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Arts, C.S. Lewis, Gawain, Green Knight, Green Man, Imagination, Literature, Malcolm Guite, Music, Poetry, Rich Mullins, spirituality
In my second last post, I talked about the problem of imagination in Evangelical circles; in this post I want to talk about someone who is doing something to redress it, a modern English poet, priest, and scholar by the name of Malcolm Guite. Guite was brought to my attention about a month ago at a concert by Canadian singer/songwriter Steve Bell. At some point after the concert, I looked him up, and was duly impressed with what I found. He dares to write sonnets in the 21st Century. He has written a book on theology and imagination (which I need to order), and includes a discussion of Old English poetry. His work that I have thus far become most familiar with is his CD, “The Green Man.”
This CD has a lot of good things going for it, both from a literary and theological point of view. The title track is – at least I would argue – an oblique reference to Gawain’s green night interpreted as a synthesis of Christ and the personified fertility of nature (a little like Chesterton’s Thursday). Like Gawain’s Green Knight, this “green man” cannot be beaten no matter how careless his human foes are; the chorus states “If you cut me down, I’ll spring back green again.”
Guite’s reference to the green knight is typical of the rest of the album. He inhabits Biblical and literary phrases but puts his own slight enough twist on them to ensure they don’t become preachy or cliched. Though he lacks the cultural and politico-religious fabric from which poets such as Donne and Herbert wove their work, he nonetheless attempts to follow in their footsteps. “New TV” is a brilliant satire of modern society (no matter where you plug it in, you won’t get any love from your new TV), while “Our Lady of the Highway” takes Marian devotion to Highway 61 – and includes a good chunk of quotation from the Magnificat. “Open Door” is reminiscent of something Rich Mullins might have written, an infinite riff on the Biblical image of Christ as the door to heaven. “Angels Unawares” discovers grace in the midst of humble earthy romance, and “Texas Farewell” includes some treats for C. S. Lewis fans (I’ll let you discover those for yourself).
It is encouraging to me that people such as Malcolm Guite manage to exist somehow in the modern world; it is encouraging to see someone daring to imagine things outside of both secular narrowness and its cloned Evangelical narrowness so often found in Christian singer/songwriters. It is encouraging to find someone who measures time by liturgical seasons and sings about nature, whiskey, and God like some kind of Johnny Cash turned celtic. And it is in the hope of encouraging others that I share his website.
Thanks, it’s good when someone totally gets what I’m trying to do, as you do here. I am more than honoured to be mentioned in the same breath as Johnny Cash!!
And I must say I am more than honoured to hear that you appreciate my brief review. It is rather a pleasant surprise, as most of the poets I write about have been dead some thousand years or so, so that I hear from them rather infrequently. I recently moved to Winnipeg and started attending St. Benedict’s Table, and last Sunday our Advent books came out, with your “O Antiphon” contributions. I am quite looking forward to reading them this season alongside the Old English Advent Lyrics.
Thanks so much for this sound write up on Malcolm Guite and his multi-faceted work. If you are interested to read some of his thoughts on a variety of other topics here is are links to my website where Malcolm does a very generous interview series and I am posting the interview series this week with Steve Bell. Take a peek if you are so inclined. 🙂 Blessings to you and thanks for the enjoyable read!
http://www.lanciaesmith.com/2012/05/interview-series-with-malcolm-guite-part-1/
http://www.lanciaesmith.com/2012/11/interview-with-steve-bell-part-1/
Thanks for the links – I look forward to reading both when I get a moment. It really does give me hope to find people interested in in an alternative to the shallowness of much Christian engagement with art that fails to reflect the depth and riches of our tradition.
I am glad for your encouragement. There is a wide circle of us who care about these issues and are engaged with them. We welcome you to this merry band of artists and creatives working in our crafts to help redeem culture and give glory to our Maker. Bless you!
I am so thrilled to find your site via my interest in Malcolm Guite and his poetry, music, musings and sermons! He is a unique and multi-faceted gem. I also highly recommend Lancia Smith’s interviews of Malcolm (above). She asks perceptive and penetrating questions which elicit a wealth of riches from Malcolm. These are worth reading in order to understand Malcolm better but also simply for the enjoyment of his profound insights on life, God and poetry. I am glad for your article about Malcolm, and I look forward to exploring your site, as well.
Thanks for the encouragement! I will certainly look at the interview, and hope that you will be encouraged, if in a small way, by some of the thoughts on this communal blog.
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