Today, I want to talk about the first book of the The Lord of the Rings trilogy, The Fellowship of the Ring. I think we're in a place where each of us has had something similar to Frodo thrust upon us. In the book, Gandalf basically says that we don't ask for these hard times, but when they come, we have to deal with it. This comes up as Frodo is lamenting about how he has to bear this burden and fight to save the world. Even though he did nothing to deserve his fate, he has to take responsibility and go on this journey.
Christian Culture Depicted in Art
Our secular society denies so much of the Christian worldview, and often puts it down or oppresses it. But, Stephen and I have seen some interesting shows that offer a look into the world when it was driven by Christian values. Art can offer interesting insights into these historical periods, and not all new content is bad. Some really is truly insightful. This is a good discussion of what happens when you find Christian culture depicted in art.
Modern Architecture Can Build on Tradition
Modern architecture has gotten a bad reputation in many traditional circles. However, not all that is modern is bad. This video will show the difference between modern and modernist architecture, as well as the value of having a unique character.
Traditional Architecture Lesson| History of the Pantheon and St. Peter’s
I've wanted to do a deep dive into the history of architectural landmarks, and recently got the chance. Frank Cunha, who I've been talking to via Twitter, offered to talk about some of the buildings that changed how we look at architecture. So, I took him up on his offer. This lesson on traditional architecture will take a look at the Pantheon and St. Peter's to see how Christendom adopted Roman architecture. You can also find out more about Frank at his website or follow him on Twitter.
174. Reviving Traditional Art
I recently sat down with Amy Mastrine, an artist who works in traditional mediums, to talk about the state of art. Finding a way to create new iterations of traditional art is something that would go a long way for our culture. Because I enjoyed this conversation, I wanted to revisit some of the great insights to discuss them more. Amy offered a lot of interesting ideas, so I thought it would be good to elaborate and offer my thoughts. Also, I've thought about doing this for some of my other interviews, so if you enjoy this, let me know! And, if there's anyone I should interview, let me know here.
168. Drawn in by Beauty – Stained Glass Zealot Interview
Recently, I sat down with the Stained Glass Zealot to talk about the beauty of stained glass, and how it draws you in. Check out his Twitter account here or his Substack to see what he's doing to show how beautiful this art is. Mostly, we discussed the beauty of churches. But, we dove into several other topics like the Lindy Effect, Divine Light by Abbot Suger, fashion vs. eternal beauty, and much more. Listen here or subscribe below to watch the interview:
160. Restoring Traditional Architecture – Zach the Architect Interview
Architecture is all too often designed to be novel or economic, rather than beautiful. So, I asked architect about how to restore beauty. Check out the discussion here.
156. Art From the Point of View of an Artist | Amy Mastrine Interview
I sat down to chat with Amy Mastrine, a talented artist, about her work and the state of art today. Beauty and art are essential to culture. When the arts decay, so does the culture. And in our culture, it's hard to argue our arts are in a good place. Luckily, there are talented artists like Amy fighting to create a culture of beauty.