Jews and Mormons

[Sleeping in EQ]

Originally Posted by Archaea

The lack of great artists amongst Mormons is a philosophical question which I've posed to Jewish friends. The question, other than lack of numbers, revolves around whether we've had enough suffering?

And Jews have been oppressed that they can look to circumstances with irony and levity. As Mormons we tend to shy away from irony and caustic humor. We're dry, boring and too often of pioneer stalk without color.

The puritanical influence doesn't help, that's for sure.

Moreover, Mormons have some of the thinnest skins around.

The fact that so many Mormon leaders come from backgrounds that are thin in the fine arts probably doesn't help.

There are some decent Mormon poets (and alot of hacks) but they get no attention.

Terry Tempest Williams is a top-shelf writer and she is sadly almost an unknown in Mormon circles.

Avard Fairbanks is a notable sculptor.

I'm now drawing a blank on Mormon artists. I could list world class Jewish artists for a long time...