tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post5302336721159952147..comments2023-10-19T11:27:25.565-04:00Comments on Nutwood Junction: Art, Sacrilege, and MyrmidonsBethhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05149068921334726430noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-6911638892633662152010-12-07T08:29:06.795-05:002010-12-07T08:29:06.795-05:00It would get no attention whatsoever if these reli...It would get no attention whatsoever if these religious nuts just ignored it. But NO, Now many more people will see it thanks to their "outrage".Toonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02867993460493875221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-74069123035209315142010-12-06T14:24:42.248-05:002010-12-06T14:24:42.248-05:00Hey Beth, for me, fine art in the modern age is su...Hey Beth, for me, fine art in the modern age is supposed to be about reflection and introspection, expansion of thought beyond the accepted, and social and political expression, three things conservatives often loath. Without that trinity attached, art simply becomes decoration.<br /><br />Something can be made with care and detail, be composed of fine or rare materials, and have sensibilities of what human beings find beautiful, but without the soul of that trinity it really isn't fine art. As an example, a hand made quilt is beautiful and requires great skill, but a panel quilt from the AIDS Memorial Project is closer to being fine art, even though both are basically the same thing.<br /><br />Most people who defame fine art or take offense to it don't want people to connect or debate or form new ideas. They feel it threatens their very existence, hence the fierce reaction. If it wasn't a perceived threat, the reaction would be minimal.Kyle Leachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13369076904327452139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-13134804954335494322010-12-05T19:55:10.957-05:002010-12-05T19:55:10.957-05:00Art is meant to invoke a reaction, and this one ce...Art is meant to invoke a reaction, and this one certainly has. To bad that the Smithsonian caved to the pressure.Ken Richeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09425810816600512504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-50963252296315007872010-12-05T15:37:05.720-05:002010-12-05T15:37:05.720-05:00That image of the crucifix didn't exactly look...That image of the crucifix didn't exactly look appealing to me, either, but I don't agree with condemning it or using it as a basis for reviewing how the Smithsonian selects its exhibits (especially given that you mentioned the exhibit was privately funded). Where were these voices when folks were walking around with posters of Obama dressed as a witch doctor or Hitler, by the way? This whole flap seems like just so much 'low hanging fruit' for politicians who want to appeal to their base ... a much easier rallying cry than "bonuses for billionaires." Who knows, if it works, maybe they'll support a new "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy for the art community (Michaelangelo: shut yer yap; Leonardo: put a sock in it; ...)!<br />Best,<br />MartyMartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05696228344180197628noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-27809471557763053532010-12-05T14:37:35.386-05:002010-12-05T14:37:35.386-05:00I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn t...I'm sure you won't be surprised to learn that Ethel was my favoeirt Myrmidon!Miss Ginger Granthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03494225040016735718noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-18903782718218132202010-12-05T02:25:23.482-05:002010-12-05T02:25:23.482-05:00I was trying to put my thoughts into words but the...I was trying to put my thoughts into words but then I read Sheria's comment and saw that she said everything I was thinking. So thank you, Sheria, for putting it so concisely.Kailynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00929638120561092330noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-42778873346327202632010-12-05T01:45:52.380-05:002010-12-05T01:45:52.380-05:00I always feel that some people tend to focus on ir...I always feel that some people tend to focus on irrelevant issues when it comes to alleged debates about religion (I agree with DB that the real issue in this instance is homosexuality.) It doesn't matter whether or not the ants on the cross work is sacrilegious; it's a work of art and the exhibit is in a museum, not a church and no one is forced to view it. Let ministers tell their flock how sacrilegious the exhibit is and let them condemn it and stay away, but don't censor all the people who don't find it offensive from viewing the work. <br /><br />I think that this is where so many people make religion an issue when it shouldn't be. I have no problem with anyone declaring that he or she finds some work of art to be anti-Christian. I believe in freedom of expression. However, they don't get to tell me that I should find it offensive and that I can't see it! <br /><br />Beth, I think that you have accurately placed the real argument in context, "Who gets to decide what is art?" I've seen lots of "art" that I didn't like for a variety of reasons but somebody liked it. No person or group of persons should dictate what others may view or create.<br /><br />I have a slightly different take on the Mohammed issue--to depict or not to depict! It's a diplomatic and political issue more than a religious one, at least it is under our current shaky relationship with all things Muslim.<br /><br />I also think that the prohibition against any depiction of Muhammad is clear unlike trying to figure out before hand what art may or may not be offensive to Christians. Don't get me wrong, I don't think that there is any rational logic behind the prohibitions against physical representations of Muhammad, I just think that it is at least a simple and very specific belief and I'm willing to refrain from <b>intentionally</b> insulting Islam by choosing to specifically violate it for the purpose of insulting Muslims. The draw Muhammad day event wasn't about art it was about giving the finger to Muslims about their beliefs. Still pemisible under freedom of expression but not really a necessity. I put it on the same level as burning the Quran. <br /><br />However, sacrilege in reference to Christianity is sort of hard to call in advance. I seriously doubt that the artist set out to create an exhibit that would offend or insult Christians, and if Christians are insulted, then they should stay away from the exhibit.