"Aesthetics Verses Anesthetics"
Matthew J. Geddes
December 2, 2003
I was introduced to the profession of sculpture when I was a very small child growing up on a farm in the delta of California’s San Joaquin and Sacramento rivers. As a natural part of annual irrigations, large quantities of clay would be deposited in the canals around my family’s farm. I would spend countless summer days swimming in the canals and sculpting everything imaginable from the rich abundance of clay. Today, what I do for a living isn’t all that different, except now I get paid to play in the mud. As you students are choosing your future professions, I hope you will be a lucky as I have been. Of course there were lots of years of formal schooling and preparations that came between those days on the farm as a child and getting a job.
In art schools, a common term that is frequently used is the word Aesthetics. There are even classes that are titled “Aesthetics”. What does that word, aesthetic, mean? Often it is defined as the study of or the philosophy of beauty. This definition is not incorrect, but it is somewhat incomplete. It is not until we consider the opposite of the word aesthetic that a better understanding becomes apparent. And, by the way, its opposite is a word that most of us are much more familiar with. The opposite of aesthetic is anesthetic. Anyone who has ever been to the dentist understands what an anesthetic is, and what it does. In the context of a dentist’s office, an anesthetic is a beneficial thing. But, most of us have also had the misfortune of leaving the dentist’s office before the effects of the anesthesia have worn off. In that condition of being numb, if you are not very careful you can bite down and damage the inside of your mouth without feeling it; at least not right then. In that context, an anesthetic can be a frightful thing. It can put us in a state wherein we can repeatedly damage ourselves without feeling anything.
Let’s go back to our definition of aesthetics then. If an anesthetic is something that numbs us and makes it difficult or impossible to feel, than an aesthetic is something that does the opposite: it enlivens us, and increases our capacity and sensitivity to feeling.
I would like to talk with you today about aesthetics and anesthetics in a sense including, but also much broader than the arts. Let’s look at some scriptures that illustrate what I mean, starting with some that refer to anesthetics. The first one is found in Ephesians chapter 4 verse19. Paul wrote to the saints in Ephesus, warning them to not become like the gentiles who “ being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness” (emphasis added). Notice the condition that Paul warns against. They were “past feeling”. They were anesthetized. And what were the anesthetics used? Verses 17 and 18 tell us. These included “vanity” and “darkened understanding” and “alienation from God through ignorance”. Have you ever thought of vanity as being an anesthetic? And in this state of being numbed and past feeling, what damages were they able to inflict upon themselves without feeling it? Verse 19 already told us. These were “lasciviousness” or in other words, lustfulness, “uncleaness” and “greediness”.
Another scripture that illustrates this same principle of a people being anesthetized and unfeeling, and bringing upon themselves total destruction can be found in Mormon’s 2nd epistle to his son Moroni. This is found in Moroni Chapter 9, verse 20. Here it says: “And now my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling.” And if you want to know what anesthetics made this possible, the first part of Chapter 9 lists them. They include “anger…hardness…and a delight in everything except that which is good.” There are a lot of other anesthetics listed here as well.
A third example of this same principle is found in 1 Nephi 17: 45. Since this is early in the Book of Mormon, you’ve no doubt read it a number of times and remember
the incident that I am referring to. This is where Laman and Lemuel are contending with their younger brother Nephi, this time about the commandment from the Lord to build a ship. Listen to the words that Nephi uses in this verse. Referring to the Lord, Nephi says, “…he hath spoken unto you in a still small voice, but ye were past feeling, that ye could not feel his words” (emphasis added). You notice that Nephi did not say that they were past hearing and could not hear His words. Laman and Lemuel could and did hear, time and time again. What they could not do was to “feel”. They were anesthetized; and what caused it? The first line of verse 45 describes it clearly. “Ye are swift to do iniquity but slow to remember the Lord your God.”
My intent is not to focus on the anesthetics alone. Today I would also like to address what some of the aesthetics are. These we can take in as high of doses as we want. As far as I know, there is not any way to do damage with an overdose.
