S1E3 - The Morality of Art, Part 2: Artist Culpability

In the first part of our discussion we talked through what elements characterize high quality or good art, and also what pitfalls low quality or bad art often succumb to. We had some fun and leaned into each other’s inner nerd with our examples, but now we turn our attention to perhaps a more nuanced issue, namely the culpability of the artist.

When we create something, we access the divine spark that is in all humans, what Christians refer to as the Image of God. In doing so, we give life to a particular and specific expression of the divinity that is inside each and every one of us. The very act of creation is a sacred and holy practice, one which not only represents our personal experience, but also connects us to a long line of influences and tradition.

Yet what do we do with ill-intentioned art? Perhaps a more difficult question, what do we do with well-intentioned art that has adverse consequences in society? Can a pure-hearted artist’s creation ever be deemed immoral? Or is all art simply a distillation of humanity to be observed and reflected upon, without judgement? All this and more on this edition of Questions from the Pew.

S1E1 - The Morality of Art, Part 1: Good v. Bad Art

Art. It comes in diverse media and is created by even more diverse individuals. It is inextricably tied to the human experience. It is the way we communicate ideas, esteem values, and effect change. And all of this wrapped in beauty. The appreciation of what our hands create is something that separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom. This appreciation is not just merely being pleased with our work, but the ability to interpret, analyze, and assign value to it. Those things look different for each person. Oftimes art is viewed as subjective. But what can be agreed upon is the value of art.

In this episode, we sit down and talk about what makes art - in all its forms - both good and bad. Without offering strict definitions or standards, we talk about what we mean when we deem art “good” or “bad” and the implications of those categories.