Christ is Pissed, Again (Is “Piss Christ” a profoundly theological work of art?)

Religious Dispatches ^ | 09/27/2012 | By HOLLIS PHELPS

[MacMattico]

The “clearly” stated intent of the artist was not given until after he received world wide criticism for this work, before that he had stated several different reasons for the piece.

Sister Wendy Beckett's view is that it is a representation of what we have done to Christ today. I'm Catholic but that doesn't mean bringing out one nun that started studying art in her 50’s and is now called a “renowned art critic” changes that Piss Christ is trash. In fact pissing on anything has never seemed to me as representative of anything, it is a literal act with specific meaning.

[boop]

Just as those cans are now filled with dust, so is the "piss Christ" bottle.

But I bet the crucifix is still in existence.

And it will be 2000 years from now.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

I don’t think the protestants of 400 years ago would have gotten all upset over the “P!$$ Christ” as they would have just considered it to be a piece of brass in urine, made to rile the Catholics.

I know Protestants today are getting riled over it,yet I just consider it to be a piece of brass in urine. You could submerge a plastic Barbie doll in it and call it the Madonna and some would get upset.

I know the moslems would go berzerk over a Ken doll with a beard representing mohammed in urine.

When you laugh at it and not let it upset you, it looses it’s power to offend and becomes...nothing.

Anyone have a problem posting on this thread? Several times I have hit the “Post Reply” button but it just brings the entire thread up again and not the “Posting Comment” page. It finally did open for me.

[MacMattico]

Oh, he is free.

[M-cubed]

I am waiting for the Piss Mohammad-— <<

I heard its coming...but the supply of pig urine is scarce...

[sinsofsolarempirefan]

You won’t see it. Why? Because terrorism works. You won’t see Hillary Clinton et al condemning this on television. Its amazing what a difference a propensity for murder, bombing and rioting will get you.

[Cronos]

Andres' "art" is mostly scatalogical in nature -- with lots of waste bodily fluids used.

"challenging the values, perception, and definition of art. " --> nope, didn't challenge any of that for me. It's got nothing to do with values -- it's showing Andres' attempt to get shock value. Perception? Nah

Definition of art? Nah -- to me modern "art" isn't art and waste fluids and faesces are not art.

[Cronos]

that would be in keeping with Andres’ other “works of art”

[Cronos]

actually, don’t do this — you’re giving this “art” the publicity it doesn’t deserve.

[texanred]

The clearly stated intent of the artist was given in a written artists statement presented before the work was displayed. This is standard procedure. Did he give other possible interpretations? Yes he did. So do I. “Versatility” and “multivalent” are keywords to having your work shown. Over literalism and single line of interpretation work is generally scrapped as uninteresting.

I didn't trot out Sister Wendy to appease Catholics. I'm a fan of her meditations and spirituality so i reached for her interpretation. There are dozens of other highly religious critics that have tackled it if you consider hers substandard because she started public criticism late in life.

As well - you says it's a literal act with specific meaning. He literally did not urinate on it. The urine was carefully collected and lit a very specific way in an attempt to look beautiful. See above about literalism and single avenue interpretations.

[texanred]

I'm French Canadian originally. He calls me Frenchneck or occasionally Frostback. Lol. He's Mormon. Unmarried. I joke about him secretly marrying all the young women he dates.

Christ lives and - even for those who do not believe in him - he manages to shine through the mist and fog of this world and can present himself in glory and beauty. (Sorry for sneaking in another popular interpretation.)

[MacMattico]

“... The urine was carefully collected.” Please... Enough already...