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| Sunday, November 26, 2006
Book > Sights & Sounds edited by Robert M. Solomon & Lim K. Tham A Reply Worth WaitingWriter : Dawn Fung Sights & Sounds is a timely publication. It shows the National Council of Churches (NCCS)'s interest to critically engage the arts scene in Singapore and I suppose as the editors put it in the preface, "Christians have had a long history of relating with the arts and media". This "long history" may be examined from three angles. Firstly, God is the Creator of the world - we consider his role as the supreme artist and ours in reference to that. Secondly the Bible is a text rich in various prose and poetry. Its words have influenced art history and continues to do so when we regard the Word of God as truth and guide in all that we do. Thirdly Jesus Christ is the enigmatic embodiment of the gospel, transited from 'religion of the ear' to 'religion of the eye', analogous to multi-dimensional art practice. The artistry really refers to our lives moulded in the heavenly potter's hands in word, thought, deed, and actions as Jesus transforms us at all levels. To make relevant this history, Sights & Sounds surveys six artmaking mediums - visual arts, theatre, music, film, television and literature. The writings reflect an eagerness to respond to the moral and social issues from our engagement with the creative arts and media. However, I felt that the preface, which already had a potentially interesting premise of us "relating with the arts and media" through theological insight, did not quite work out. Perhaps that is the problem when church leaders cum editors hand over a big topic to practitioners who have a different set of consideration of what matters to them in art. While there is a fair bit of unrealistic expectations in bringing a coherent exposition to arts in theology, the team did their best to benefit their target groups of church leaders, Christians in general as well as non-Christian friends interested in the church's stand on the arts. One more thing that is sorely lacking in Sights & Sounds are local references to individuals or groups that have been or previously were a key presence in Singapore's Christian arts scene. Pacific Light Theatre, All Good Gifts Ministry, Eagles, Touch Arts, C.Arts, Literarti, Awakening Productions, the Christian fellowship in Mediacorp and NAC are some names that pop up. Local readers should be aware of their legacy and influence in the areas of reaching out to and discipling artists. Even though I found the publication particularly wanting in some areas, I think the effort is commendable. Sights & Sounds is a pioneering step from the churches in Singapore, a clear voice to Christians in the arts that they are interested to partner us in what we do.
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