A creative person can make us see something in a new way, whether with bold originality, or by rearranging existing objects. But what I want is something that makes me see myself in a new way. This is what elevates something to the level of “art”.

It seems to me that what is missing from contemporary “assemblage” art is a unique, personal and courageous perspective: people who have experienced the world only through the media have only media content as their source of metaphor, and so, their work is sterile.

Philip K. Dick wrote a book he entitled: “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?” (it was made into the movie “Bladerunner”). The book is a cautionary tale of culture being over-run by technology. He wrote it in 1968.

But here’s a question: Are the creators of Christian Media limiting their own world view? And as for the film students: the problem is that they are obessed with making a film: they should be obsessed with telling a story.

Peace.

Their entire model is built on this and yet people watch it. I personally can’t stand it. It just seems so cheap. I am wondering how people will look back on the 00′s years, as we have spent an entire decade reviving 80′s pop culture. Sentiment of our childhood and looking back with fondness is appropriate (juat as an omage to a famous director or DP is in a film), but I tend to agree that we are running out of original ideas (or at least the desire to try).

I think as believers we must begin by admitting that all creativity is derivative.  We are the creature, not the creator.  I believe that when we understand this, it changes the way we look at creativity and the process of production.  We obviously have been made in God’s image and He has endowed us with some of that “Creator” impulse in doing His work in the world and expressing our worship to Him, but we are not the font of these things.

When I read the great Puritan writers, one of the things that strikes me is the sheer number of scripture references all throughout their works.  They obviously knew THE Book before writing THEIR books.  But that doesn’t lessen the impact of their books, it gives them authority and they begin to move the reader from knowledge to wisdom.

Sometimes, I think the obsession with “creativity” can drive us to the brink as we struggle to find something new to say, in a new way…when what we might need to do is remind those we speak to of the wisdom of the past (returning to the Old Paths as Jeremiah says).

So when we look at the issue at hand and the lack of originality today, I do think it is a problem, but not merely because of the laziness and derivative nature of it, but also the lack of authority and wisdom in it. 

Media producers who can’t “franchise themselves” will often imitate a competitor’s success, in hopes of latching on to a winning formula.  When the Beatles ushered in the “British Invasion,” the record labels fell over themselves in their rush to sign ANY rock and roll band who was from England.  If NBC has success with “E.R.,” then CBS will try “Chicago Hope,” and ABC will go with “Grey’s Anatomy.”  How many daytime talk shows are there?  How many “judge” or “court” shows will the audience accept before it reaches the saturation point?

I will probably take some flak for this, but my problem with the majority of religious programming is that they also attempt to copy media genres that have proven to be successful, only on a much smaller budget.  I see this as a “follow the money” situation in which the best and brightest will migrate to where they can receive conmensurate compensation for their talent.  I don’t think this situation will change until religous media comes up with a new business model.   And I don’t see this happening any time in the foreseeable future.

There is more murder, adventure, love and redemption in the greatest selling book of all time than any other work in history.

The script has already been written and it sells itself.

If grass roots and guerrilla micro-budget secular non-profits (and start-ups) can get it ~ why can’t the gatekeepers of the greatest story in history?

Hop to it peoples.

Consider DaVinci. His creativity and genius often resulted from insatiable curiosity, a commitment to persistently experience and thus know (learn), his refined senses (especially sight), a willingness to embrace ambiguity, he balanced art and science, and so much more (Gelb, 1998).

In reality, here’s a reductionist thought: If ALL of GOD is in CHRIST (any theological arguments there?), and the NT is replete with promises that ALL of CHRIST is in US, then why should created beings FILLED WITH THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE of the CREATOR, sit at the back of the creativity bus? Ever?