A Storyteller in Zion: Essays and Speeches
by Orson Scott Card
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Deseret Book (Salt Lake City): 1993. Trade paperback: vii, 216 pages. ISBN-10: 1-57345-808-2 Suggested retail price: $14.95 14.95 (US) Tags: Essays; Religion; Writing Tactical strength: [6/10] |
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Scott Card brings together several articles and speeches in which he discusses Mormonism from his perspective as a writer (more from the perspective of a well-know and wealthy writer). He makes several interesting points, and makes them over and over. Card has several ideas that form a foundation of his personal philosophy, but he feels so strongly that these ideas appear in almost every essay. By reading only half of the essays, you would cover most of the ideas that Card has to present, and not find them nearly as repetitious.
This shortcoming aside, the ideas are interesting especially when Card discusses the Church and its members. He says that "Mormonism is a revolutionary movement, that it is our job to subvert or overthrow the world's institutions and philosophies." Now this is in response to artists that take a worldly view -- that create an elite level of art that can only be appreciated by members of those who are trained in the skills of appreciating the elite art. Card criticizes this attitude, stating that artists should seek to create diplomatic art -- works that can be appreciated by many members of society, rather than just an elect. Any Mormons that follow this elite sub-culture are more worldly than religious.
When an artist (or anyone) achieves a level of fame, they should seriously consider the admonitions in the Doctrine and Covenants that commands us to give all of our surplus to the bishop. Instead of buying an expensive luxury car, buy a practical car that fits your needs, and tell the bishop that you would like to buy a car for someone in need using the money that you saved. Card extends this to all areas: clothing, housing, lifestyle. These ideas create quite a reflection in ourselves, but begin to feel awkward as Card begins to discuss possible scenarios in a Zion society -- these appear to be more idyllic than with a sense of how a society functions. He theorizes that we would not be career oriented, that our jobs in life would change just as our callings in church change.
Another idea, one which Card beats to death, is that the true values -- the subconscious values that really make up an author -- will always show up in an author's writing. If a writer truly believes in a universe without a God, his books will take on an appearance of cause without meaningful effect. But Mormon writers will show their background by writing about universes that have a purpose and characters that are ultimately responsible for their actions.
The collection was interesting, but I did get tired of reading about the same ideas. In spite of Card's numerous works, perhaps he should have waited until he had a larger selection of works to choose from so he could provide his audience with a greater variety of topics.
