Performing Arts, Big Business, Pride, Worldliness

[joshuabgood]

I see a big difference between pursuing a creative career, and pursuing a career "to be seen of men".

I agree...but it assumes an artists desire is "to be seen of men." One could easily assume the same thing about say, a minister, who speaks every Sunday.

[joshuabgood]

Among other things mentioned, Christianity has long held entertainment in lower regard than other occupations that are more fundamental to meeting the needs of mankind. And this low regard for entertainment is still found overflowing from Plain Anabaptism onto the performing arts.

Art is not merely entertainment. It is the reflection of God in us. The fact that it has no utility is the beautiful part. Its sole function is to draw us to God. And Christianity has a long and friendly relationship with art. Some would say, even art like erotic poetry...

[joshuabgood]

Articles have been written about the nature of our work and what it does to us as a person.

Making and selling the most gorgeous kitchen cabinets made of the finest woods available might be "excellence". (That can only be purchased by a few of the most well-to-do.) And it might provide employment for quite a number of households. And the excess income that is generated from such sales might be able to fund a lot of missions.
But what does it do to or do for the people who are involved in the work?

Many have discovered part way through life or at the end of life that the work itself produced an emptiness or a void. They question at some point whether this is really what God intended for human existence on this planet and whether this is really what humans were created for.

In contrast, is the person whose livelihood is meeting a real human need or is contributing to human flourishing. Such folks are more likely to find real value and meaning in their work and feel like their work (not just the proceeds from their work) is a part of God's big plan.

I am repeating myself, but the "lack of utility" with regard to art, is not a necessarily a denigrating factor. That is the beauty. The beauty of beauty/artistic creativity is that it draws us to the divine.

[seeking-artist]

I see a big difference between doing something excellently vs. doing something for show. I don't think the two are equatable. And neither do most Plain Anabaptists.

So in your view, is high quality music-making inherently "something for show"? Why can't it be in the "doing something excellently" category?

[seeking-artist]

Among other things mentioned, Christianity has long held entertainment in lower regard than other occupations that are more fundamental to meeting the needs of mankind. And this low regard for entertainment is still found overflowing from Plain Anabaptism onto the performing arts.

But in the modern era, how many occupations can really be fairly summarized as "meeting the needs of mankind"? A significant number of Anabaptists are employed in trades that provide services that are hardly essential. Is this also problematic?

[seeking-artist]

At classical concerts, laudations at the beginning and many minutes of applause at the end are very normal things. (accompanied by bowing and curtsying)

Might I be correct to assume that you are fine with such things?

Does the Bible have anything to say about these things?

Well, you seem to think the Bible condemns these things, so I'd like to hear your argument.

[R7ehr]

Among other things mentioned, Christianity has long held entertainment in lower regard than other occupations that are more fundamental to meeting the needs of mankind. And this low regard for entertainment is still found overflowing from Plain Anabaptism onto the performing arts.

Art is not merely entertainment. It is the reflection of God in us. The fact that it has no utility is the beautiful part. Its sole function is to draw us to God. And Christianity has a long and friendly relationship with art. Some would say, even art like erotic poetry...

Yes, I understand this. There is art, and there is performing. And there is performing arts.

[R7ehr]

Among other things mentioned, Christianity has long held entertainment in lower regard than other occupations that are more fundamental to meeting the needs of mankind. And this low regard for entertainment is still found overflowing from Plain Anabaptism onto the performing arts.

But in the modern era, how many occupations can really be fairly summarized as "meeting the needs of mankind"? A significant number of Anabaptists are employed in trades that provide services that are hardly essential. Is this also problematic?

I think many occupations today are a part of meeting the needs of makind. Many of them. All the same, I think we should be real slow to take away someones meal ticket. If someone can make a living in decent and appropriate art, then go ahead. Nothing wrong with that.

As for non-essential products and services, I think that we can look at them on a spectrum, and even the ones far from ideal should be tolerated if that is what in needed to do to meet the needs of livelihood. Some circumstances are extenuating.

Custom landscaping and building for people can get into some of these questions to.
Brain surgeon is higher than plastic surgeon.
I would rank building farm implements higher than building sculptures. But I would 100% build sculptures if that was what paid the bills, without hesitation.
I would rank growing vegetables for people higher than cut flowers. But I would 100% grow flowers if that is where the money was without hesitation.

There are other things that I would pause and look for other options before doing. And then there are things I don’t think I should do unless times were really bad. And then we have those things that we shouldn’t do at all.

Where is performing on this spectrum? I’m not entirely sure precisely, but it is true that it is not something we have embraced, and I think the reasons for that are understood reasonably well. Whether you find those reasons compelling are another thing.

I am paying hundreds of dollars a month to have my wife and children learn to draw and oil paint. Last year I paid hundreds for them to learn to play piano.

[joshuabgood]

In many cultures applauding is a polite and respectful way of saying thanks for the investment/gift that was made by whoever made it and affirming said gift/ing. Bowing and curtseying are cultural ways of being gracious receiving said thanksgivings with grace.

Thanking people for their investment/gift is appropriate in my view, and from my perspective there are different way of expressing that that are acceptable.

[seeking-artist]

Where is performing on this spectrum? I’m not entirely sure precisely, but it is true that it is not something we have embraced, and I think the reasons for that are understood reasonably well. Whether you find those reasons compelling are another thing.

Indeed. I have a hard time not hearing this as a version of "this is what we've always done, so I guess there must be a good reason for it, so we'll continue in the tradition." On one level, I guess you could say I don't find the reasons compelling, although on another, I feel like I'm not really hearing reasons at all, at least outside of the usual phrases about worldliness and pride. Needless to say, I don't think sticking the "worldly'" label on something automatically proves the point.