Critique by Creating

Everyone is given the ability to create. The things I create are different from what you create, but creators we are nonetheless. We are creators because God is a creator.

I am still reading through "UnChristian," and though I'm getting closer to the end, the vast amount of stuff that is being talked about still kind of makes my head spin. The chapters I read today were about the ideas that Christians appear to outsiders to be too political and too judgemental.

Truth be told, I couldn't really connect with the too political standpoint. I don't put much thought into that stuff (which is a down fall on my part, I know). But one point that was made really intrigued me. David Kinnaman referenced Michelangelo's philosophy, "Critique by creating." Kinnaman had a helpful suggestion for Christlike people: "Rather than being known for criticism, let's learn to step in and work toward a solution for the problems we see."

I like Michelangelo's idea -- say something about the world through what you make. Make things that promote something better, something positive for the world around you.

Art for the sake of art is something that my opinion for is starting to change. I am not against doing art because you love it, because it moves you, but I think there should be more reason than just the focus on yourself. Art is meant to be seen and experienced by others, and those experiences that you create can have an impact on others that you don't realize when first creating something. I don't think you should over analyze it, but I think you should be aware that what you are creating impacts people.

Theatre artists don't rehearse for months just to put on a show to an empty theatre. We want our work to be seen, to move people, to change their attitudes even a little from where they were when they walked in to where they were when they walked out. The director or designer's decisions make a huge impact on how the play is perceived. We should make sure our creation is critiquing something, but be mindful of how we do so. If our decisions drive people away rather than make them think, we are not helping our cause.

So go for it, put on a controversial play, paint something unexpected, walk around in a grass suit, sing an impassioned song, write an emboldened poem -- but make sure the message that you want to say or the thing you are critiquing is clear, otherwise it may turn into white noise. Or worse, it may shut people down to what you are saying.

See the things I think about given a book and an afternoon in a coffee shop?

Until next time, create and critique.