I just finished reading an excellent post by Chad Miller about the future of the arts. Chad and I have had many conversations regarding this subject before and I believe he has set the stage for some excellent thoughts on the subject.
The Cyclic Viewpoint
Chad takes a look at movements in the arts from a cyclical perspective. Specifically, he uses a ‘redemption cycle’ analogy that compares the philosophical underpinnings of art and culture to other cycles in man’s history. His view is that we are going to see a change in these areas that amounts to ‘putting the pieces back together’.
Adding to what Chad has already put forth, I would like to point out that the cycle he mentions is not without precedent. Although we are in a ‘postmodern’ world currently, similar views have been held by previous cultures – most notably the Romans. One has only to compare the mechanics behind ‘American Idol’ the gladiator arenas to see how similar our two civilizations are.
The fact that a thousand years separates the Roman existentialism from the modern version should clue us in to the fact that there must be a change following. Unfortunately for us, the change for the Romans was the decline of their civilization and the wild Middle Ages.
A Different Outcome
While I don’t think it is possible for a second period of the ‘Dark Ages’ to occur today, I do see the potential for our culture’s ruin. Again historical similarities point out the corollary between the Germanic tribes to the radical Islamists.
So, what does this have to do with Chad’s ideas? Simple. Chad puts forth the option of redemption vs ruin. In a way unlike the Romans, we have the opportunity to put our ‘broken vase’ of postmodernism back together. This is not to say that we will recreate a classical ideal. However, we can create a new set of standards that address the shortcomings of postmodern assumptions.
The Challenge
The challenge I want to lay down is to forge ahead. The problems are too easily seen to be ignored, and postmodernism has given us an enormous boon for the next step: research.
We can view postmodernists’ work as a huge archive of experience and knowledge – they tried almost everything. Some of it worked, some didn’t but all of it can inform our construction of the next step. I don’t pretend to know what that next step will be, but I can say we have taken the preliminary steps toward this ‘fusion’ of postmodern discoveries.
The trick is to build that step one person at a time. Each individual, whether they are aware of their postmodern heritage or not, is capable of finding common ground – empathy if nothing else. My personal art form is built upon creating hybrid techniques, and I am not a singular example of cross-training.
So find that common ground. How can you glue people together?
There are similarities to our culture and the Ancient Roman culture. Do you think several millenia from now people will say “When in America…”
Hmm… interesting.
Maybe they’ll finish it: “When in America, do as the Americans do: Buy it on credit.”
I think it’s important to point out that the common ground doesn’t have to be common to every person, merely between two persons (ideas, approaches) that should be joined. In other words, this ‘common ground’ will be unique for everyone.
Our parts are diverse enough that a one-size-fits-all approach will leave out many. Each segment will have its own unique part to play in the Redemption of the Arts; we ought to help each part of our body find the place where it belongs.
We aren’t trying to suck everyone into our amorphous mass of glue; we are instead striving to be useful tools in the hands of the Artisan as he places every fragment in its place, as he makes us into something more than a pile of pieces.