Many consumers of art that I know, be they Christians or otherwise, struggle with the now commonplace trend in contemporary art that is uncomfortable or unnerving “shock art”. Shock art, as a subgenre of contemporary, is defined as art that “incorporates disturbing imagery, sound, or scents to create a shocking experience”. The style, found across all media, intended as a way to disturb “smug, complacent, and hypocritical people” (R. R. Wilson), is something most of us have come in contact with in some fashion or another. The form has famously manifested in iterations ranging from the display of an unaltered urinal as fine art in 1917, to a British performance artist in 2007 eating a corgi in a posh London cafe in a piece called “Eating the Queen’s Dogs” in the name of art and protest. Over the course of the hundred years between these two pieces as well as in the decade since, shock art, by its very nature, has continued to push the limits of acceptability, sanity, and the constitution of the human stomach.

Discomfort and confusion are expected, especially as many people, particularly those outside of the current of the art world, often anticipate an artistic experience that is pleasant, beautiful, and an escape from the horrors or drudgery of vulgar life. While art does often serve that purpose, it certainly has the capacity and the right to serve other purposes as well. Those who wish to experience art need to embrace this. Christians in particular, as people who are called to go out into the world and not shy away from the needy and broken, should be the last to avoid sections of our museums that reveal the true wounds found among God’s children. In my experience, this could not be further from the case.

While the MET’s display of “Miscarriage” was shocking, and brought forth instant feelings of pain and sorrow, there was a poignancy to it. There can be no question that it caused me as a single 20-something male, to wrestle with thoughts I never had before. It was both beautiful, and a powerful tool of empathy. As human beings created in the image of God, we should not be afraid to grapple with dark realities, questions, and doubts. Pieces like these not only offer us a window into hidden truths that may be unpleasant, but also present an opportunity to look through the lenses of our fellow men and women in order to share in the human experience, not sequestering ourselves away in perceived ivory towers of safe, clean, Christendom.

Next time you might come across shock artwork that you might not find inherently beautiful - be it music, film, poetry, theatre, or whatever else, here’s five questions you might ask yourself in order to seek its value:

1. Does the title suggest a meaning that the piece itself seems to lack?
   Often artists have more on their docket than simply to shock you.
2. Could the creation or release of this piece have been therapeutic to the artist? Does it offer a unique window into human experiences, challenges, and brokenness that we should not shy away from?
3. Why does this shock you? Why does this make you uncomfortable? Is there something within or without yourself that you need to confront? Not everything in your life is tied up with a bow, believe me.
4. Can the art act as a juxtaposition for beauty in a way that makes beautiful things all the more beautiful?
5. Does Jesus Christ love and have a plan for the artist?
   Hint hint: the answer is yes.

Have you ever encountered shock art? How did you react? Leave a comment below!