The Impoverishment of American Culture

An editorial in the Thursday, July 19, 2007, Wall Street Journal raises some interesting questions. Chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts Dana Gioia says that he would love to conduct an experiment. He'd like to survey a cross-section of Americans and ask them how many active NBA players, Major League baseball players, and American Idol contestants they can name. Then he'd ask them how many living American poets, playwrights, painters, sculptors, architects, classical musicians, conductors, composers, scientists, and social thinkers they can name.

He argues that fifty years ago, Americans weren't necessarily smarter, but culture was. TV variety shows were as apt to feature opera singers and classical musicians as they were a sports hero like Mickey Mantle. General interest TV talk shows would interview authors like John Steinbeck and James Baldwin.

Gioia sees one of the consequences of this loss of recognition of artists, thinkers, and scientists impoverishing our culture by reducing the playing field for role models. Today's role models for young people tend to come from sports or entertainment, sending the message that success and meaning come from money and fame. The marketplace puts a price on everything, but culture's focus goes beyond price to value. He argues that it is an understanding of art that will keep our nation competitive in the global marketplace--because it is in learning about art that we develop an ability to be thoughtful, creative, and innovative.

He points to a study that shows two behavioral groups of Americans developing: one group that sits in front of an electronic device, passively consuming entertainment. The other group takes advantage of new technologies, but they balance their lives with other activities: exercise, volunteering to do charity work, playing sports. And what is the difference between the two groups? Whether they read for pleasure and participate in the arts or not. Gioia sees part of the solution to this problem in arts education in public schools.

How relevant Gioia's concerns are. And how much more should we who know the God of culture desire to engage in His gifts and want our children to enjoy them as well?

Scripture repeatedly instructs us to use music to God's glory. And Old Testament passages that talk about the construction of the tabernacle and temple imply an interest in and understanding of the visual arts. Scripture itself demonstrates the importance of the art of written language. Sports and athletic competition dominate our schools, and there doesn't seem to be any more interest in culture in the Christian schools (and sometimes less interest)than in the public ones.

Sports programs aren't bad or wrong. But we need to care about developing good thinking skills through learning about art and beauty. Unfortunately, our society's lack of interest in culture seems to have infiltrated the church, and if Gioia's perceptions about the consequences of this problem are at all accurate, there will be serious implications for future generations of Christians as well.