Comments on: Mormon Art and Greatness

By: Luisa Perkins

Luisa Perkins — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:40:07 +0000

Well written. You have expressed most of what I had been intending to write in a post of my own.

By: Aaron Sanders

Aaron Sanders — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 13:45:02 +0000

The rise of Mormon literature, as an AMERICAN literature, depends as much on Mormon literary criticism as the literature itself. I think there are great Mormon writers already, but their exposure outside of Mormon audiences is hampered by a lack of criticism that engages their work as serious literature.

I’ve wrestled with this issue for a long time now. When I try to tell my dissertation advisor what an important American novel THE BACKSLIDER is, I have no pretext for that discussion (I live in Connecticut). The only starting point is a writer like Brian Evenson, whom I adore, but we all know the problems of a Mormon literature when ALTMANN’s TONGUE is the jumping off point (by the way, his new novel, THE OPEN CURTAIN, is wonderful).

I believe Mormon literary critics need to push for a more responsible criticism that seeks to reach Mormons and non-Mormons alike, one that proposes Mormon literature as American literature. Until we do that I’m afraid our best writers will be stuck in literary conversations where the central concern is how a book builds up, or tears down, our testimonies (there is precedent in Mormon literature for this question–I don’t mean to be cheeky–but this kind of discussion does little to promote Mormon writers as serious American writers).

By: S. P. Bailey

S. P. Bailey — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:49:45 +0000

Craft is undoubtedly important. I think it is fair to say that at least some Mormons do take the study and practice of writing craft quite seriously.

By: Stephen Carter

Stephen Carter — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 17:11:45 +0000

Frankly, I think the first thing Mormons need to do in order to reach their lofty goal is to study the freaking CRAFT of writing. They don’t try to build a house without a blueprint, they don’t try to start a business without building a reliable model, why in the world would they try to write something without understanding how the craft of writing works?

Because it takes more work than it’s worth.

By: Yoji

Yoji — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 19:36:19 +0000

Slushpilereader is right; “Silverheels” is an incredible literary experience. Mr. Kuykendall has (in my mind – and I’m sure in others once he’s ‘out there’) established validity in the statement: “Mormons can make great art.” It’s started, and will finish when he’s finished writing (and knowing him…that’s not going to happen any time soon). Hopefully afterward, another fiesty
Mormon will take the torch.

By: Michael Umphrey

Michael Umphrey — Sat, 20 Jan 2007 05:16:19 +0000

I rather expect the great Mormon literature will not be fiction, but will be nearer to scripture–a truer telling of experience than is possible to one blinking at life through carnal filters (including those transmitted and constructed by an education in things literary at the modern academy).

By: slushpilereader

slushpilereader — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 23:16:24 +0000

S.P. is right, there are great works out there, and they have been sitting in desks waiting for publishers. I have had the privilege to read two of them, by Coke Newell and Ken Kuykendall. Newell’s book, Mormon Standard Time, is the best piece of LDS-oriented literature I’ve come across (don’t let the title fool you; it’s not a flippant work).

The other, Silverheels by Kuykendall, is — and I’m serious — Miltonian. It’s not exactly LDS oriented but it Kuykendall is an active LDS member and the book contains prominent LDS characters.

One of these, Newell’s, is expected to be published this year.

There are other great manuscripts I’ve encountered that, in my opinion, are all superior to what’s been coming out of Covenant and Deseret Book, but have been turned down by those publishers, not necessarily because the content was racy, but because they just didn’t fit the old, safe, reliable mold.

Great things are happening in the LDS literary community; I just hope we find a way to get the message to readers.

By: Mahonri Stewart

Mahonri Stewart — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 11:27:33 +0000

I think this is an insightful article, S.P.
I especially love the point that you made about not trying to shoot for “greatness”– write the story that’s within you and let cultures and movements decide later whether they think you’re great or not. The story (or painting, or sculpture, or piece of the music) is the important thing to focus on, not the arbitrary filters people will put on it later.
My friend and I are working on a Joseph Smith musical and I recently realized I was focusing too much upon the audience in my writing. As I already wrote my “controversial,” “honest” play about Joseph Smith with “Friends of God,” I was trying to make this one more Mormon mainstream. That attitude was hampering the work and it was becoming a little stilted. So I’m going to go back to the basics with it– focus on the story and see where that gets me.

By: C. L. Hanson

C. L. Hanson — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 09:00:50 +0000

Well, there’s a certain logic to Whitney and Kimball’s expectation:

Great art often contains universal insights about the human condition. If Mormonism has some exceptionally valuable insights for humanity, then Mormon artists should have an advantage in terms of producing works that resonate with people and inspire them.

However, you’re right that great art isn’t always universally recognized as such, and that shooting specifically for greatness can hobble an artist’s work.