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A review by thekidlitmama
Life After Art: What You Forgot About Life and Faith Since You Left the Art Room by Matt Appling
3.0
Appling mentions two different types of boundaries - the good, positive ones God places on people's lives and the negative, unnecessary boundaries people place on themselves (p. 100). But then, he talks about people who defy boundaries and do things like escaping exploitation, achieving despite a painful past, etc. Which one of the two previous types of categories would these acts fit into? I don't think they fit into either - these people are not by any means placing limitations on *themselves* when their situations force them into tough or even horrific situations. He says people complain too much about our circumstances being the cause of of our failures. I don't think it is fair to say this, especially not for the examples he in that previous section. For some people, the circumstances they are born or thrust into are far too great to overcome without additional supports. It would be awfully unfair to suggest otherwise.
My questions are…which boundaries/limitations can and should be overcome? Which can and should not? What would Appling say is the right balance between laziness and perfection? I could use more of a practical guide for this, but he says there is no formulaic response for beauty, so I doubt there is for this either.
Despite my critiques, I really loved some of the things I read in this book, too. I agree that the world needs us and our gifts and that we far too often hold back for fear of failure. I really like his emphasis on how our creations reflect who we are as creators. I agree that beauty takes time and that as a society we often substitute true beauty for cheap, quick, and easy satisfaction. True beauty is fragile and in need of protection.
One line I really loved:
"You never know how far the beauty you create will reach. It reaches far beyond ourselves, out into the world. Who taught Michelangelo to sculpt? Who taught Martin Luther how to read his Bible? Who taught Mozart how to compose music? They are people who don't make the history books, but they created other people. Without those anonymous creators, there is no history." As a future teacher, paragraph inspires me deeply!
My questions are…which boundaries/limitations can and should be overcome? Which can and should not? What would Appling say is the right balance between laziness and perfection? I could use more of a practical guide for this, but he says there is no formulaic response for beauty, so I doubt there is for this either.
Despite my critiques, I really loved some of the things I read in this book, too. I agree that the world needs us and our gifts and that we far too often hold back for fear of failure. I really like his emphasis on how our creations reflect who we are as creators. I agree that beauty takes time and that as a society we often substitute true beauty for cheap, quick, and easy satisfaction. True beauty is fragile and in need of protection.
One line I really loved:
"You never know how far the beauty you create will reach. It reaches far beyond ourselves, out into the world. Who taught Michelangelo to sculpt? Who taught Martin Luther how to read his Bible? Who taught Mozart how to compose music? They are people who don't make the history books, but they created other people. Without those anonymous creators, there is no history." As a future teacher, paragraph inspires me deeply!