Hey, It's Only Art, Right?

h/t Instapundit -- I'm not really down with Osama being portrayed as any religious figure, let alone Jesus. But if it's all about sparking debate, how about my entry which starts the conversation with Osama as John the Baptist, instead.

Last night, the Uniting Church minister who chairs the Blake Society defended the pieces.

The Reverend Rod Pattenden, who awarded the $15,000 prize to the competition winner in Sydney yesterday, said his mission was to spark debate about spirituality in a world that was “cynical, degraded and in crisis”. Mr Pattenden said he did not expect controversy to result from the exhibition at the National Art School Gallery “because the Christian community doesn’t look at art a great deal”.

Comments

[Phoenix]

What planet is The Reverend Rufus Pattendunce from? I guess he's never been to Rome? Italy? Spain? England? oh bore....so many pieces of art that are generated by the Christian community.... sigh. Christians make it - they just don't look at it.

[Phoenix]

oops. Commented before linking. You made that stupid 'art'! ha ha ha. I should have known by those Halloween eyes...

I'm not offended, though. If you'd put a pile of doo-doo in the plate, I would have been.

[IslamoLlama]

'Mr Pattenden said he did not expect controversy to result from the exhibition at the National Art School Gallery “because the Christian community doesn’t look at art a great deal”.'

As the son of a parent who went through Catholic school, I can tell you right off that Mr Pattenden doesn't know what the crap he's talking about. I think my mother can rattle off all the great renaissance masters and their masterpieces in her sleep.

That said, wasn't there a thread not half a page down catterwalling about Bloom County censorship being this massive assault on freedom of speech? But now you've got all your panties in a wad over one artist's rather farcical depiction of Christ? Exactly how is Jesus Bin Laden any more radical than Muhammad McBombOnMyHead from the Dutch cartoons? Did anyone even ask for an artist's interpretation or inspiration for the piece, or is it just assumed that if you see Bin Laden dressed as Jesus, the only thought running through the artist's head must have been that 9/11 was the Second Coming of Christ? You people really have never heard of satire before, have you?

[Fred Beloit]

"But now you've got all your panties in a wad over one artist's rather farcical depiction of Christ? Exactly how is Jesus Bin Laden any more radical than Muhammad McBombOnMyHead from the Dutch cartoons? Did anyone even ask for an artist's interpretation or inspiration for the piece, or is it just assumed that if you see Bin Laden dressed as Jesus, the only thought running through the artist's head must have been that 9/11 was the Second Coming of Christ? You people really have never heard of satire before, have you?"

Well at least the Christians out there aren't fixin' to riot in the streets and calling for the death of the artists/satirists. If this satire were directed at the Messenger (PBUH), there would be blood on the moon by now from the religion of peace. Panties in a wad are quite constitutional and a lot more peaceful.

[jj]

I don't think Mr. IslamoLlama is able to draw the distinction you refer to, Fred. He and his kind have blinders on when it comes to radical Muslims. They have no problem criticizing Christians for the slightest of things, yet let these Muslims commit any atrocity without hardly a whisper. They are either the most fearful people on this planet, or they are complicit with the radicals, one of the two. Probably a lot of both.

[IslamoLlama]

"If this satire were directed at the Messenger (PBUH), there would be blood on the moon by now from the religion of peace. Panties in a wad are quite constitutional and a lot more peaceful."

Which, I suppose would be fine and dandy except that they wouldn't be pooh-poohing the Bloom County cartoon as censorship if it was some girl dressed up as Jesus. The difference between crazy Islamofascist Axe murderers and Riehl World right-wing apologists appears to be consistency. Riehl-Worlders apparently insist its only ok to make controversial statements about religions they don't adhere to. Sharia-law adherents will, at least, be consistent with their disdain of 1st Amendment Rights when lopping off heads.

[jj]

If the only difference you see between crazy Islamofascist Axe murderers and Riehl World right-wing apologists is consistency, you're just plain stupid, IslamoLlama. What I asked for was some CONSISTENCY on your part, Mr. IslamoLlama.

Now, you are either a pot calling the kettle black, or a hypocrite, Llama. I know, splitting hairs, but on second thought, they are one in the same in your case.