activities of people.

[Ken]

Can anyone explain why some arts such as visual arts and verse seem to be encouraged, or at least accepted in the plain community. But other arts such as instrumental music, are not? Where does that distinction come from?

[ken_sylvania]

.. but I try to keep an open mind

Don't let it hang open too far - your brains might fall out....

[Neto]

I would be interest to hear more opinions regarding art, poetry, stories, etc - creative works that have a message. Personally, other than a few pictures of old tractors or cars, I really have no interest in creations that have no provocative point to communicate. (And 'provocative' does not have to be challenging to moral standards.) Much of what poetry pieces that appear in Christian periodicals (and the lyrics of the modern 'worship songs' for that matter) are so trite or forced (as in weird word choices just to make something rhyme) that they deaden the mind, not waken or lift it.

When we would go to museums to see artwork, I always felt that the art was also about recording events and people, much as a photographer does.

What of photography as art when the subjects are not pornographic but instead, record daily scenes and activities of people.

Yes, historical value. Possibly not so much for display, but for reference purposes, at least until the scenes are so much in the distant past that it becomes interesting to view on a regular basis.

After I first bought my first SLR camera (A Pentex K1000), I took a lot of pictures of stuff such as thistle flowers, and even dead flowers, as symbolism. I have some photos of live butterflies from the Amazon, but never managed to get close enough to a Blue Morpho - tried to get one in flight. We also have photos of the Indians, dressed as they did during special ceremonies. (That exhibits their artistry in self-adornment.)

[steve-in-kville]

Can anyone explain why some arts such as visual arts and verse seem to be encouraged, or at least accepted in the plain community. But other arts such as instrumental music, are not? Where does that distinction come from?

In my semi-professional opinion, I think its like a lot of other alleged "taboos" among the conservative circles: maybe one time, generations ago, someone fell into some manner of trouble with a hobby and from that point forward it was deemed dangerous and has been down on ever since... but the last few generation really don't know why.

[ohio jones]

There is a certain distrust of artists and writers in the plain community. (Even this thread has "art" being about nudes.) It is much safer to express a creative talent as a furniture maker.

Care to expound on that? Not sure I ever felt that vibe.

If you write or draw for certain CA publications, they edit it down to very tight, generic pieces that lose all sense of individual style of the author.

Same with drawings for same publishers. All the artwork reflects very narrow specifications.

The criticism is that the illustrators (calling them "artists" is a bit of a stretch) draw clothes, rather than drawing people wearing clothes. And if the culture focuses more on clothes than people, seeing that reflected in the illustrations should not be a surprise.