The Christian Imagination

I read a post last year called Designers as Leaders that I’d like to comment on. The author quotes an essay by Richard Farson. I’ll quote a few paragraphs:

That is such an old story among designers that perhaps it is small wonder that designers tend not see themselves as leaders. If they have learned not to expect their professional judgements to sway clients or employers, how can they imagine leading corporations or communities, to say nothing of exercising leadership in the developing global arena? It is simply impossible for most designers to think of themselves as having a place in high councils of decision making.

But that is where designers are most needed - at the top. It is a travesty that the only professionals close to the CEO’s are lawyers and accountants. Designers have more to offer, because increasingly our organizations need to be design driven, not just market driven. To truly prosper, our global society must have its needs met, not just its wants.

Designers have even better preparation than most to assume leadership. They are especially qualified. Designers are already good at seeing things in context, already understand the sweep of history, already are conversant in the arts, sciences and humanities (as are the best leaders), already are good at working in ensembles, already are environmentally aware, already understand the limits of technology, its backfiring nature, already are capable of a high level of creative thinking, already can appreciate the esthetic dimensions of leadership. The first step, then, is for designers to begin to imagine themselves as leaders—of design firms, of communities, of cultural organizations, of corporations—and beyond.

If you are a designer or an artist, you might be more than you think you are. What if, instead of having training irrevevant to the business world, what if you have have exactly the skills needed to be a leader in the 21st century? Don’t underestimate the power of creative thinking.

If you haven’t seen Microsoft Photosynth Preview, it is beyond amazing. As Microsoft says, “Our software takes a large collection of photos of a place or an object, analyzes them for similarities, and then displays the photos in a reconstructed three-dimensional space, showing you how each one relates to the next.”

The following video is a demo given at the TED conference:

For many artists, art is more than something they do, it is who they are, and it is a vocation they take seriously. And while everyone is creative in some way, it does take time and effort to develop artistic talent, and anyone who excels in their craft is to be commended. There are many who view art as something done by a special class of people, artists, and many artists who view themselves that way. That leaves art as something disconnected from normal life, which is unfortunate.

G.K. Chesterton had some harsh words about elitism in art:

They have goaded and jaded their artistic feelings too much to enjoy anything simply beautiful. They are aesthetes; and the definition of an aesthete is a man who is experienced enough to admire a good picture, but not inexperienced enough to see it. (Chesterton, 92)

Any man with a vital knowledge of the human psychology ought to have the most profound suspician of anybody who claims to be an artist, and talks a great deal about art. Art is a right and human thing, like walking or saying once’s prayers; but the moment it begins to be talked about very solemnly, a man may be fairly certain that the thing is come into a congestion. (Chesterton, 171)

Chesterton insisted that real artists are ordinary people who do art; they are not finely tuned instruments hovering on the brink of psychological catastrophe. Nor do artists need to live in trendy places, to possess certain eccentric furnishings, to wear a certain arty kind of clothing, or to eat at certain notorious cafes. Aesthetes, however, must be careful about such matters. (Peters, 65)

The issue here is the heart of the artist. It’s one thing be artsy, another to do it for the sake of status, and yet another when one gets caught up in their own pride. Of course, this isn’t limited to artists. Pride affects us all.

Chesterton, G.K. Lunacy and Letters. New York: Sheed and Ward. 1958.
Chesterton, G.K. Heretics, in The Collected Works of G.K. Chesterton, vol. 1. San Francsco: Ignatius Press. 1986.
Peters, Thomas C. The Christian Imagination. San Francsco: Ignatius Press. 2000.

The UK-based ArtReview, “the most innovative voice in contemporary art,” has published a list of the 100 most influential people in the art world. François Pinault leads the list. I wonder how much influence they have in culture beyond the art world. I also wonder if any of them is a Christian.