The Mediocrity of Contemporary Art and Media

The Mediocrity of Contemporary Art

Dr. John Jennings

Here we go again. Another art installation/play/movie either criticizing God, mocking God or misrepresenting God. It’s a bit dull to be honest. It seems that modern culture has nothing else to talk about except an ignorant uneducated view of what is wrong with Catholicism.

We are led to believe that religion is ‘old hat’ and out of date. We are bombarded with the idea that without religion we are free. However, the very same outlets provide little alternative.
The theme is common, a girl (usually) is in a Catholic setting, e.g. a school or a convent, she feels repressed by the strict and hash Matriarchs/Patriarchs and rebels, starts shouting and makes a (usually) violent escape, to freedom. Then engages in secular ‘joys’ of addiction, promiscuity and for some reason goes from a Nun to Lesbian in under 50 Minutes. (She also has no accommodation or financial issue at all) No real insight or understanding of the reality or beauty of Catholicism.

It is very rare that anyone would go near a Convent or join a Religious Order who would not believe in God. There is usually a fairly rigorous Formation period to see if they are suitable. I also believe that some Convents have trial periods where young women can stay for a year or so to see if they like the lifestyle or not. There are even ‘open days’ The only time someone would leave a convent is if that particular Order’s charism didn’t suit their temperament, and rest assured it would not involve running off in victory. It would be a time of great disappointment, reflection, care and consideration. Secularists are obviously unfamiliar with the concept of being in a State of Grace.

Then we have scandalous shows where nuns and priests are attracted to each other and have affairs. We see them standing around streets at night, smoking, talking to each other, they are overwhelmed with lust and end up fornicating. The aim is to mock the Church and portray religious people abandoning their entire faith for a moment on the lips. However, when watching this, most Catholics are just trying to figure out. How does a nun even get to meet a priest? let alone develop a sad secular relationship? Think about it. Where do nuns spend their time and where do priests spend their time? Outside of official engagements, never the twain shall meet.

Then you have T.V. shows. On one soap, a character died, and they all started shouting at the ‘priest’ in the pub. ‘Where is your God?’ and such and such. The priest just sat there and lowered his head. Then suddenly, they all started talking about something else. The point? A different show, this angry fellow was in an empty church and started shouting at the crucifix on the wall ‘I hate you, I hate you so much’ Why was he in a Church then? If he was so anti-God, it seems he wouldn’t enter the door. You also have the ubiquitous music videos where they mock religious sites or rituals to gain publicity, at this stage it’s just boring. They have these scenes in shows, because modern culture offers so little. They can only try to raise secular culture by mocking Catholicism, because, quite frankly, secular culture has nothing to offer.

That’s not the worst; there is the Arts. There was a Confession installation, two anonymous people would go in and confess to each other. Sounds harmless, but, there had to be two people. Sometimes, festival volunteers had to go in and the other participant was unaware the person who took their ticket at the door was their opposite and knew who they were. Word is some people  didn’t like the responses. You just can’t have confession without God, But it also seems that you can’t have a modern arts festival without Him either, because there is nothing else in society that offers inspiration.

A musical was presented about the Blessed Virgin Mary, except she wasn’t, she was a liberal feminist woman, and everything that the Queen of the Universe is, believes and stands for, this lady was not. It blasphemed the history in the Bible, Jesus and the whole context and beauty of the Immaculata. Pure uneducated ignorance. They claimed that it was feminist, but, at the same time they denied Mary her place as Mediatrix (Co-Redemptrix), and her Coronation in Heaven. I don’t think they could even understand the miracle of the Immaculate Conception. There were some protests. But, as scandalous as it was, isn’t it all just a bit dull? Where is the magnificent modern culture and new ideas?
Ecclesiastes 1:9 states:

"What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”
This means there is nothing new under God. Artists cannot create a new culture or ideas, because without the inspiration of the Divine, there IS nothing new. They have no recourse but to try to invert Gods beautiful creation and create low quality, ignorant work and try to pass it off as ‘Modern Culture’ They have nothing.

Every generation is promised a progressive society that will dismiss the need for Religion and God. Yet, all we get culturally is works criticizing God and Religion. What is happening is, people are living (low quality) secular lives and consuming low-quality media. They want to blame someone for their problems. But instead of dealing with their issues head on and contacting their politicians or starting a petition, they blame God. They lack the courage to deal with the failure of secularism, so they condemn God instead. However, it’s all a bit dreary, isn’t it? At this stage when I see poor media, I am more likely to cringe than get offended. So, please, artists and media, find another way of expressing yourself or just admit the truth, that all good culture and inspiration comes from God, and nothing else can compare. After all, you should know, you’re the one who keeps bringing Him up.