Why Art
Lynn Martin
Delivered at Literature Camp 2021.
Paul Nisly: Flannery O’Connor’s Fierce Christian Faith
Paul Nisly examines several of Flannery O’Connor’s short stories and letters to explore aspects of her understanding of the Christian faith. Continue reading . . . “Paul Nisly: Flannery O’Connor’s Fierce Christian Faith”
Carita Keim: Listening to the “Roar Which Lies on the Other Side of Silence”
Narration, Subjectivity, and Selfhood in Villette and Middlemarch. Examining the works of two female authors of the 19th century, Carita discusses Continue reading . . . “Carita Keim: Listening to the “Roar Which Lies on the Other Side of Silence””
Alana K. Asby: Laughter and the Green Knight
In a previous installment of this essay on Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, I described my journey of acquaintance with this medieval poem, and my growing appreciation for it as not only a story about Christmas, but a story-poem for Christmas, to be enjoyed at Christmastime. Continue reading . . . “Alana K. Asby: Laughter and the Green Knight”
Alana K. Asby: Tolkien and the Green Knight
I first encountered Gawain and the Green Knight during Bible college. I remember scrounging time between Wednesday evening choir practice and prayer service to read through it as fast as I could, Continue reading . . . “Alana K. Asby: Tolkien and the Green Knight”
Lynn Michael Martin: The Anabaptist Garden
One surprising part of Voltaire’s Candide is its treatment of Jacques the Anabaptist. Jacques appears and takes a part of the stage just beyond the limelight Continue reading . . . “Lynn Michael Martin: The Anabaptist Garden”
Grace Martin: Reading Middlemarch for Meaning
Middlemarch is a bit of an enigma to me because it takes what might otherwise be cliché characters, piously canting through detail-dense scenes Continue reading . . . “Grace Martin: Reading Middlemarch for Meaning”
Alana K. Asby: Poems I Can Contemplate
What a surprising thing the author of Hebrews says about faith!
Kierkegaard would have us think that faith is what you use when there’s no evidence, no certainty, nothing to go on. Continue reading . . . “Alana K. Asby: Poems I Can Contemplate”
The Jester: Thoughts on Jung, Ideas, and Responsibility
I’ve just made the rather surprising decision to retract my last article and I’m going to try to explain why I did that. I’m in favor of ideas. Continue reading . . . “The Jester: Thoughts on Jung, Ideas, and Responsibility”
Phoebe Anthus: What Mind-Hands Hold
There is this something in us all that wants to feel different, wants to feel better than the hodgepodge of thoughtless humanity crowded around us on all sides. We want to feel that we are original, important and altogether a “somebody.” And so, as the light of God’s goodness Continue reading . . . “Phoebe Anthus: What Mind-Hands Hold”
The Jester: Shakespeare’s Jesters
What do I know of Fools?
To wit? A foolish one.
Too foolish? But a wit.
“What’s in a name? A rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” wrote Shakespeare, the great playwright who gave us many of our oldest idioms. Continue reading . . . “The Jester: Shakespeare’s Jesters”
Lynn Michael Martin: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
When I hear a piece of wisdom the first time, I’m inclined to agree with it. When I hear it for the hundredth time, I begin to wonder why it’s popular. Take, for example, the idea that “travel broadens your horizons.” Continue reading . . . “Lynn Michael Martin: Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
Faith Martin: I All Alone Beweep my Outcast State
Posing as an isolated artist, a deeply misunderstood brooding mind, or as an overlooked introvert seems to be a popular theme among writers of poetry. Poets, maybe especially young ones, have tended to have a fascination with Continue reading . . . “Faith Martin: I All Alone Beweep my Outcast State”
Lectures, Seminars. Some New Year’s News.
We have some exciting news for this New Year! We’re providing some new places for conversations and education to happen in an Anabaptist writing context. Continue reading . . . “Lectures, Seminars. Some New Year’s News.”
Darren Nisly: Morning is Coming
There are times in my life when a musical work and an idea of truth become intertwined within me. I cannot hear the piece of music without the associated idea entering into my mind. Continue reading . . . “Darren Nisly: Morning is Coming”
Curator 2020 Readership Survey
Over the past few months the Curator has been working to develop new mediums for art and literature. Continue reading . . . “Curator 2020 Readership Survey”
The Jester: A Jester, a Jab, And a Blessing
The Jester (the Fool) is free to play with words, ideas, and the world precisely because he is a fool. Not being burdened by great claims to education, writing experience, or intellect, I am what fits me most nearly, and in such liberty I write. Continue reading . . . “The Jester: A Jester, a Jab, And a Blessing”
Lynn Michael Martin: Villette—a Book Review
This summer, having too much time on my hands and the libraries being closed, I prowled around my mother’s gigantic book collection, trying to find something I hadn’t read. Continue reading . . . “Lynn Michael Martin: Villette—a Book Review”
Rebecca Weber: Reverberations of Language Shock
Some years ago, my dad wanted to be a missionary. He hoped to go out into uncharted territory and maybe translate the Bible into a new language. For several months he studied languages and culture. Continue reading . . . “Rebecca Weber: Reverberations of Language Shock”
Literature Camp 2020 Highlights
At the Curator, one of our main visions is to bring people together to discuss what the arts should mean to us as members of God’s kingdom.
Continue reading . . . “Literature Camp 2020 Highlights”