http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/06/all-memory-is-fiction/ Thu, 12 Jan 2012 08:40:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.poetryfoundation.org/harriet/2007/06/all-memory-is-fiction/#comment-530 jrlee Tue, 26 Jun 2007 00:07:31 +0000 http://pf/harriet/?p=256#comment-530 Kwame, Thanks for your frank explorations here of the topic of faith and art, and the (creative) tensions between the two. It's not often that one encounters such discussions, unless one is at a site specifically dedicated to faith and art issues. I've often found it a little strange that more Caribbean "religious" writing is not published since our area (me from St. Lucia)has been so strongly influenced by religion-principally Christian, but also by Islam, Hinduism, older religions like Vaudoun, and newer forms like Rastafari. You put your finger on something when you say that you knew you would "find no useful models of faith and literature that you could embrace" as a young Christian and artist. I too share that experience. Also, if our art as Christians (or practicing members of other faiths) is to be good enough to measure up with all art-regardless of our content-then we must understand, with serious thought, "what it means to be a Christian and a writer [or artist]" Our models have been largely British (past and recent present.) Where, we must ask, are others who take both their faith and art very seriously? Thanks for opening this discussion. It is one of those issues that gets swept, with some embarassment, under our politically correct karpetts!! But religion continues to be important to many people, in spite of what can seem at times to be strong secular anti-religion pressures. So, apart from the "religious ghettoes" and the "tract writers" (with all due respect) where are our serious artists and writers of faith? I share your Caribbean experience, desire for exploration, and continuing queries. Kwame,
Thanks for your frank explorations here of the topic of faith and art, and the (creative) tensions between the two. It’s not often that one encounters such discussions, unless one is at a site specifically dedicated to faith and art issues.
I’ve often found it a little strange that more Caribbean “religious” writing is not published since our area (me from St. Lucia)has been so strongly influenced by religion-principally Christian, but also by Islam, Hinduism, older religions like Vaudoun, and newer forms like Rastafari. You put your finger on something when you say that you knew you would “find no useful models of faith and literature that you could embrace” as a young Christian and artist. I too share that experience. Also, if our art as Christians (or practicing members of other faiths) is to be good enough to measure up with all art-regardless of our content-then we must understand, with serious thought, “what it means to be a Christian and a writer [or artist]”
Our models have been largely British (past and recent present.) Where, we must ask, are others who take both their faith and art very seriously?
Thanks for opening this discussion. It is one of those issues that gets swept, with some embarassment, under our politically correct karpetts!!
But religion continues to be important to many people, in spite of what can seem at times to be strong secular anti-religion pressures. So, apart from the “religious ghettoes” and the “tract writers” (with all due respect) where are our serious artists and writers of faith? I share your Caribbean experience, desire for exploration, and continuing queries.
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