About regenerateCulture.com
As you may have guessed from the banner, I’m kind of keen on the many definitions of “regenerate.” Not to mention the whole yin/yang thing (minus the implied heresy) it has going on with “degenerate.”
For the past several decades (well, okay, probably all of recorded history, but work with me here…), many good-hearted people (and maybe some not-so-good-hearted) have spent far too much time decrying “degenerate” art and far too little time celebrating “regenerate” art. The word “regenerate” is a verb, an adjective, and a noun. As a verb, it means “to reform spiritually or morally.” As an adjective, it means “spiritually or morally revitalized,” as well as “restored; refreshed; renewed.” As a noun, it refers to “one who is spiritually reborn or reformed.”
With as much enthusiasm as I can muster (which can actually be quite a lot, when backed by copious amounts of sugar), I endorse all forms of the word “regenerate” (I endorse the liberal use of parenthetical comments, as well, but that isn’t as blogworthy).
The arts have tremendous power to shape the culture and simply criticizing “degenerate” art gets us nowhere. Instead, we need to pay heed to two quotes of debatable origin. “Criticize by creating” is good advice, regardless of whether or not Michelangelo was the one who first said it. Similarly, “Give me the songs of a nation, and it matters not who writes its laws” may or may not originate with Damon of Athens, but rings true regardless here in the nation’s capital. I firmly believe that by fostering redemptive art, regenerate artists can bring about a morally and spiritually revitalized culture.
So, whilst making my own feeble attempts to engage in artistic endeavors bringing renewal to my own little corner (“in my own little chair…”) of the world, this here website is where I more broadly engage in lofty attempts to reform the culture, celebrate signs of cultural revitalization, and praise and encourage the regenerates in our midst.
Go team.
So, who am I, anyway?
My name is Ryan Zempel and I’m the editor of — and currently sole contributor to — regenerateCulture.com. I previously worked as Deputy Editor and Writer for a politics and news website where, among other duties, I edited the Books & Entertainment section. I’ve fumbled my way through interviews on the O’Reilly Radio Factor, WABC-TV in New York, and The Path Christian Radio Network, getting progressively more articulate as I went (sadly, O’Reilly was the first and therefore the worst).
My own particular realm of the arts world is that of the performing arts, specifically musical theatre. I’ve been known to sing, dance, and act, but have done none of the three to any special acclaim. I’ve performed on numerous stages in the Washington, D.C. metro area and once even got paid to do so at a dinner theatre. I’ve twice stepped behind the curtain to produce shows, both times producing a musical revue of my own creation titled God on Broadway, which highlighted spiritual themes in Broadway songs. Although I still haven’t lost the performing bug, I may have a go at directing at some point, as well.
Not that I have time for any of that, however. I have a full-time paying gig managing websites and am attending seminary part-time, leaving me little time for arts activity of my own. My spring 2011 graduation can’t come fast enough, but in the meantime I try to encourage, support, and live vicariously through others as they engage in artistic endeavors.
Those others include my wife Heather, herself a regenerate who recently returned to the stage after several years absence (although folks in Mobile, Alabama still fondly remember her as the Wicked Witch of the West). When not performing, she serves as Pastor of Discipleship at National Community Church and maintains a blog providing resources for other pastors overseeing small groups. We live on Capitol Hill and can make it up to Times Square in about 4 hours.