Let’s contrast the scriptures we have already read with 2 Nephi 25:25. In this verse we read: “We are made alive in Christ because of our faith.” FAITH: Can you imagine anything more enlivening than is faith? My wife and I have had our lives blessed time and time again through the life giving power of faith, and not just our own, but also through the faith of others. In fact, one of the main reasons that we ever got together in the first place was because of my mom, who is a woman of great faith. She met Chris and started praying. The poor girl didn’t have a chance once that started.
Another example of the blessings of faith: For the first six years of our marriage, Chris and I were not blessed with children. After numerous tests and visits to doctors, we were informed that if we wanted children, it might be a good idea to look into adoption. So we went to see our bishop to get more information about LDS Social Services and the adoption process. Our bishop, Bishop Sione Feinga, just looked as us with a somewhat puzzled look, and asked why we had not first asked for a priesthood blessing. He just said “you come back, I’ll give you both a blessing. . . then you’ll have babies.” He didn’t say “maybe”, or “let’s try this first”. He just said: “you’ll have babies.” A little under a year after that blessing, our first son was born; Then two years later, our daughter; and then two more years another son; and then another son. We started to think that we might have to go back and see Bishop Feinga again and get another blessing!
Another scripture that gives us many insights into what is aesthetic and enlivening is one that we don’t even have to look up. At one time or another most of us have memorized this scripture. I refer to the 13th Article of Faith. I would like to focus for a few minutes on the four attributes listed at the end of this scripture where it says: “If there is anything [and note the inclusive word anything] virtuous, lovely, or of good report or praiseworthy, we seek after these things.” Pay careful attention to the attributes listed here, and don’t confuse them with their counterfeits. The ones listed are life giving; they are aesthetics. The counterfeits do the opposite; they are anesthetics. Let’s look at them one at a time.
The first one is VIRTUOUS. What does virtue include? Often represented in medieval and renaissance art are figures that personify what were traditionally known as the seven virtues. These include Faith, Hope, Charity, Temperance, Prudence, Fortitude, and Justice. These can often be seen contrasted with seven traditional vices that are opposites and sometime devious imitations. These include pride, covetousness, lust, anger, gluttony, envy, and sloth.
Virtue should never be confused with its counterfeit. Virtue should never be confused with vogue. Vogue includes those things that are merely socially acceptable, or politically correct. In a recent study by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the following was stated: “…sex is most appropriate among people aged 18 and older OR those who are married OR in committed relationships.” Under that standard who doesn’t qualify? And that is to be in what they call the “most appropriate” level. How difficult would it be if you were satisfied with being just plain “appropriate” only? Another example of the contrast between virtue and vogue can be seen with increasing and frightening frequency in the definition and status of marriage. On forms requiring personal information under the heading of Marital Status, there used to be just two boxes. Today you often see a variety of options to this question, or this information along with the idea of marriage, is considered irrelevant and left off the form completely. I know of nothing more enlivening in this life or in the life to come than is eternal marriage.
When making choices, especially about day to day routine things like what to wear today, or what to watch on TV tonight (after homework, of course), or what music to listen to, follow the counsel of the 13th Article of Faith. Or as DC 121:45 admonishes us: “Let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly.” You have no idea of the potential deadening power and influence of the alternative.
The second aesthetic listed in the 13th Article of Faith is that which is LOVELY. This is one that is often confused with counterfeits, not only by society in general, but unfortunately all too frequently by the youth of the church, even here at BYU-Idaho. The attribute is LOVELY, or as the footnote to that verse further explains, BEAUTY. It does not say glamorous, or even pretty, or any of the other superficial and transient imitations that are often confused for and held up as beauty.
Now as I look out over this audience, I see a group of very beautiful people. Coincidently, you happen to be rather good looking too, but that is something that you don’t get much of the credit for. Now if I were to turn around and look at the faculty or administration behind me, I could still honestly say that I was looking at beautiful people, couldn’t I? But you get my point. Some of those things that get represented as beauty just don’t last. If there is anything that I could convince you of here today, it would be for you to not buy in to what our culture tries to sell you as being beautiful! For one thing, it changes so quickly as fads come and go. If you don’t believe that, just look at your high school yearbook. And that wasn’t that long ago. I’ve seen my high school fashions come around a couple of times now. Secondly, the digitally and surgically altered images shown to advertise beauty are usually extreme distortions of reality, kind of like what is labeled “reality” in TV programs. And thirdly, different experiences and cultures give us radically different and often contradictory messages about what is beautiful. When my wife and I were not yet married students on BYU-Hawaii, then Church College of Hawaii campus, Chris had a job working in the snack bar at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Here was this absolutely gorgeous, green-eyed beauty going to work every day. And do you know what the number one thing was that the guys who worked there would say? “Hey haole girl, how come you so skinny?”
