In the exhibit Types and Shadows: Intimations of Divinity at the Brigham Young University Art Museum, a collection of art is brought together under theme found in the following scripture verse:
“And behold, all things have their likeness, and all things are created and made to bear record of me, both things which are temporal, and things which are spiritual; things which are in the heavens above, and things which are on the earth, and things which are in the earth, and things which are under the earth, both above and beneath: all things bear record of me” (Moses 6:63).
The string that ties together the different pieces of art is the belief that all things can be types, or symbols, of Christ. Some pieces are overtly religious, such as God Steadying the Ark by Boleslav Parasion, which depicts God guiding Noah’s ark (Pheysey 11). Others may be more difficult to relate, such as Daily Bread by Lee Bennion (14). This is a simple painting of a woman holding a loaf of bread in her apron. The challenge to the viewer is to find how each piece can be a type of Christ.
The piece that was most interesting to me was The Prodigal Son painted by Bruce H. Smith (19). To me, this seemed to be only a painting of a feast. However, the tour guide for our class led us through an analysis that uncovered the subtle meanings. The first panel is bright and colorful, symbolizing the Prodigal Son’s life before he left his home. The center panel is painted with different shades of gray. In the middle of the table are miniature pigs, a reflection of the low point of the prodigal Son’s journey and how he was forced to feed himself with the pigs. The last panel was bright, colorful, and abundant with food. In the front was a depiction of a tiny cow, signifying the slaughtered calf at the feast in honor of the son’s return. The different elements in this painting came together to portray the parable of the Prodigal son, which is representative of Christ’s willingness to readily forgive us. This seemingly simple painting became, through analysis, a type and shadow of Christ.
The opportunity to learn in this exhibit is exceptional; I would highly recommend attending it. If you are not usually interested in art, you are not alone. I do not usually appreciate art museums. A solution to this problem would be to sign up for a tour. The tour guides are very knowledgeable and can help you see the deep and beautiful imagery in each piece. The exhibition guides are also helpful. Don’t just walk through this exhibit—all you’ll see is a few paintings on a wall. However, if you take the time to understand each painting you will leave thoughtful and inspired. This is not an exhibit to see, but to experience.
Works Cited
Pheysey, Dawn C., and Herman C. Du Toit. The Image Speaks: A Study Guide for Religious Art. Provo, UT: Brigham Young University Museum of Art and Religious Studies Center, 2009. Print.
19 November 2009
11 November 2009
Amistad Review
Note to Reader: This is my personal review of the movie Amistad. This film is rated R, however my class watched the version edited by “Family Flicks.” If you can obtain an edited copy, I highly recommend it as an inspiring and historically accurate film for mature viewers.
The main theme that comes to my mind from our viewing of Amistad is the desensitization to slavery and the humanity the film tries to portray. I realized that even I, as a modern student, have been desensitized to the horrors of slavery through the memorized numbers, historical facts, and the common struggle to make history come alive. It was also surprising to me the amount of desensitization the politicians of that time period were accustomed to. They could look in the faces of slaves and call them property. This film tries to help the viewer find the humanity in the lives of the people in this story, both slaves and freemen, and, in my opinion, it succeeds.
Mankind’s race for power and money was exposed well in both the politicians and the traders. It was almost surprising the completely corrupting effect that money and power have. There were at least four separate claims put to court over the slaves, each politician and tradesman believing they had a right to this “property.” They were each completely desensitized to the human life standing before them. It was only the money they cared for.
The goodness of humanity was represented in the diligence of the attorney fighting for the slaves’ freedom. The attorney, Baldwin, was hired by abolitionists and while he didn’t particularly care about abolition at first, he gave the case the best he had. He struggled to find a way to communicate with Cinque, the “spokesman” for the slaves, and persevered through every loop the prosecution and court threw him. Even when he was persecuted physically and his law practice had practically disappeared, he kept working until he had won the trial. His diligence and perseverance were inspiring.
Even more touching was the humanity represented in Cinque. He was completely humble in being the slaves’ chosen leader, even though they adored him. It was also amazing the amount of culture presented by him. We heard the story of his wife, his culture, his voyage, and we saw in him the sharp difference between the African and white cultures. We saw his desperation for freedom as he broke the chains on the boat and later pleaded for freedom in broken English in the courtroom. When another slave tried to interpret the pictures he saw in a Bible, the story of Christ, however vague, had an influence on him and Cinque, as it does on all truly humble men. This is the essence of humanity.
Humanity was portrayed beautifully in this film, through the lows of corruption, the diligence and goodness of the lawyer, who made the slaves’ cause his own, and the depth of the slaves’ experience. It is a needed shock to the desensitized modern viewer and an inspiration for the cause of liberty for all people and all nations.
04 November 2009
Adam Smith's "Wealth of Nations"
Hailed as the foundation for modern economic literature, The Wealth of Nations came about in the same time period as the American Revolution and matched the Revolution in novelty and genius (Cropsey). It was printed in the same year as the Declaration of Independence and is a reflection of the times with its call for an extension of liberty. Adam Smith, the Scottish Author, gave voice to many revolutionaries’ desires for freedom in the marketplace as it refuted the practice of mercantilism and paired the abstract of freedom with an new concrete theory of free markets.
The accepted economic theory of the day was mercantilism. Mercantilism was the practice of determining a nation’s wealth by how much treasure the nation had. The main component of this practice was the government’s regulation of trade to assure that as much money as possible stayed within their economy. Adam Smith refuted this system by arguing that a nation’s wealth should be determined by the lifestyle of its people, or, in other words, by the per capita income. He also argued that “the invisible hand of the free market directed economic life more effectively and fairly than governmental intervention” (Foner 224).
The principle of free markets was founded on the principle that if a person is left free to act, their human nature compels them to act rationally in their own self interest. As every person acts in their own interest, each trade will be for the benefit of both parties, though they may not profit equally. Some of the pragmatic elements of a market economy include flexible currency, private corporations, industrialization, and consumerism.
This new theory of free markets fit exactly with the revolutionaries’ ideals of liberty and personal responsibility. As the war ended and an economy was built, the principles found in the Wealth of Nations were incorporated into their system. The writers of the United States Constitution were careful to include no mention of how an economy or a financial sector should be run, to avoid beginning a tradition of government regulation. Free market theory also affected how the banking system and treasury department were organized.
Adam Smith presented many new, exciting economic ideas which quickly spread aross the world. Its influence was especially timely in the forming of the new American nation. Through the rebuttal of mercantilism and an expansion of liberty into concrete theory, The Wealth of Nations became a foundation for modern economics.
Works Cited
Cropsey, Joseph. "Wealth of Nations, The." Encyclopedia Americana. 2009. Grolier Online. 3
Foner, Eric. Give Me Liberty!, Second Edition, Volume 1 (Give Me Liberty). 2nd ed. Vol. 1.
Holzapfel, Richard. "Lecture in BYU American Government and Society Course." Brigham
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)