ABC Can't Decide Whether Christ-as-a-Dog Offensive

NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Can you believe it? ABC displayed a painting depicting Mohammed as a dog, and then had the temerity/stupidity to ask if Muslims would find it offensive. Actually, you can't believe it. ABC did no such thing -- nor is it conceivable they would do so.

But displaying a painting depicting Christ as a dog, and wondering whether anyone would find it offensive? Sure. Happened today on Good Morning America. The show ran a segment on a painting by someone named Ron Burns who has recreated da Vinci's Last Supper with dogs substituted for Jesus and his disciples. Even more than the image itself, some will surely find the title that the "artist" gave to his work offensive: "Dinner and Drinks with Son of Dog."

Introducing Burns, weekend co-host Bill Weir said "it's a riff on the Last Supper by Leonardo da Vinci. A whimsicial riff, perhaps? Others, blasphemy."

GMA CO-HOST KATE SNOW: People are calling it blasphemous, anti-Christian, anti-God. One person we talked to said it crossed the line. Did you expect any of that? Did you think when you were doing this piece that maybe you'd ruffle some feathers?"

Burns actually denied that the thought had occurred to him.

View video here.Weir then interviewed an Orlando, Florida gallery owner, Ron Hoy. Although Hoy had decided not to display the painting in his gallery, he was anything but a critic of Burns, to the contrary gushing about how "Ron's work is extraordinary, it's very bright, colorful, fun and it's enjoyed by young children, adults of all ages. But I decided not to bring this piece in because it has that propensity to be controversial."

SNOW: Are you hearing that? Have you heard from people who think it is offensive?

HOY: No. We don't have the image in the store.

SNOW: You're just worried that people would be offended if people put it on the wall.

HOY: That's true

Uttering the most vapid line from the segment, co-host Bill Weir asked "Do you think that crosses a line in terms of censorship? I mean, isn't art about expression of all sorts, Ron?"

Censorship is a government act in suppression of free expression. A private person's decision not to display a painting depicting Christ as a dog is an act of good taste. Is it an act of censorship if [which I suspect might be the case] Weir doesn't display the Mohamed cartoons over his mantle at home? A real example of attempted censorship would be that in which the French government prosecuted a magazine for publishing the Mohammed photos.

Hoy, who presumably was brought in to "balance" the artist, wound up agreeing with Weir!

HOY: Art "is about that [expression]. . . When we think about this painting of Ron's, that is controversial, I think it gives us the opportunity to think about it a little bit. And I think that gives the painting a little more credence."

In response to a question from Snow, Burns mentioned that the painting is going for $65,000 -- a value no doubt enhanced by the publicity GMA provided.

Burns went so far as to claim that: "if Jesus were alive today and came in my gallery and he saw this painting, I would like to think that Jesus has a sense of humor [and would say] 'that's great, that's an honor.'"

Back in the studio, as indicated in the screencap, Kate found the whole matter hilarious and was unable to suppress a fit of the giggles. She ended the piece by informing viewers that GMA wants to know what they think, inviting them to weigh in on the art-or-blasphemy debate at abcnews.com.

Can you imagine such a segment on ABC with Mohammed and his followers substituted for Christ? Neither can I.

Contact Mark at mark@gunhill

[governsleastgovernsbest]

GMA-engine-starter ping to Today show list.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

PLEASE NOTE:

RON BURNS IS THE 'ARTIST.' KATE SNOW AND BILL WEIR ARE THE GMA HOSTS WHO COULDN'T DECIDE WHETHER THE PAINTING IS OFFENSIVE OR IF REFUSING TO DISPLAY IT IS CENSORSHIP.

MARK FINKELSTEIN IS THE AUTHOR OF THE NEWSBUSTERS ITEM CRITICIZING THE PAINTING, ABC, GMA, WEIR AND SNOW.

PLEASE ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS ACCORDINGLY.

[Carolinamom]

It says a lot about a person who finds this 'art' funny, doesn't it?

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Sorry for shouting, but in the past when I've posted items defending Christians and Christianity, people have gotten confused and accused "this guy Finkelstein" of making the offensive statements. So I'm a bit gun shy.

[mkjessup]

If Jesus Christ Himself was a guest on Good Morning America, the only thing they would want to talk about would be Mary Magdalene, and whether or not there was anything 'questionable' about their 'relationship'.

This sort of behavior comes as no surprise at all.

[Malacoda]

If that was a picture of Mad Mo the Pedo as a dog, mohammedans would be rioting in the street and calling for the beheading of the artist and anyone who had even looked at the thing. As it is, Christian bashing and offending is the last acceptable bigotry.

[Behind Liberal Lines]

Let me know when this brave artists paints Mohammed as a dog

[Chode]

all the presstitutes have to do if they are confused... is to substitute allah or mohamit some other goathumper icon for the image on display and then ask themselves the same question.

[reg45]

Remember: D O G spelled backwards is ....

[Eclectica]

And flashes it on ABC.

[sgtbono2002]

That picture has been around for about a hundred years.

[Sherman Logan]

FWIW, this type of thing would be expected to be more offensive to Christians than the famous cartoons were to Muslims.

Most Christians believe Jesus is God and the Son of God.

Muslims believe Mohammed was only a man, although the most illustrious of all men.

The equivalent blasphemy would be to produce "art" mocking Allah, not Mohammed.

[Cooking101]

Looks like these two boneheads are having a really good time with this trashy satire of the Last Supper. A feminist talking head and a smug, light-in-the-loafers "artist"; a pair that would beat a full house.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Good point, and I actually did consider that in writing the item, but decided to go with the Mohammed analogy because the cartoon controversy has recently been in the news.

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Have a look at the linked video. Snow just can't stop laughing at the end.

[metmom]

GMA CO-HOST KATE SNOW: People are calling it blasphemous, anti-Christian, anti-God. One person we talked to said it crossed the line. Did you expect any of that? Did you think when you were doing this piece that maybe you'd ruffle some feathers?"

Burns actually denied that the thought had occurred to him.

What a liar. Of course he knew it would offend people; that's why he did it with such a famous piece and one of Jesus no less. He could have picked any other work of art.

[stayathomemom]

I think you are going to have to put a similar "shouting" disclaimer at the head of every article you post. I try to make a point of noting sources and such before I read an article.

[WKB]

Baptist ping

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Agreed. And consider the title he put on his painting: "Dinner and Drinks with Son of Dog." I suppose he didn't imagine that would offend anyone, either.