I watched a film the other night, Factory Girl. It is about Edie Sedgwick, a rich, young woman who became a part of pop-artist Andy Warhol’s groupies who hung out in his art studio, called “the factory”. I enjoyed the film, even while I found it disturbing.
Warhol is portrayed as an immature, egocentric, blood-sucking leech on the lives of the rich young people he exploited. The whole time I watched the movie I was thinking about Picasso, another artist, who seems to have been the same with those around him. And the whole time I’m watching this movie and thinking about these narcissistic men, I’m thinking about how easy it is for those with powerful personalities and charisma to use those who gather around them, to live off of the adoration of their groupies, to even destroy the lives of those who love them.
I’m fully aware of this dynamic because, as someone who oversees a community, the temptation to let the appreciation, respect or adoration of those you care for feed your ego is enormous and perpetual. I’ve allowed adoration and used it to position me above others. But I’ve been on the other end too… more than once… where I’ve allowed my adoration of a man (which in itself is questionable enough!) to feed his sense of power and importance, while depriving me of my individuality, autonomy, and self-respect. I often wish I could relive those times. But I can’t. They are gone.
However, I can learn from them. And I have. I have learned to never adore another person, no matter how powerful or charismatic or influential. I’ve learned never to elevate another person above myself but to see myself as equal because I am. I’ve learned to not nurture adoration from others. I’ve learned to question appreciation and have tried to learn to live and work without a need for it. I’ve learned to debase myself in the face of admiration. I’ve learned to refuse elevation above others. I’ve learned to be discerning when it comes to charisma in others, especially if it’s cultured. I’ve learned to be skeptical of magnetism in leaders. In other words, I’ve learned to become completely suspicious of anything that sniffs of pride, arrogance and pomp, as well as the children of these: manipulation, control and exploitation. The world abounds in these, and organized religion is at the epicenter of it all.
The photo is the creation of my friend, Mark Hemmings.
Contributions to nakedpastor are greatly appreciated.
David Hayward is a pastor artistically stripping to the essential.
We are in the same class. Thanks for sharing your notes.
don’t cheat.
I promise not to cheat if you promise not to set the curve and keep sharing your insights in class. ;^)
love your thoughtful comments ttm. okay, you can cheat.
That’s right – only God should be glorified.
you seem to be an introvert, be careful.
semety: you’ve not seen me at one of our parties
very helpful post. especially the part about refusing to elevate others or be elevated yourself. thank you for sharing your insights.
I am passing this along to a number of friends because we’ve been talking about this exact same thing and how the cult of personality can run roughshod over the gospel. I interviewed someone about Andy Warhol’s religious themes in his art – and had the chance to attend an exhibit of his magnificent last supper series. What’s tragic is how this man was connected to a major spiritual sensibility (he want to mass daily though as a gay man, he did not partake of the Eucharist) but yet that same ethos wasn’t present at the Factory in a way that was healthy and life giving.
Haley: glad you liked it. Your blog looks cool. Nice tagline!
Becky: please do! I agree that Warhol was a very gifted and talented man. I love his stuff and feel he was most influential. The film brings out his spiritual side. Which goes to show that, for some reason, spirituality does not necessarily exclude narcissism, but in fact sometimes supports it.
Wow, great insight. This message is so timely for Americans as I watch my neighbors and co-workers, not to mention the American press, have their slobbering love affair with Obama.
..pride wears a thousand hats…humility but one…good post David…I’ve been meaning to watch that movie
Boy…do I identify with this one!
LOVED this post and thought those same things when i think of these two artists. i also feel the same way about Emergent here in the USA. People fawn all over the ‘elite, white, male, middle-class dominated’ upper echelons. It reminds me of my old charismatic days when we would race off to the next great conference to find healing and more from G-D.
Warm Regards,
EP
Yet again great wisdom from a great pastor…oops there I go again…
Strangely, the last song I wrote was about Warhol. I felt so strongly about the incongruencies of his life. http://wildgrace7.blogspot.com/2007/06/andy-warhol.html
I’ve wanted to see that movie but shouldn’t have let a poor review discourage me. Great thoughts, wish I could ask more questions
Artists are brave in their baring of humanity. Those of us too dishonest or scared to play a different drum are no less needy of mercy.