The place we give to art and to human effort generally depends also on the idea we have of the Reign of God which is our goal in accordance with the plan of God. The soteriological paradigm is what we are usually familiar with. The world and human life are experienced as fundamentally marked with sin and evil. The aim is to be freed from it. Liberation from slavery is the human model.
Liberation comes as the end of a conflict between the principles of good and evil.
Therefore there is a dichotomous outlook on the world. Renunciation of the world or of the flesh which is evil is called for. Penance is expected as satisfaction for sin. One has to engage one's will. The end will be a victory or conquest.