Your personal experiences will also greatly influence and even completely change your perception of beauty. As a college student I remember a time when I was introduced to a young lady that at first impression I thought was rather funny looking. Her face was very round, and she had white, not blond but white hair. Her eyebrows, and eyelashes were white. Her complexion was very light also, and she really didn’t wear much makeup. In fact, the only features that really showed up much were her dark eyes. My very first impression of her was that she looked like a snowman! Now, this is kind of mean, but I tell you about it not because of my first impression, but because of what happened over the next few months. As I became more acquainted with this young lady, I began to see her qualities of kindness, of gentleness, and graciousness. She was in every sense a lovely person. But what was the most surprising to me was that she became very beautiful to look at also. I could no longer see the little snowman anymore, even when I looked for it. Something had changed. And it wasn’t her hair color, or her makeup, or the shape of her face.
In the arts, in literature, theatre, painting or poetry, there are often examples of great beauty, but they are not always pretty. I love the renaissance painter Dominico Ghirlandaio, who incidentally was the young Michelangelo’s painting teacher. His painting of “The Last Supper” is a masterpiece. This event was commonly represented in art, and often portrays that moment wherein Christ announced to his disciples that one of them would betray him. In representations of this event, the disciples are typically shown in the attitude of humility and introspection, asking the question “Is it I?” In Ghirlandaio’s painting, the disciples also share this attitude, except for Peter. He clutches the knife that is before him on the table and angrily glares at Judas as though to say: “I’ll bet it’s you!” Ghirlandaio’s tense representation of anger bordering on violence gives insights into the fiery and impulsive character of this soon to be humbled disciple. And it is this anger and violence in contrast to the loving and forgiving face of the Savior that makes the message of this paining even more beautiful.
Another of Ghirlandaio’s paintings, which hangs in the Louvre Museum, is often missed by those looking for more well know pieces. This small painting depicts an old, grandfatherly gentleman who is looking tenderly downward into the eyes of his grandson. The young boy’s gaze is likewise fixed upon the eyes of the old man. The shocking thing that immediately confronts the viewer of this painting is that the old man has a hideously deformed nose. Why would Ghirlandaio include something so obviously grotesque in this painting? Not only is this graphically ugly nose a dominant feature of the painting; it also happens to fall directly in the line of sight between the old man and the young boy. As you examine this masterpiece, you come to realize that the beauty of the painting is because of, not in spite of that ugly nose. We the viewers see it all to plainly. But the grandson, with his eyes fixed directly toward that ugly nose, sees beyond. He alone is oblivious. I suppose this painting is an example of what the Lord meant when he said we should become as little children, who are so loving and forgiving. This is an example of what is beautiful or lovely that goes much deeper than fleeting, superficial characteristics.
The third quality listed in the 13th Article of Faith is to seek after that which is of GOOD REPORT. What things are commonly confused as being of good report? If we are not careful, we can confuse “high achievement” or “getting ahead” as being of good report. Those things are not mutually exclusive of course, but they can become confused. Let me illustrate: When I was in High School, I usually spent the last week or two of the semester madly seeking after that which was of good report! What I was really most interested in was in the report card that my parents would be receiving. As you know, at the end of each year, the graduating senior who has compiled the highest overall grades receives the honor of being named the Valedictorian. This high honor is often accompanied by other external rewards such as scholarships or offers from universities. In my High School graduating class, the sad irony was that it was widely known, and even bragged about by the recipient, that he had cheated time and time again. Now that fact did not contribute to why I was not selected. But, it clearly illustrates the difference between “high recognition” and “being of good report”. That which is of good report frequently is not accompanied with public honors or recognition. In fact, it sometimes brings just the opposite. Likewise, fame is not a guarantee of actions that have been of good report. The evangelists Matthew, Mark, and Luke all pose the same question when they ask: “For what is a man profited if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” (Matthew 16:26)
Education is a great aesthetic, and it really doesn’t matter what area of study you are pursuing, or what the classes are that you may be enrolled in. Brigham Young made this clear when he said “Every accomplishment, every polished grace, every useful attainment in mathematics, music, and in all sciences and art belong to the Saints”. This is a pretty inclusive list. May I suggest to you that if you feel that a particular class or subject is boring, the thing that is boring might just not be the area of study, or the class, or might not even be the teacher! Classes, like people, change as we increase our own understanding.
