Ideology and Kenyan Art: A Case for Understanding Christianity in Kenya's Contemporary Society

Abstract

Popular culture has stereotyped our conception of art and its appreciation, making us believe that the exuberance of inequity for its own sake is the essence of living an artistically adorned life. As a result, the progeny of the avant-garde tradition would, in a sense, want us to believe that modern art lacks ideology. In this sense, the mystical relationships behind religion and art are seen as existing as much as they do not communicate any philosophical thoughts. This is allowed because it is thought that art or religion indoctrinates citizens into particular forms of ideology. Such rationalizations have made churches under the Pentecostal traditions to get rid of any images within their buildings. Hence, the role of imagery in the Christian faith has been held suspect in many ways.