Freemasonry as an Art Form

I have just finished reading The Interpretation of Cultures by Clifford Geertz. This is an extremely well known book by a highly rated academic. Although it is an anthropological piece of work, its findings can be extrapolated to micro-cultures such as those found in organizations. Many of us are part of multiple organizations, be they family, work, or voluntary organizations (such as freemasonry, Round Table or Lions).

The book is actually a collection of essays. The last one is the one for which Geertz became most well known for; Notes on the Balanese Cockfight. The analysis at the end had a particular resonance for me with freemasonry as I try to consider the impact of this enigmatic organization has to those inside the organization, and those outside. How do we explain its compelling attraction to those outside in a way that does not seek to alienate, or use the institutionalized language we use to communicate with each other?

The first hint of this came from reading Victor Turner's From Ritual to Theatre. From this we could describe freemasonry as a form of performing art. An art form that is consumed at the same time it is performed; in front of a live audience of other freemasons. Geertz's analysis provides us with a deeper insight, however. He talks about ritual as forming an art form; in his case he was referring to what happened in Bali. In our case freemasonry can be considered an art form because it is subjective and can only be really appreciated by those who have some insight into its meaning, construction and performance. Freemasonry as an art form conveys all the nuances, subjectivity, accuracy and challenge that needs to be associated with the world's least understood organization.