An earlier thread about the Bible got me thinking about divinely inspired works of art. Many artists, writers and musicians have talked about the feeling that they were guided by mystical forces -- they had the feeling that something greater than themselves was at work in the creation of their art. My question is what, if any, works of art do you feel have some type of divine inspiration at their core? Or, alternately, what works of art make you feel closer to divinity when you experience them? For me, Walt Whitman's "Song of Myself" seems to be not so much a poem as a spiritual guide. I honestly feel he was able to, just for a moment, crack open the core of the universe, extract some of its secrets and present them to the world in his inimitable way. It never fails to thrill me each time I read it. I'm curious to know what others find to be inspired/inspirational.
As strange as it may sound, but I found "Who Moved My Cheese" to be inspirational. I'm currently looking for more cheese!
Michelangelo's ceiling frescoes in the Sistine Chapel seem to be divinely inspired. And of course, The Last Judgement:
great question...i'm sure anything I contend could be arguable. I know John Coltrane felt "Love Supreme" was divinely inspired. I love it, so I might tend to agree!!! There is a song by Jars of Clay called, "Frail." The song begins and ends with long periods of strings (violins, i assume). I've prayed with this song on in the background and found it to be quite peaceful. I would say it enhanced my experience with God during that time. When I listen to it in the car, I seem to unplug (despite the traffic around me!!). i find a good deal of music to be inspirational...just wish i were more musically-inclined! my father sings just like sinatra (no kidding -- he sounds EXACTLY like him!)...my sister was a tremendous ballet dancer...my mother sings very well...my brother played the drums in a band...I took a few piano lessons and decided it took me away from time playing football with my buddies!! stupid, stupid, stupid!!! There's a woman at my church who sings in the choir and has an opera-quality voice. We're a fairly small church, so she sings solos sometimes. Absolutely beautiful...I've talked to her about it and she says it is truly a spiritual experience for her to praise God with the gift He gave her.
This may sound strange, but the works of art that affect me the most spiritually actually make me feel more isolated. It's an odd feeling: lonely, yet consoled, somehow. As if the human spirit is a fragile thing, that perhaps cannot be justified... that human connection is ultimately impossible... but that everything is ok somehow, anyway. Van Gogh's Cafe de Terrace and TS Eliot's The Wasteland make me feel this way, among many other things. I mention them, because it was through these works that I first felt this way.
Beethoven's 9th - the guy was freaking DEAF when he wrote what is still considered one of the greatest symphonies of all time. He actually had to cut off the legs of his piano and lay flat on the floor so he could feel the vibrations!!! Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh - Honestly, I don't know much about art but I know this painting is mezmorizing. Maybe it was all the lead in the paint he ate, but this painting just seems inspired beyond the norm.
Bob, just an FYI: A semi-recent Jeopardy question went something like this: "I did my greatest work with my beard pointed toward God." "Who is Michelangelo?" (He was lying on his back as he did the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel)
That Van Gogh painting Cafe de Terrace is just sick. Just plain sick. I don't believe in divinity, but I'd like to share my favorite painting. It's the one in the Menial Collection which shows a house. It is night on the bottom half, and day on the top.
I don't think there exists divinely inspired works anymore, being that the fear of God is out of most artist nowadays, but I do firmly believe there are still artist dedicated to QUALITY of their work. Too many times people feel "inspired" to do this or that but the actual aesthetic of it falls short of "inspiring" to others that view it. WE just don't get it! This is too comon nowadays! Those I think are still sincere about their talent and dedicated to their craft are: Francesco Clemente Jackson Pollock Sigmar Polke Damien Hirst Italo Calvino Buke Garcia Marques Steven King Francis Ford Copola oh, and life, GOD DANGIT, life is inspiring more than any poem or painting!
I would submit John Irving's A Prayer For Owen Meany as divinely inspired. I concur with Jeff on Beethoven's 9th. . . divinely inspired and prominently featured in Die Hard to boot! also, Hakeem Olajuwon's '95 playoffs.
interesting...maybe you're right. maybe a better way to ask it is what works of art spiritually encourage you as the viewer/listener/etc of the work?? I believe God uses all sorts of things and people for His glory that you wouldn't think of. There's a lot of that notion in the Old Testament. Mrs. JB -- you're right.. I could take lessons today. I'm just way too busy with work..and i guard my time with my family...maybe after my children go to college one day!! Given that I only have one child and he's just two right now (and would like to have at least one more someday), that could be awhile!!!
How old are you, MadMax? I always thought of you as 45ish... but if you have children that small, maybe I was wrong.
Nice one!!! With as much as he fasts and prays, he must have been divinely inspired during this great work.
(I was) Always Yours Well look what I found Simpleness in my life All my questions now have answers Found them in a moment with You Yes, I found them in Your Quietness Teaching me without words Yes, I found them in Your Happiness Oh dear Load, I was Always Yours You say You love me This kind of Love is so strange All my life I wondered If your Love had a place for me Yes, I found Love in your Quietness Teaching me without words Yes, there's Peace in Your Happiness Oh dear Lord, I was Always yours I look, I look around me Do You know what I see Your Love reaching out to me That Love is the only Light I see Yes, I found Love in Your Quietness Teaching me without words Yes, there's Hope in Your Happiness Oh, dear Lord, I was Always Yours Divenely inspired? I don't know...but I cry every time I sing this one. RR