I remember when this change happened in my life, and when I was “converted” to education. When I began my studies as an 18-year-old university freshman, I, like many of you, didn’t have any idea of what I wanted to go into. So also like many of you, I started taking classes from the dreaded list of General Education requirements. I have to admit that I was anything but excited about beginning my 13th consecutive year of going back to school in the fall. I was tired of it, and it had become boring to me. And to make matters worse, college was a lot more work now than it had been in high school. I was more interested in learning other new things, like skiing. By the end of my freshman year, it was pretty obvious from my performance and subsequent non-praiseworthy reports that if I ever was to earn a university degree, and that was a pretty big if, it was going to be Summa Cum Lousy!
But with the passing of a little time, and with new experiences, something strange happened: I started to like school! It may have had something to do with having met Chris. The time frame corresponds pretty closely. She was, and continues to be, a great example of someone who loves studying and learning. It may also have had something to do with enrolling in one of those dreaded G.E. classes where I started to find myself. A new pattern was being set, and that began to change all the other courses as well. Once again, something had changed. And once again, it wasn’t the external things. They were the same classes, the same teachers, and the same or even harder workload. They just all looked different. What a shock it was to me a little later in my education when I felt a sense of disappointment at the end of a semester when I knew there were certain classes that I would not be able to go to anymore. This is what education can do for you.
In an art appreciation course I teach, I assign research and writing assignments on specific artworks. I remember one semester a student named Jennifer who did a research paper on Lorenzo Ghiberti’s sculpted north doors of the Florence baptistery. These doors have 28 relief panels that depict different events in the life of Christ. As it turned out, the following summer I accompanied a group of BYU Idaho students on a study program in Europe, and Jennifer was one of the students. For some reason, on the morning that our group was in Florence and walking toward the cathedral, I remembered that Jennifer had done that paper. As we neared the baptistery, I located Jennifer in the group, and when we got close, I casually pointed toward those doors and said “Jen, look over there”. Her reaction was what every teacher hopes for. She first screamed, and then tears filled her eyes as she simply muttered, “There it is”. The others in the group who were not as prepared for that experience did not have the same aesthetic response, and in fact might have walked right past without even noticing anything at all. The difference was education.
One thing then that we can and should be doing to enliven ourselves is to become and then remain excited about learning; to keep stretching ourselves in new areas and directions. And this is not just for you students. On many occasions we have heard Pres. Bednar say that every one on this campus is a teacher. The only way that this can truly happen is if everyone on this campus, including staff, faculty, and administration, is also a student. The completion of a degree or the finding of a job should never be seen as something that happens when education is finished. That’s why we call the ceremony where degrees are awarded a commencement and not a completion.
I told you at the beginning of my talk today that I feel very fortunate to have found a job where I have so much fun playing in the mud. Well, there is one thing that I can think of that I would trade my current profession for; and that would be to do what you students are doing now, homework and all. I just haven’t been able to find a way to get someone to pay me for doing it yet. Education is so enlivening.
The final quality that the 13th Article of Faith counsels us to seek after is that which is PRAISWORTHY. Once again, beware of the counterfeits. And again, these things are not necessarily mutually exclusive, but all too frequently praiseworthy is compromised by and confused with popularity. There is often no influence stronger than the need of acceptance into a group of peers, and that’s not just for you young people. It’s an interesting irony that we often feel the need to be individual and unique . . . just like our friends! If they are the right friends, then popularity and praiseworthiness go hand in hand and are in harmony. But what do you do when the two are at odds? I can assure you that you will inflict tremendous damage to yourself without feeling it right away if your desire for popularity is not tempered by a high standard of praiseworthiness. The parable of the prodigal son illustrates this principle. Luke chapter15 verse 13 tells us that “the younger son . . . took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living.” As long as his money held out, so did his popularity. And even though he did eventually come to his senses and repent and return home, the damage was done and his birthright was squandered. Not only that, but his popularity was gone with it. When principle is compromised for popularity, it is inevitable that both will be lost. I could give you additional example after example of this, but I really don’t have to. If you take a minute, you can remember an example of someone who gave in to peer pressure, and did something that they knew was wrong. And then afterwards, they were not more respected or more popular. In fact, most of us can remember when we made that same mistake in one degree or another. Let me repeat then. When principle is compromised for popularity, it is inevitable that both will be lost.
