George Breeden Blog 1

Reading: Sacred and Profane Beauty, by Gerardus Van Der Leeuw

The Theological Aesthetic of Building.

The final chapter of Van Der Leeuw’s work sets out a theological frame work relating to the different arts of dance, drama, word, image, building, and music. Van Der Leeuw points out interesting relationships between these arts and the different ideas of creation, redemption, and eschatology. Among those the relationship between the art of building and the conception of redemption, stands out as presenting an interesting dilemma that a majority of the arts face today. Van Der Leeuw explains that the art of “Building” is one that is focused on inclosing power. This is clearly seen in his statement that: “A house is an enclosure of power. The oldest houses are the dance house which the power of motion is fixed. Older still are the enclosed dancing grounds, such as the Maga in ancient Iran, where ecstatic singers and dancers assembled, developing their powers in the ‘closed circle.’” (p.197) This idea presents an important question. If “Building” is use to contain the redemptive power of whatever goes on inside it, then is it really an art form that relates to the sacred? Or is it an art that more closely relates to utility? Van Der Leeuw warns about the art of building that: “…it can lose its holiness and become an empty shell.” (p.331) I think this is a realistic caution, because the reality that we face in our day to day interactions with structures, is one of simple utility. We use buildings as shelter to keep as dry and warm, and rarely do we contemplate the significance of that. Yes the art of “Building” does still have some connection with the sacred, but I believe it could be argument that it is no longer an immediate connection in many cases. Rather it is a connection that one must search for.