Liberty University ARTS 503 Essay Critique Siedell - Deylan Smith

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ESSAY CRITIQUE ART HISTORY ANALYSIS SHEET Author: Siedell, Daniel. Title: “Enrique Martinez Celaya’s Thing and Deception: The Artistic Practice of Belief.” Religion and the Arts 10.1 (2006): ... 59–88. Topic In this article, Siedell discusses the iconoclastic urge that has gone on for years for artists, critics, and casual viewers to separate art and religion, making them out to be at war with one another. Using Enrique Martinez Celaya’s educational background, past experience with the religious institutions with his upbring, and looking at his various works of art a literature, specifically his piece, Thing and Deception, to show that art and relgion are more connected than people realize. Celaya’s own personal struggles with this top, as demonstrated in his art, is the embodiment of this conflict. Rationale This conflict that Siedell is attempting to address and resolve, isn’t a new one by any means. In the last few decades the church has tried to separate itself from modern and contemporary art, and a new wave of artists have used art a personal statement against established institutions, the church included. What Siedell does differently, is provide a new interpretation and view of this conflict by looking at the inner conflict of an artist of this generation to support his argument. Thesis In profound ways, art and religion are intimately related to one another, although a consequence of this iconoclastic urge is to separate the two. This paper explores religion and belief through art. Art is often viewed as an inferior or even untrustworthy guide to Truth. And therefore, this view assumes, the best that art can do is serve as a “visual illustration” of some truth better expressed through science, philosophy, or religion. However, as philosopher Michael Kelly argues, quite convincingly, this is a particularly subtle but powerful form of iconoclasm (Iconoclasm in Aesthetics). Far from revealing the impotence and irrelevance of art, the persistent presence of iconoclasm might indeed prove otherwise. Historian Dario Gamboni even suggests that our iconoclasm “bear[s] witness to the substance and weight” of art. This essay explores the “substance and weight” of one painting and how it can help us understand the nature of belief and disbelief, art and religion. Approach The approach that the writer takes to make his argument is to examine one specific artist, evaluating his cultural and religious background, dissecting one specific piece of art, and the inner conflict this particulary artist went through. Using his own personal relationship with the artist, the writer is able to make an inductive conclusion in his argument made off one one experience. Research A resource that Siedell has that many researchers would not, was the direct quotes and personal relationship with the artis [Show More]

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