I don’t think I could talk to you about this topic of being enlivened without including one additional aesthetic that has been provided for us. This one is mentioned time and time again in the scriptures. Do you know what I’m referring to? Let me give you a couple of scriptures that will tell you. One is John 6: 63. A second one is 2 Corinthians 3:6. John tells us “It is the spirit that quickeneth.” And Paul, writing to the Corinthians tells us that it is “The spirit giveth life.”
Listen to what Elder Parley P. Pratt said to us as a promise of the life-giving blessings of the Spirit. He said:
[The Spirit] quickens all the intellectual faculties, increases, enlarges, expands, and purifies all the natural passions and affections, and adapts them, by the gift of wisdom, to their lawful use. It inspires, develops, cultivates, and matures all the fine-toned sympathies, joys, tastes, kindred feelings, and affections of our nature. It inspires virtue, kindness, goodness, tenderness, gentleness, and charity. It develops beauty of person, form, and features. It tends to health, vigor, animation, and social feeling. It invigorates all the faculties of the physical and intellectual man. It strengthens and gives tone to the nerves. In short, it is, as it were, marrow to the bone, joy to the heart, light to the eyes, music to the ears, and life to the whole being.
This promise from Elder Pratt sounds like the cure of every ill. It sounds like the eternal fountain of youth, doesn’t it? Well, in a real sense, the Spirit is. Have you looked recently at the list of life-giving principles found in the pamphlet entitled “For the Strength of Youth”? This list includes Agency and Accountability, Gratitude, Education, Family, Friends, Dress and Appearance, Entertainment and the Media, Music and Dancing, Language, Dating, Sexual Purity, Repentance, Honesty, Sabbath Day Observance, Tithes and Offerings, Physical Health, Service to Others, and Faith. Some of you here today who have recently graduated from the Young Men’s or Young Women’s program of the Church may be thinking that this pamphlet is no longer for you. Look carefully at the title. It says “For the Strength of Youth”. It doesn’t say “For Youth”. It says “For the Strength of Youth”, and its principles are for all of us, regardless of age. You can graduate from programs, but you never graduate from principles.
Have you ever looked at the Prophet, or any of the general authorities, and asked yourself “how can they accomplish all that they do?” They are not young men, yet they run circles around most people. How do they do it? Parley P. Pratt and this pamphlet just told you. It is the Spirit of the Lord.
We have been given so many things here in mortality to choose from. Some bring the spirit of the Lord into our hearts, and others drive that spirit away. And I’m pretty sure that we all know the difference most of the time. It’s only when we have anesthetized ourselves to the Spirit that we cannot feel what we have heard or what we know to be true. It is in that state of numbness that we can continue to consciously inflict the spiritual damage of poor choices without feeing anything. In Deuteronomy 30:19 the Lord says “I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life….” That sounds like a no-brainer doesn’t it. But how often do we make just the opposite choice?
In closing, I would invite you to choose life. Aestheticize yourself. You can do it by immersing yourself in the things that are commonly thought of as the aesthetics, such as great art, music, literature, theatre, or dance. But its not the subject matter that is the determining factor. It is “anything” (as the 13th Article of Faith says) that inspires, ennobles, and enlightens. It is “anything” that invites the spirit of the Lord.
So choose life. Choose it with actions that are virtuous and don’t worry if they are in vogue or not. Choose life by surrounding yourself with those things that are lovely and beautiful whether or not they are in fad or fashion. Choose life by working hard to be of good report, not just to get a good report in the form of recognition or external reward. And choose life by being praiseworthy regardless of how it might affect your popularity. These things bring the Spirit, and as John tells us, “The Spirit bringeth life”, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.