<br /><br />One last thing, is the Right too ignorant to recognize hypocrisy even when it slaps them in the nose? Republicans profess that they are against big government; the mantra of the Tea Party is "We don't want the government telling us what to do!" However, they have no problems with the idea of the government censoring the work of artists and pulling a power play by cutting funding for the arts. It appears as long as the government sticks to telling us what we may view or whom we cannot marry, the Right is just fine with massive government interference.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04614116686638969278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-8165418352328478492010-12-05T00:29:45.728-05:002010-12-05T00:29:45.728-05:00Furthermore, let's face it, the issue is not a...Furthermore, let's face it, the issue is not about Christ or sacreligion, it's about homosexuality. Conservatives and particularly Christian Conservatives, can't bear the fact that there is homosexuality in the world. That hypocrisy is also sickening. They will cite scripture to justify their prejudice but ignore it about other things. If the "fool" on the left is so stunned and shocked at depictions in art of homosexuality he should come to New York during Gay Pride Day and witness the love. The self righteous conservatives should grow up. The sad fact is that since they came to power we will no doubt see a lot more of this type of idiocy.<br /><br />And what's wrongwith two brothers kissing each other? My brothr and I used to kiss and he was ten years older than I. You, on the left side there, what do you call that, child abuse?<br /><br />DBDBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144446186279708019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-4275783273809084392010-12-05T00:04:06.155-05:002010-12-05T00:04:06.155-05:00Wellm first of all if anyone was nailed to a cross...Wellm first of all if anyone was nailed to a cross it's more than likely there would be ants crawling all over him. They probably live in the wood. Next, the matter of something being sacrilegious. Are we to have a panel of religious professionals peering into every museum and movie theatre deciding for us what is or isn't. It might get very confusing, for what is sacrilegious to a Christian may not be to a Jew and vice versa. Then there's the questiobn of what is art? Aestheticians have been discussing that one for centuries and haven't come up with an answer that applies to everything. It's obvious anyway that the "gentleman" on the left has no idea what art is even though he thinks he does.<br /><br />The wrong headedness of this whole issue is sickening. It reminds me of many things such s the uproar over the Muslim mosque in lower Manhattan and the uproar over the film "The Last Temptation of Christ." I passed by a movie theatre in NYC that wa showing the film and came upon a demonstration against it. I stopped to talk with a few people and asked if they had seen the film or read the book. None had. I asked them then how did they know what they were demonstrating against. I also informed them that I knew a Jewish girl who had converted to Christianity as a result of reading the book, which is the truth. But these outraged politicians who are threatening to take their marbles and go home have never seen the exhibit. Same old story.<br /><br />To be continued.DBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09144446186279708019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-92078673370287437362010-12-04T22:07:45.539-05:002010-12-04T22:07:45.539-05:00I see you are reading 'Girl With The Dragon Ta...I see you are reading 'Girl With The Dragon Tattoo' I enjoyed that book. I identified in many way with Lisbeth and even more after seeing the Swedish version. Trapped in a world she can barely decipher and living by her wiles and...<br /><br />... oh, the art controversy. Doing some more 'identifying' with words, a smart lady said this about the big to-do:<br /><br /> "However, you can bet that plenty of those doing the ridiculing are also saying that an ant-covered crucifix is wrong and sacrilegious. Some are saying that "all religions should be respected." For the vast majority, I call bullshit. What they mean is "MY religion should be respected. I don't give a fuck about yours." <br /><br />And I agree with the feeling express completely. It is the same all over the country, only when something lands in their wheelhouse or affects their interests do folks take any action. All the more intense when someone makes an ideal more solid and gives them something to demonize.<br /><br />The whole problem is with the 'man behind the curtain'... people want to imagine him as one thing (unless you are Muslim, in which case, you don't imagine him at all) when that image often contradicts what I interpret from scripture.<br /><br />I think Jesus would see the work for what it is... his sharing the suffering of an AIDS patient and all those afflicted. That is suppposedly the purpose of his sacrifice, isn't it?Big Mark 243https://www.blogger.com/profile/10974573439218884164noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-736448434152217111.post-16766133677526066242010-12-04T20:09:36.784-05:002010-12-04T20:09:36.784-05:00didn't we already have this big art controvers...didn't we already have this big art controversy with the photo of jeebus in the pee-water won an award sponsored by the national endowment of the arts?<br /><br />personally, i dont see the issue. if you dont like it, don't look at it or don't go. <br /><br />maybe they should just ask jesus how he feels about it. he can post his response in a pancake or maybe on a tortilla if he has a lot to say about it.<br /><br />xxalainaxxmrs.missalaineushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08542984504965262088noreply@blogger.com