Can Latter-Day Saints write great Novels, Plays or Music.

[_The Nehor]

Good art should always challenge the status quo, not reinforce it.

A modern conception I disagree with. While some good art does, some does not. Good art can reinforce or display a new facet of something a culture already believes, simply be beautiful, or even just entertain.

[_karl61]

Hi Karl,

There may be a "one off" here and there, but all in all, it's unlikely that Mormonism will ever develop a "high culture". Another truism might be the chances of doing so diminish further in proportion to the influence of apologetics. This is a complex thesis I will one day expound on, but I have no time at the moment as the works of Shakespear beckon me.

Read this, and then go back to my thread on Brethren-directed tastes and read the arguments by Mak and Nehor in particular. You will then understand why Mormonism and culture are like oil and water.

Thanks Gadianton for the link. I had not read that before.


but I think Jerry Earl Johnston thoughts may have a ring of truth when he writes:

"It is also the Great White Whale pursued by devout Mormons who can't understand -- in this day and age -- just how uncomfortable, exposed and betrayed an authentic literary masterpiece would make them feel"


one wonders if a Latter-day saint started painting Joseph Smith in bed with a Emily Partridge if a special muse would help the artist achieve greatness with that painting.

If someone wrote an Opera about the last days of Joseph Smith including the hiding, wine drinking and gun fight if something might kick in and give the composer a little extra.

If someone wrote poems about the thoughts that went through some of the minds of Joseph Smith's plural wives - their experience, their fears, their lonliness etc.

[_The Nehor]

one wonders if a Latter-day saint started painting Joseph Smith in bed with a Emily Partridge if a special muse would help the artist achieve greatness with that painting.

If someone wrote an Opera about the last days of Joseph Smith including the hiding, wine drinking and gun fight if something might kick in and give the composer a little extra.

If someone wrote poems about the thoughts that went through some of the minds of Joseph Smith's plural wives - their experience, their fears, their lonliness etc.

So, you're suggesting that unless LDS art slanders it's leaders it is not authentic and of quality.

Then, by your standards, I hope we stay uncultured barbarians.

By everyone else's standard, I hope we read and write more good books and appreciate and produce better art of all kinds.

[_karl61]

Nehor - why is that slander (more likely libel if it did not happen) because it did happen.

[_Phouchg]

Nehor - why is that slander (more likely libel if it did not happen) because it did happen.

Don't you know that "some things that are true are not very useful"?


In this case I will defer to Aldous Huxley who said "Facts do not cease to exist because they are ignored." Mormonthink excels at ignoring facts.


fook

[_Morrissey]

Can focusing all your time and talents (and money) into building the Kingdom of God take away from other things.

http://www.mormontimes.com/mormon_voice ... n/?id=9119

Many Renaissance artists were working within a pretty narrow religious framework and still managed to produce great works of art.

I don't see why LDS cannot write great Novels, Plays, or Music. From what I've seen, however, they've not managed to produce too many of them to date.

But the LDS Church is full of many very talented people who manage all manner of levels of success in their chosen fields.

[_Joey]

Many, if not most, may conclude that Michael Jackson put so much effort into the creation of a " Neverland", that he lost true religion.

The above would make sense had he not benevolently and globally contributed millions to charities, hospitals, created burn centers, paid outright for individual medical treatment and the like, on behalf of children throughout his entire career.

I have no doubt Michael Jackson gave millions to charity. I also have no doubt he gave millions to little boys, their families, and attorneys in an effort to protect and further his image.

The question remains: Would you accept his claims and defenses as "legitimate or credible" given the history of his behavior?

Same issue with the Lds church.I have no doubt they have done many charitable acts to protect and and further their image. But does anyone accept their claims, and/or defenses to them as "legitimate or credible" given their behavorial history?


Look at how much time Dan Peterson and his lapdogs spend here trying to change the tide and percetion. Look at how they drag out the credentials of John Clark (like Jackson did charity) to convince people there is actually
history to the Book of Mormon!!!!

The effort these people spend on spin and message boards is the very parallel to Michael Jacksons' spending on charities.

But I think you knew that!!!

[_The Nehor]

Nehor - why is that slander (more likely libel if it did not happen) because it did happen.

Because of it's irreverent treatment of the people involved. If I were to paint pictures of George Washington having sex would you consider that genuine art or shameless trash?

It's your flippant treatment of things that debases it. To quote Screwtape:

"But flippancy is the best of all. In the first place it is very economical. Only a clever human can make a
real Joke about virtue, or indeed about anything else; any of them can be trained to talk as if virtue were
funny. Among flippant people the Joke is always assumed to have been made. No one actually makes it; but
every serious subject is discussed in a manner which implies that they have already found a ridiculous side to
it. If prolonged, the habit of Flippancy builds up around a man the finest armor plating against the Enemy
that I know, and it is quite free from the dangers inherent in the other sources of laughter. It is a thousand
miles away from joy it deadens, instead of sharpening, the intellect; and it excites no affection between those
who practice it,"

[_Doctor CamNC4Me]

Hello,

In an incredible moment of irony a homosexual Mormon recently won an academy award for his screenplay.

It was Milk.

Very Respectfully,

Doctor CamNC4Me

[_The Nehor]

In an incredible moment of irony a homosexual recently won an academy award for his screenplay.

Fixed for accuracy, he's not Mormon any more.