Written By Lesallan – June 14, 2023
Expressionism is a painting style that uses altered forms and dramatic colors to express extreme emotions and inner states. Expressionism might be considered an “ism” most sympathetic to a Christian worldview because it recognizes the reality and depth of human feelings, especially those arising from sin, suffering, and redemption. Some expressionist artists, such as Emil Nolde and Georges Rouault, were influenced by Christian themes and imagery.
Nihilism is a philosophical position that denies the existence of any objective meaning, purpose, or value in life. Nihilism should be considered one of the most opposed to the Christian worldview because it contradicts the biblical affirmation of God as the source and standard of all truth, goodness, and beauty. Nihilism is the logical outcome of atheism, naturalism, and relativism, resulting in despair, hopelessness, and apathy. Nihilism also destroys any motivation for moral behavior or human dignity.
The philosophy behind Expressionism from a Christian perspective may be seen as a response to the alienation and anxiety caused by the “social and political upheavals of the early twentieth century” (Platt, 2010). From a Christian perspective, Expressionism may be respected for recognizing the reality and depth of human feelings, especially those arising from sin, suffering, and redemption. However, Expressionism may also be challenged for its exaggeration, distortion, negativity, and possible neglect of hope, grace, and joy.
This student would suggest that a Christian can adopt some of the twentieth-century “isms” philosophical tenets as long as they are consistent with the Bible, reasonably respectful of diversity, and closely connected or appropriate to what is being done or considered God’s truth. However, a Christian should also decline any of the twentieth-century “isms” philosophical tenets that are contrary to the biblical revelation of God’s character, will, and plan for His creation.
One way to approach whether a Christian can work in an artistic or musical form that contradicts a Christian worldview is to consider three aspects: faith, values, and integrity. Christians should not compromise these aspects when working in such a form. However, a Christian should also exercise care, discernment, and accountability in this situation. Christians should be aware of the false philosophy that underlies the form and not let it affect his or her beliefs. Christians should be clear about the message he or she wants to convey and not cause confusion or misunderstanding among others. Christians should be faithful to God’s calling and commands and not let the form distract him or her from God’s purpose.
This student’s preferred art movement of the twentieth century is Abstract Expressionism, which emerged in the United States in the nineteen forties and gained international recognition. This movement challenged the dominance of Paris as the center of Western art and introduced new ways of expressing emotions and ideas through abstract forms and colors. The student admires the works of Abstract Expressionist artists who used techniques such as dripping, staining, and gestural brushstrokes to create spontaneous and expressive paintings.
This student dislikes Dadaism, which was a radical movement that rejected traditional art and embraced nonsense, chaos, and anti-art. This student thinks that Dadaism was too absurd and provocative and cites Fountain by Marcel Duchamp as an example of a Dada artwork that was nothing but a urinal with a fake signature. This student also dislikes other Dada artworks, such as cut-up poems, collages, and ready-made, which are considered to be meaningless, disrespectful, and of no value to the arts.
References:
Dewitte, D. J., Larmann, R. M., & M Kathryn Shields. (2018). Gateways to Art: Understanding the Visual Arts (3rd ed.). Thames & Hudson.
Miami Dade College. (2019). History of Modernism. Mdc.edu. https://www.mdc.edu/wolfson/academic/artsletters/art_philosophy/humanities/history_of_modernism.htm
Platt, L. A. (2010). Planning Ideology and Geographic Thought in the Early Twentieth Century: Charles Whitnall’s Progressive Era Park Designs for Socialist Milwaukee. Journal of Urban History, 36(6), 771–791. https://doi.org/10.1177/0096144210374016
