Here is a link to Pope John Paul II's Letter to Artists. I think it would be really good for us to read this and discuss it. Perhaps we could do this asynchronously via comments on the blog, that way we don't have to wait for our next meeting.
Letter of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Artists, 1999
Monday, November 24, 2008
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2 comments:
thanks for posting this, arowbee. I'll be reading and getting back about the letter in the not-too-distant future.
Novus
preliminary observations:
As the Romantic poets and their heirs attest, it's all too easy for the artist to trust his own native creativity inasmuch as it is his own. JPII corrects this "Dead Poets Society" view of true artistic originality, citing Cardinal Nicholas of Cusa, there's fine distinction between owning creativity and borrowing it. The artist's talent is really on loan from God.
In section 2, I'm reminded of John Milton's profession that the praiseworthy writer "ought himself to be a true poem." Since, as JPII says, the artist's work "becomes a unique disclosure of their own being," they ought to be in the business of perfecting themselves, making themselves into works of art.
I love the allusions to Polish artists and language. Reminds me that the Pope himself was a conscious craftsman.
I am also reminded of poet W.H. Auden's writings on Christianity and art, the significance of the Incarnation. Some of these ideas expressed more fully here I first got from Auden. All important this time of year in anticipating the Word Made Flesh this week.
Rob, thanks for getting us to read this. I need to read more of JPII.
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