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Jan
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Last Thursdays post examined the deadly relationship between marketing and the decreased discernment among the greater Christian community. In another post, Ive openly struggled with those well-intentioned believers who say that they will only listen to “Christian” music while using discernment to filter all other forms of popuar art intake. Elsewhere, Ive discussed the lamentable state of much of the artistic quality of the popular arts within the Christian sub-culture and that for many, the popular arts have simply become an outlet for progaganda, the quality of which no longer matters, as long as the message is heard.
Marketers have succeeded in convincing many that it is the label on the music that matters more than the actual content. As such, the level of creativity and/or artistic integrity of many of these “artists” is never questioned because people are no longer interested in art but the message. They fit the label, so they sell records; not because they are truly pushing creative boundaries, not because they actually make you think or evoke any emotions, but because they fit the marketing M.O. As Derek Webb sings on his new album Mockingbird for many, the typical approach to purchasing music is: “Don’t teach me about truth and beauty, just label my music.”
As the labels pertaining to music become more rigid and the quality of much “Christian” music decreases, many artists openly expressing their faith are put into difficult circumstances.
In recent years weve been faced with a category of artists who say things like “were Christians but were not a Christian band.” Sometimes what they mean is that their faith will never make an explicit appearance in their art. But increasingly, what they mean is that they recognize that the label “Christian band” is understood by many to mean second rate limited content, less creative, out-of-touch and they want no part of the sanitized reproduction of popular culture.
The decreased discernment of many Christians has led them to believe that the only acceptable art is either praise and worship or an explicitly presention of the Gospel. Actually putting the Gospel to bear on real-life situations and emotions isn’t good enough because you have to think about the connections being drawn. If it isn’t explicit, then it’s no good. The reality is that we are then faced with people who already claim to believe the Gospel being reassured of their claim rather than ever being challenged to grow deeper in thought and commitment.
I recently read an article in which the band Mute Math openly wrestles with many of these issues. Mute Math is a band that recognizes all of this and more. Having come from more “explicitly Christian” musical backgrounds, the band came together seeking to explore more dynamics of their faith wider than the stilting CCM format allows for. In other words, they were “Christians, but not a Christian band.” But, something odd happened on their way to artistic expression. Singer Paul Meany states:
“All of the sudden, we began to see ourselves getting pigeonholed into this particular world that we weren’t necessarily proud to be associated with, because we aren’t really fans of the music or fans of the cause of the music.”
Mute Math and artists with similar visions, if not similar music (Sufjan Stevens, Pedro the Lion, etc.) are facing great difficulties trying to break free from the cloud that hangs over many “Christian art.” These artists openly announce their faith while arguing that their faith has more to say than simply get saved, or praise God youre already saved and many shun them for not fitting the stereotype. Meany laments:
“We’ve always conditioned our show universally, and (we’re) just trying to speak to human beings; (we’re) not really conditioning it down to Christians, and that’s what the Christian music industry does. It’s for a certain sect of people. I don’t have anything against that–I’m one of them–but I don’t want to taper it just for that.”
In other words, the Gospel is actually bigger than most Christian musicians or music fans make it out to be, and music truly ought to be artistic expression. Cutting to the core of the issue, Meany argues,
“You know, you don’t want to be ashamed of your faith and your beliefs, but you don’t want to be marketed by that, either. It’s like, ‘Can we just market this as music?’ We’re a normal band here; we’re not trying to be the Christian version of a real band.”
The blurring of the boundaries between faith and marketing have disintegrated discernment and for many, helped destroy any sense of true artistic expression or appreciation. Rather than stifle those who see that the mold needs to be cracked, we ought to encourage them to remind us all just how big the Gospel can be and just how beautiful expressing its hold over everything, even music, should be.
- Visit Mute Math’s official website.
- Read the original article.
- Visit Derek Webb’s official website.
- Visit Sufjan Stevens’ official website.
- Visit Pedro the Lion’s official website.
“But increasingly, what they mean is that they recognize that the label Christian band is understood by many to mean second rate limited content, less creative, out-of-touch and they want no part of the sanitized reproduction of popular culture.”
…I think this pretty much nails it. And the thing that really troubles me is that there really isn’t too much dialouge going on in industry cirlces about creating an environment where the artists are developed and nurtured into their gifts like those who have come before them. Out of touch, sanitized reproduction of popular culture indeed. The main concern and biggest idol is money. And I think most artists who are believers, if you press them hard, will admit to you that they didn’t get into music for the money.
my 2 cents…peace.
Brent,
If I had a dime for every Christian band I heard tell me that they were in the Christian market as a springboard into the secular mainstream market, I’d be a rich man! The reason for this? The Christian labels wouldn’t really take the music they wrote seriously–it was all about money. Granted, so is the secular market, but being in the Christian industry for a while was enough to illustrate to me that it was never about musical creativity.
I applaud artists like Mute Math, Sufjan Stevens, and others promoting their music to the non-believing listeners. Like you said, the Gospel is big, and much bigger than the “Christian market.” I agree with Jeremy in that the Christian industry should be discussing ways to nurture and encourage their artists without pressuring a carbon-copy replication of what is popular in the secular market.
One word: Stryper!
I know that I have read it somewhere, maybe on your site, but some of these “Christians in a band” are not too different than missionaries in a country unreceptive to formal approaches to ministry.
I see many of the new “artists holding faith” (1 Timothy 1:19) not having an CCM approved outlet for their music — say an artist like Sufjan that speaks much to both Christians and non-Christians in such a deep and moving way — or bands like mewithoutyou, Norma Jean, the Chariot, etc. that reach into a body of people that most CCM artists would not have — or want — access to.
Then there’s Mutemath… I remember them nearly 3 years ago at a GMA (Gospel Music Association) Luncheon in a ball room full of radio and retail people. I thought this was some great, refreshing music. But the many radio people I encountered throughout the next day or so, said Mutemath was indeed interesting, but not a group that would get airplay, thus not be retail friendly. The issue that faces all parts of the music industry.
Is it the music or the marketability of the music that is important? Of course it is the marketability if we are talking about survival of the art form. But that is the hard truth. And I suspect until we as music lovers and proponents of nurturing the art form and the character of the artist holding faith, inevitably the music will be mandated by the industry.
So, back to the missionary analogy… do these artists need proponents that enhance the artists endeavors, either by buying two CDs –one to pass along; or by helping them get one more show in a new market; or sending them a gift certificate to Sam Ash or Guitar Center? Should we follow the example set by the church in centuries past where artists-in-residence provided us with beauty that lasts even today?
