CULTURE AND CORRUPTION

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We might define “culture” as the artistic expression of the way in which a society or nation or civilisation thinks, believes and does things. It is a mixture of artistic ability (writing, composing, painting etc.) working on compelling contemporary interests and desires. I grew up thinking it to be also inherently allied to what was noble; culture stood for standards. I’ve had to learn how utterly wide of the mark that early thinking was. I’ve had to learn that no matter how intriguing the artistic element might be, the interests and desires to which it gives expression can be utterly debased; culture can be thoroughly corrupt. Our world does not seem to make that distinction. The Christian must.

The Times “Saturday Review” is typical of numerous places where the intelligentsia unwittingly (or quite deliberately!) reveal just how corrupt our culture is, and take delight in it. Characteristically the large front page headlines this week cried out, “We drank, we smoked, we slept around”. The article which followed featured a group of men engaged in the advertising business, one of who wrote a memoir of their life and behaviour. The memoir inspired a multi award-winning drama “Mad Men” of which the author of the memoir said, “I became an advisor on the show. Audiences were shocked by all the sex and alcohol and outrageous behaviour on the screen. But let me tell you, the reality was so much worse”. The Times article appeared because the memoir has just been republished. The Times felt it was worth a complete front page spread, followed by a second page spread, along with a 14 x 19inch photograph of the author. The article is an extraordinary mixture of obscenity, which provides the real show case for the article, and shrewdness of observation on the advertising world.

What it is really saying is, “Look! This is our culture; this is what we value; this is real living; this is life; let it titillate us!” This sort of article is by no means a “one off”; it is common place. Our culture is as clever and as decadent as ever the “Renaissance” and “Baroque” culture was at its worst, and, it ought to be said, as decadent as great areas of Greek and Roman “Classical” culture.

We should not be snared by the tempting word “culture”, still less by its modern obscenity. The latter is something for profound regret. Music, art, drama should express beauty, something it can never achieve if its subjects are lasciviousness and uncontrolled indulgence, which are the very antithesis of beauty.
Heaven is full of music and poetry, song, drama and endless creativity, but uncorrupted. Things there are “noble and of good report”.


Bob

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