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The Catholic League now wants the ad to be withdrawn, saying it shows a callous contempt for the beliefs and sensibilities of Catholics.
“Equinox says the ad captures the energy and artistry of the well conditioned body in a thought-provoking fashion, blending fantasy and impact.”
If that’s what they wanted they could have shown a Muslim woman with a Burka down around her ankles, muching on a pork chop while being drawn by an Imam.
That’ll never happen.
Actually, I could reply with the little order we have in southern MD, the Carmel of Port Tobacco. The oldest cloister in the US (the location, that is). These nuns also wear their proper Carmelite clothes.
But my mom’s school’s old Notre Dame order that still runs that school (albeit different nature altogether) is always in lay clothes these days.
I find this unsettling. And annoying, because how do I know who is a nun and who is just a hired teacher?
“I’ve never understood why the heathen think nuns are so funny.”
You’re not catholic are you?
Little Mary Margaret was not the best student in Catholic School. Usually she slept through the class. One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping. “Tell me Mary Margaret, who created the universe?”
When Mary Margaret didn’t stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear. “God Almighty!” shouted Mary Margaret. The Nun said, “Very good” and continued teaching her class.
A little later the Nun asked Mary Margaret, “Who is our Lord and Savior?” But Mary didn’t stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck Mary Margaret in the butt. “Jesus Christ!!!” shouted Mary Margaret and the Nun once again said,” Very good,” and Mary Margaret fell back to sleep.
The Nun asked her a third question...”What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?” Again, Johnny came to the rescue, this time Mary Margaret jumped up and shouted, “If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I’ll break it in half!”
The nun fainted.
All of us remember bullies from our school days. These were the guys who picked on kids who were smaller than they were and couldn’t fight back. But they went out of their way to avoid guys who were big enough to defend themselves. After shoving some little kid around, they would often strut around in front of the girls, pounding the chests, as if they were some he-man type.
These people often remain bullies when they grow up. They know that there are certain verbal targets in our society which they can safely attack. They do so, and then pound their chests like Tarzan, as if they’ve proven what outspoken iconoclasts they are. And like the bullies of our schooldays, they’re very, very careful never to insult anyone who might fight back.
Thus, it’s a 100% certainty we’ll never see Islam insulted in this manner.
lots of makeup for a nun as well.
You just don’t see it much anymore. Not like when I was a kid, 40 some years ago.
Exactly. Like someone else said, imagine the reaction if this has been a bunch of women in burkas instead.
I dare them to do it. I double dog dare them.
You can keep on loving her. She's still alive and her Mother Angelica Live series now runs as Mother Angelica Classics. The messages are as important today as they were then.
“Not like when I was a kid, 40 some years ago.”
Well sure - they’re not rapping your knuckles with a yard stick anymore so you’re just not noticing them!
I think the idea of the nude guy in a classical pose is interesting, but the use of nuns seems just so they can get some controversy and the attention. It would seem to me that the use of an Old Master type artist would be even more applicable for the “whats your after?” - sort of a legacy thing, with the painting hanging in some museum some day instead of scribbles in a trash can by some gal learning how to paint.
I didn’t think she’d died (was glad to hear last year), but I missed her having new shows.
Are the “classics” run at reasonable times of the day? Or would I have to TiVO/DVR them?
Exactly.
If you just ignore manipulative people, they tend to go away.
Well her leg showing, and the fact every “nun” in the ad is gawking at the guys crotch... if truly trying to draw a nude, they would not all be focused on the models dangling participle... so to speak.
Disagree. Such is common wisdom, but it’s not true. Jerks need to be faced and challenged, or they keep doing what they want.
Evil prevails when good men do *nothing*.
Yup.
Leftists know who it is “safe” to insult.
Conservatives, Christians, Americans, etc.
Exactly. It’s so obvious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.