Art and Culture

Madonna and Child by Kevin Wak Williams
https://artbywak.com/

 Here we are at the beginning of August, a month that has many festivals in the Christian liturgical year, specifically regarding The Virgin Mary. The art surrounding Our Lady, as so many call her is extraordinary. It inspires and comforts many. 

Why is that?

Rudolf Steiner tells us that art is the creation of organs of perception by which the spiritual world communicates to humanity. 

We witness many forms of art, and it can be said that there are many messages that are being conveyed. It has always fascinated me when cultures and religions restrict art. In some religions, art was and is banned as some sort of sacrilege. In Christianity of the 700's, particularly in Constantinople, it was thought that God was mad if religious images, and since the Christians were using them in churches and homes, and the Muslims were not, maybe if the Christians got rid of art, then God would help them win battles.

When Constantine V decreed that religious art was banned, then he won a couple of battles, and the rest we know of as history. It is of note that it took three generations of Byzantine empresses to reverse the decision, bringing back religious art, but not until after quite the theological and political fight for nearly three generations. Other great debates and even schisms have happened in cultures regarding whether or not art should be present in daily life. This history shows us how powerful image and art is in culture. 

Art, specifically religious art, has great influence.

What about modern art? Some would argue that television and movies are modern forms of art. The organization that gives out awards known as "Oscars" for movie performances and production, is actually called The Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences.

Recently, a beloved actress from a very influential television show in the 1960's passed away. Star Trek, which has inspired generations of fans, numerous television and cable shows, as well as several movies, featured Nichell Nichols as playing an African woman in a position of power on the Star Ship Enterprise. This character was the first time a woman of color was seen in a leading roll, not based on a maid or American slave. The character allowed for the acceptance of women of color in healthy, educated and leadership positions. Nichols wanted to quit the role for various reasons, but was told to stay in her character by none other than Rev. Martin Luther King Jr, precisely because having a woman of color in such a position would influence the acceptance of Black women as full members of American society. While Star Trek was several centuries in the future, it showed that advanced cultures included people from all races as contributing members of society.

Obviously Star Trek and The Black Madonna are quite different in their core messages, but both are healing influences on culture because they show that humans, regardless of the color of their skin, have something to offer. In the case of The Black Madonna, she shows that Divinity has many colors, and that those who have much melanin in their skins, are Divine, just as those with varying levels of melanin. 

May these images, and art of all forms inspire us to recognize the dignity of all human beings.

Blessings on your Journey