As Mormon artists, we have a lot of decisions we have to make. We have to think about whether or not we will even call ourselves “Mormon artists,” whether or not we will blatantly promote our faith, and whether we will address Mormon audiences and Mormon issues. If we decide to do these things, we have to deal with being rejected by some and scorned by others. If we decide against all of these things, we have to find a way to hold to our values and standards in a world that thinks little of our beliefs. These decisions will definitely impact the kind of art we produce, and the kind of audience we reach.
In my opinion, being a Mormon isn’t something you can just ignore – it’s a part of who you are and you’re going to have to live up to your standards, especially if you are an artist whose work is being viewed and criticized by the public. We have a unique and important obligation to stand as witnesses of Christ, no matter where we are or what we’re doing. Just as a Mormon businessman can make a resolution to be honest in all his dealings, a Mormon artist can make a resolution to only produce work that is wholesome and edifying. There is enough filth and confusion in this world – we have a unique opportunity and responsibility to bring clarity and light to people through our art.
One of my favorite places to look for compelling stories of light created by Mormon artists is on the Mormon Artists Blog. The blog is written by Mormons, for Mormons, and about Mormons, but I think you’ll be impressed by what you find. It turns out that Mormonism isn’t only about having three hours of church and paying tithing; it’s about an entire culture that is full of human emotion and interesting traditions that have just as much value as any other culture.
It really stood out to me when you said “just as a Mormon businessman can make a resolution to be honest in all his dealings, a Mormon artist can make a resolution to only produce work that is wholesome and edifying.” I just find it really interesting that there are certain traps or downfalls that people can fall into with different occupations, and I think it really is important to recognize those things and commit to not doing them before you find yourself in a corner with no way out.
ReplyDeleteI like that you said Mormonism is "an entire culture that is full of human emotion." I have observed how many critics discount LDS culture as a feigned utopia with no real substance, one that ignores the depth of human emotion and seeks to hide "real" human experience under a gloss of religious zeal. Are there LDS members guilty of this? Absolutely. But we experience all the same emotions inherent in our nature as any other of the species, and should not be disregarded.
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