Thank you for putting the thought and consideration into writing this, Phillip!
I’ve long had issue with sanitized works of fiction, and it’s possibly an overstatement, but I think a huge part of my issue with Christian fiction is that it’s already so “purified” that its characters have no need of a Saviour and of Grace.
Great thoughts! Saved this and learned from it. As an artist sometimes it's easy to think we may be the only audience if our craft isn't seen- but our craft should have an intended audience as you said! Well said!
I am not an artist, nor a writer; however, I enjoyed your article. Just a comment about movies with sex scenes. What might the performance of these scenes by actors do to the actor’s own spiritual life and marriage? It is hard to see how it might not be damaging.
“Christian art” is rightfully criticized because it is so often “on the nose”, explicitly stating or showing it’s message. Could it be that graphic depictions of sex are in that category? I believe what is left unseen can be more powerful than explicit details.
Oh what wonderful insights. Truly, I am not in the movie industry nor do I know much of the acting world, so I can’t say I have thought much about that. I’ll need to chew on it for a bit! Thank you.
I appreciate all of the careful thought put into this. But I’m almost more concerned by the “you complete me” line than I am sex scenes and language. It has always felt like it veered into the “romantic love as idol” category (as described in Lewis’s work). The idea of one human being fully “completing” another is troubling.
Thank you for sharing, Dr. McCampbell! I think that’s a really fair point, and sort of what this piece was about. For me, the film made me meditate on the “one flesh” aspect of marriage that is a shadow of the Marriage to come between Christ and his Church. For you, it may interact with your imagination differently. It is both beautiful and humbling to see the vast differences of effects art than have upon us.
Thank you, my friend. Though we don’t always agree (how boring would that be!), I am grateful to work with someone who takes great care to listen and truly consider the advice of others. And I appreciate how often your writing makes me pause and really evaluate my own beliefs and convictions.
Thanks for the mention. I think you split the baby on a contentious topic and found wisdom, well delivered.
The big surprise for me was the short point on art created in community. Perhaps it's the internet, or just where our culture is these days, but I think more art in made in honest and loving community would go a long way toward making Christian art better. Maybe not easier to market, but better art.
Have you seen some of Marcus Pittman's posts about why Christian movies are so amorphous and inoffensive?
I loved that point as well! I wrote my first draft of my novel here on Substack “in community” as much as the internet can be, and the story is much better for it. Philip’s point about allowing community to, in essence, draw us out of our pride or stubbornness into a spirit of service and love articulated an angle I hadn’t considered before.
Thanks so much for weighing in. Yeah, I simply lack the wisdom needed to make art in isolation. Grateful for all the wonderful humans who stick with me and tell me when I'm wrong.
And you should share your story! Drop a link here!
I haven't read anything by him! Could you link an article for me to check out?
And thank you so much for your previous comments and loving challenge. I'm really grateful for where the Spirit led me on this, and I feel like I learned so much in writing it.
Incredibly insightful and very edifying as a fellow Christian artist. Such thoughtfulness and care in the communication of art really does point to the True Artist. Keep doing what you’re doing :)
I hope I never "consume" art. My God, what an infelicitous and ungainly construction. If you've never been chided about this, you've had poor editors with tin ears.
Fantasy and scifi present the opportunity to create faux profanity. Any scfi fan immediately recognizes the words Frack, Frell, Gorram, and Rutting, and understands the intent.
There are ways to suggest swearing without actually using it. For example, I have a character yell "This is total bulls-" before an uppercut to the stomach interrupts him. The impact is there, the potential stumbling block is not.
Thank you for putting the thought and consideration into writing this, Phillip!
I’ve long had issue with sanitized works of fiction, and it’s possibly an overstatement, but I think a huge part of my issue with Christian fiction is that it’s already so “purified” that its characters have no need of a Saviour and of Grace.
Great thoughts! Saved this and learned from it. As an artist sometimes it's easy to think we may be the only audience if our craft isn't seen- but our craft should have an intended audience as you said! Well said!
I am not an artist, nor a writer; however, I enjoyed your article. Just a comment about movies with sex scenes. What might the performance of these scenes by actors do to the actor’s own spiritual life and marriage? It is hard to see how it might not be damaging.
“Christian art” is rightfully criticized because it is so often “on the nose”, explicitly stating or showing it’s message. Could it be that graphic depictions of sex are in that category? I believe what is left unseen can be more powerful than explicit details.
Oh what wonderful insights. Truly, I am not in the movie industry nor do I know much of the acting world, so I can’t say I have thought much about that. I’ll need to chew on it for a bit! Thank you.
I appreciate all of the careful thought put into this. But I’m almost more concerned by the “you complete me” line than I am sex scenes and language. It has always felt like it veered into the “romantic love as idol” category (as described in Lewis’s work). The idea of one human being fully “completing” another is troubling.
Thank you for sharing, Dr. McCampbell! I think that’s a really fair point, and sort of what this piece was about. For me, the film made me meditate on the “one flesh” aspect of marriage that is a shadow of the Marriage to come between Christ and his Church. For you, it may interact with your imagination differently. It is both beautiful and humbling to see the vast differences of effects art than have upon us.
Thank you, my friend. Though we don’t always agree (how boring would that be!), I am grateful to work with someone who takes great care to listen and truly consider the advice of others. And I appreciate how often your writing makes me pause and really evaluate my own beliefs and convictions.
Thanks for the mention. I think you split the baby on a contentious topic and found wisdom, well delivered.
The big surprise for me was the short point on art created in community. Perhaps it's the internet, or just where our culture is these days, but I think more art in made in honest and loving community would go a long way toward making Christian art better. Maybe not easier to market, but better art.
Have you seen some of Marcus Pittman's posts about why Christian movies are so amorphous and inoffensive?
I loved that point as well! I wrote my first draft of my novel here on Substack “in community” as much as the internet can be, and the story is much better for it. Philip’s point about allowing community to, in essence, draw us out of our pride or stubbornness into a spirit of service and love articulated an angle I hadn’t considered before.
Thanks so much for weighing in. Yeah, I simply lack the wisdom needed to make art in isolation. Grateful for all the wonderful humans who stick with me and tell me when I'm wrong.
And you should share your story! Drop a link here!
Absolutely same!
And eep, yes! The finished version is at fireandfeastbooks.com/remembrance!
I haven't read anything by him! Could you link an article for me to check out?
And thank you so much for your previous comments and loving challenge. I'm really grateful for where the Spirit led me on this, and I feel like I learned so much in writing it.
He's been working on an indie streaming thing for a while, and writes more on the industry perspective. This note was interesting to me.
https://substack.com/@marcuspittman/note/c-284935770?r=1pddel&utm_source=notes-share-action&utm_medium=web
Incredibly insightful and very edifying as a fellow Christian artist. Such thoughtfulness and care in the communication of art really does point to the True Artist. Keep doing what you’re doing :)
That is so kind, Corrie. Thank you for reading and being here.
I hope I never "consume" art. My God, what an infelicitous and ungainly construction. If you've never been chided about this, you've had poor editors with tin ears.
Jesus is very clear, it is not what we see, eat, drink, or hear that corrupts us, corruption comes from within our own hearts.
Fantasy and scifi present the opportunity to create faux profanity. Any scfi fan immediately recognizes the words Frack, Frell, Gorram, and Rutting, and understands the intent.
There are ways to suggest swearing without actually using it. For example, I have a character yell "This is total bulls-" before an uppercut to the stomach interrupts him. The impact is there, the potential stumbling block is not.