Posted on 01/31/2008 5:40:53 AM PST by NYer
BOSTON (WBZ) ―
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder but a controversial ad found in the February edition of the Boston Magazine is causing quite a stir.
"It's unfair and depraved," said C.J. Doyle with the Catholic Action League.
The ad is for the Equinox Fitness Club in Back Bay showing nuns drawing a nude man.
The ad seems to be working because it's getting attention even though a lot of it is negative.
The Boston Archdiocese says the ad is a slam on the Catholic Church.
"When you look at it, it's offensive to religious women who dedicate their lives for the good works of the church," said Terry Donilon with the Boston Archdiocese.
Equinox says the ad captures the energy and artistry of the well conditioned body in a thought-provoking fashion, blending fantasy and impact.
But the Catholic Action League finds the ad very offensive.
"It's also an example of this perverse obsession that the advertising industry has with exploiting and sexualizing Catholic religious imagery," Doyle said.
The ad is getting mixed reactions from local Catholics.
"Yes, I am (Catholic) and my family is as well," said Boston resident Carlos Gomes. "It's offensive. Everyone is getting too acceptable these days."
"It just doesn't bother me," said Laura Deveau, of Norflok. "I don't take things like that seriously."
So, should the ad be seen as offensive or creative art? There's only one way to find out.
WBZ took the ad to the Museum of Fine Arts to get an expert opinion.
"It's evoking a very particular aspect of art, the study of classical statuary or using the human body as a tool to learn how to draw," said Marietta Cambareri with the MFA.
One man had an interesting take on the ad.
"The body is such a work of art that even the nuns appreciate it," said Bostonian Gaetano Tarara.
The Boston Archdiocese said it wants an apology from the fitness club.
The Catholic League now wants the ad to be withdrawn, saying it shows a callous contempt for the beliefs and sensibilities of Catholics.
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NUDITY, NUNS AND EQUINOX GYMS: JUST EDGY ENOUGH
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January 29, 2008 Equinox fitness clubs are rolling out a series of new ads that are being displayed in its gyms, as well as in publications like Boston Magazine. One of the “Happily ever” ads features attractive young women dressed as nuns in habit sketching a naked man; all are staring at his crotch. Catholic League president Bill Donohue responded as follows: “Twenty years ago, the ad agency that Equinox recently acquired to develop this ad, Fallon Worldwide, lost $22 million when major U.S. corporations stopped doing business with the company: an ugly series of racist and sexist incidents involving senior Fallon employees set off a firestorm. It is not likely that Fallon’s latest overture will garner the same reaction, though it makes one wonder why Equinox didn’t choose a more reliable ad agency. “In any event, this patently stupid ad that Equinox is floating suggests that it must hype its edgy image in order to compete. That’s too bad—apparently their targeted demographic group isn’t lured by the prospect of more barbells and fruit bars. Hence, the need to rip off Catholic imagery in a sophomoric soft-porn ad. “Of course, Equinox could have asked Fallon to replace the nuns with Islamic women covered with veils. But that was probably too edgy, even for these trendy types. Guess there are some envelopes that no one wants to push these days. How telling.” |
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Looks like some folks have very little respect for a religion...
Sex sells. What better target to exploit than women who have devoted their lives to God.
Weird ad. It looks like the “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (the band of transvestites in SF) go to drawing class.” Notice the one with “her” leg sticking out from under the habit.
I don’t see what it has to do with a fitness studio.
Nuns don’t even wear those outfits any more. But the idiots couldn’t get the shock value without using them.
I am sure their purpose was spiritually pure (sarcasm). Who do they think they are fooling? They have an agenda.
FYI,,,,,,coming to a magazine near you.
LOL!
Believe it or not, the most telling part about this ad is the nuns’ legs showing.
As if they’re starting to “undress” in excitement. (Never mind the lady looking through the glass door like a kid at a toy shop.)
Inappropriate, I’d say.
Unfortunately, that’s largely true, but there are still nuns around this country who sport the sign of their commitment.
Deeply, deeply offensive.
Christians (especially Catholics) are fair game to these demented ad agencies.
We’d better be ready for the riots, car-b-ques, beheadings ... oh, wait, you said it was Catholics who were upset, not Muslims? Nevermind.
Expert opinion? Of course he's going to say it's art. The only thing he wouldn't classify as that is something that really is.
Considering what most *artists* call art, I'd say his opinion is about as worthless as the gum stuck on the bottom of your shoe.
Nothing coulb be farther from the truth.
Cloistered Dominican Nuns
Discalced Carmelite Nuns
Visitation Nuns
.... to name just a small few. The majority of women religius orders that are growing, all dress in habits.
Here's a better one
Wrong! See my post #16.
If anything, there has been major growth in cloistered orders such as the one founded by Mother Agnelica. Here she is with 5 of her sisters before they departed for Phoenix AZ.
Which is wrong? “Largely true”, or “still nuns who sport”? LOL
I loved Mother Angelica.
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