Cluless in the Curia
The Current issue of NCR features an article by Maggie Hall entitled ,' Treasures of the Vatican '. The author is justifiably unimpressed with the lack of foresight in presenting an upcoming tour of Vatican Art to this country. No attention is being paid to the fascinating stories and historical context of these most useful instruments of evangelical uplift. Just one more incidence of astonishing negligence from our alleged leaders. Just what evidence of Divine Reconciliation do they expect us to focus on ? Proscriptions and rules are secondary at best. Somebody better light a fire under these guys. On the local level we can refuse to donate a penny until we're satisfied with performance. Fr. Andrew Greeley has persistently decried this tone deaf mentality. Art and Beauty are absolutely central to life and this is being ignored. No wonder we are adrift in a fog of confusion, frustration and phony postures of certitude.
The crown jewels of the
The crown jewels of the Vatican on tour. It's a great idea and it can be improved on. Some of the art has the capability of being presented as an apology to Christianity for division. Some of it shows the thinking of the Church about WAR. Some of it shows acceptance of power or money as a goal. If the art is presented truthfully then it will be a great exhibition of beauty. The art should be presented to generate profit for noble Christian causes if for profit at all. It should be presented as close to the local Christian people as possible, not bypassing Episcopal, or other non Catholic locations of christian or Jewish interest. If the art comes here to large museums and for profit then I'd rather view it from 6,000 miles or photographically. Perhaps some 12 yr old will experience it and become the next Michaelangelo.
I have twice now seen
I have twice now seen collections of the "Treasures of the Czars" which is also a traveling exhibit that shows various household items but also elaborate clothing and jewels and jewel studded crowns and religous items (Greek Orthodox Church). Both times I saw these (but particularly the first time) I was struck by the thought of, "No wonder there was a revolution". To have that much finery along side so much grinding suffering.
I guess I have to echo that I think the pieces are the most interesting when they are interwoven with stories around the pieces.
I know that some of these beautiful items can be viewed as someone's expression of devotion to God. So much of our beautiful classical music is just that and there are pieces we would not have if the composers weren't thus inspired.
However, when is beauty self-aggrandizement and when it is to the Glory of God? No one can answer that and it is likely not a black and white question.
Also it is just amazing to realize that in being entwined with the Catholic Church we have a history that reaches back and runs contemporaneously with important world events. The Pope received Napolean...hmhhh, fancy that.
A great deal of Classical
A great deal of Classical music is derived directly from folk tunes and tales. It is wonderfully embellished storytelling. The Conservatives make an awful lot of noise about the Hermeneutic of Continuity and remain completely clueless about the crucial role of the arts in its communication. In his major work , ' Religion as Poetry ' , Fr. Andrew Greeley places the experiential nature of religion as primary. Religion is story and experience before it is anything else and after it is everything else. The Bible itself takes a ragtag band of nomads from an extraordinary experience at the foot of Mt. Sinai on an odyssey of fidelity and failure in a patchwork quilt of song, poetry, epic combat, literature and various other forms of oral and finally written accounts of ongoing relations with a living God in a history of unique and rewarding challenge. This is the legacy of all men and it is subversion of the Creator's will to do anything to keep the Good News from getting out. The Media opportunities abound, let's get to it. The wordly take far more initiative when it comes to their own kind than do the otherwordly. Jesus told Pilate that his kingdom was not of this world, the Arts are the best medium of communicating this reality.
Beauty is not opposed to truth. It is simply truth in its most attractive form.
Little Bear Some of the
Little Bear
Some of the biggest problems that our Church leaders at the Vatican have are 1) they really are not media savy. They live in a too secluded existence---not understanding the wide scope of media, the swiftness of it, and how to utilize it really as a means of evangelization. I can only imagine what St. Paul would have done if HE had a computer in his time---WOW! 2) and I agree with you on your point very much,Luv2Laf, the Vatican, in sending over these lovely art treasurers ASSUMES that everyone is born with an understanding of the history, significance, background of the artist, techniques, etc. already fused into their DNA. You are right, people need information, stories, background to fully appreciate the beauty before them.
Just a little story. About 10 years ago a group of parishioners and I had an opportunity to go to Israel on a pilgrimage--and then go to visit Rome (and the Vatican, of course). In Israel, our guide was FABULOUS---energetic, was a history teacher in a university and 'knew his stuff', and was the kind of guy you would want to invite to your home. We learned so much about the holy places, the history, the culture of the times then and now--What a great experience!
When we were leaving, our guide knew that we were going to Rome. He took Israelis on tours there himself, and he told us how he just loved Rome and the Vatican. He loved the art and sculpture and expanded the explanations of the Vatican guides to his groups. When we were having our tour of the Vatican, we wished that we had "Moshe" with us---the guide that we had in the Vatican was a dud! The folks in my group had no idea what most of the art and sculpture meant. So, they asked me to re-take them through some of the areas the next day. I'd never been there before either, but I did have some background on the meaning and history of some of the pieces of art and sculpture there. The people got a little better understanding of what they were seeing.
Yes, to really be a Treasure, one needs to have information on the pieces, so that people can learn to treasure the Treasures. And the Vatican officials just keep missing the point over and over again.
The NCR Book Club features
The NCR Book Club features a new offering by Sister Wendy on prayer. She is most recognizable from her PBS stint on Art appreciation. No one has seen fit to recruit her or her like to begin elucidating the immense history of Christian Art. No significant effort has been put forward to communicate on the World Wide Web. The immense proliferation of cable access television is innocent of Vatican input. Apparently someone enjoys the prestige by association with these treasures but seems either unable or unwilling to give full vent to their story telling potential. The Pope says he wants to bring a message of Christian Hope to America on his upcoming visit. Without the rocket fuel of our legacy the enduring effects will elicit little more than a yawn.
Beauty is not opposed to truth. It is simply truth in its most attractive form.
The master artists are
The master artists are master story tellers and when Jesus went out to teach He told stories. [He avoided argument and verbal conflict]. We need fewer experts in theology and a lot more storytellers and artists. 'A picture is worth a thousand theologans'