All of the art, literature and architecture we have looked at this semester has been created within a specific religious context. Piss Christ is a 1987 photograph by artist and photographerAndres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix submerged in urine. Conservative Christian senator's criticism of the piece led to a heated US debate on public arts funding. Republican Jesse Helmes told the senate that Serrano was "not an artist, but a jerk." Serrano was awarded a prize partially funded by the National Endowment for the Arts. Many called for the dissolving of this tax funded agency. Serrano defended his photograph as a criticism of the "billion-dollar Christ- for- profit industry"and a "condemnation of those who abuse the teaching of Christ for their own ignoble ends." The photograph was vandalized in Australia and in Sweden (by neo-Nazis in 2007.) Controversy reached its peak on Palm Sunday this year when it was attacked with hammers after and "anti-blasphemy campaign by French Catholic fundamentalists while on display in an Avignon museum.Do you see this work as blasphemous? Has it crossed the line of what should be defended as "free speech?" Do you think it is "art?" If you came upon this work in a gallery and had no information about it, how do you think you might react to it?
Serrano has become a familiar figure in popular media, with interviews in Vogue and appearances on the Colbert Report. He is like a rock star, as are many in the modern art world, and has recently entered into the music scene with plans to release a CD under the alias "Brutus Faustus." At 60, Serrano feels he has accomplished everything he has wanted to accomplish except being a rock star. Does this change your impression of his Piss Christ, or of his defense of it?
I think it looks amazing however being in piss is not the most sanitary place for such artwork nore does a jar of piss deserve to be sitting in an art room. In some sense, the art should be kicked out because it is downgrading to other art masterpieces. Its unique design and graphics are very unique, but the artist should have not told anyone of it being enclosed by piss maybe water with food coloring would have been a better answer.
ReplyDeleteIt’s hard to keep sane when speaking of Andres Serrano. I have never been a fan of Andres Serrano’s “fluid” art of blood, urine, and sperm. The image of Piss Christ is tasteless and disrespectful towards the Christian religion, but when it comes down to it, I don’t see this image being blasphemous. Blasphemy is the defamation of the name of God, the Holy Spirit, which includes using sacred names as stress expletives without intention to pray or speak of sacred matters. I don’t believe this is art, but that is an opinion. If I came across this piece in a gallery and had information on it or not, I would still feel offended and feel that this image is ill-mannered. I’d take a hammer to it myself, as did protestors in France.
ReplyDeleteI think that for any christian who sees this it is very disrespectful. I do not think it is art. There are other ways of creating art than being put in bodily fluids. This person definetly crossed the line with the whole free speech unless they are not christians then I guess they can do whatever they want. However, do it with something else not the crucifix.If I saw this in a museum I would be mad. I do not think I would take a hammer to it however I would be really upset.
ReplyDeleteI definitely think that this is a disrespectful piece, I'm careful to say that is it blasphemous but stretching it to that term is not far out. I think it is a backlash on the Christian faith, most definitely. While this piece can fit the constraints of art it is also distasteful. Art has been dubbed an outlet for emotion and there is emotion evident in this photograph. I, however, do find offense in this photograph. Not only is it insulting but Andres Serrano attempted to make it something appealing at the same time. When an artist takes something insulting and attempts to make it beautiful at the same time it doesn't settle well. Coming upon this piece in a gallery would anger me, it mocks the crucifixion which is so important in the Christian faith. In my opinion, that's not okay.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan of Anrdes Serrano's work. Simply because of the use of bodily fluid in his work. For anyone of the Christian faith, this piece of work would come off as being disrespectful. I don't think it is blasphemous but I can definitely see how it would cause an outrage among those who are religious. Whether it is his intention or not, it is mocking christianity or the symbol of it. If I were to see this in a museum I would be shocked and grossed out but I would not act out of anger or rage. It's sad to see that there are people who would do things like this that come off as being degrading. Even though I may not like what he did with this piece, I do believe Serrano is entitled to his opinion and he does have every right to express than in any form he pleases due to the 1st amendment.
ReplyDeleteI think that whether or not this is blasphemy depends on the artists intentions. It seems to me like he kinda just wanted some controversy. I feel that this is still under his right to free speech, but I definitely do not consider it art. If I came across this in a gallery and had no information on it i think I might have some questions as to what kind of gallery I was in. There's no doubt the smart phone would be pulled out to see what in the world was going on with the artist. It just seems that this guy wants attention, and this is what he came up with.
ReplyDeleteTo me, I am completely appalled by it. That someone would even consider to place a crucifix of Jesus, our Savior and Lord, in urine is very dishonoring to Him. Yes, at first glance the picture does look cool. My first thought is that this person made Jesus shine just as He does in the darkness. Knowing the information on it though, leaves a complete distaste in my mouth. His defense does not change my mind at all. I consider his picture to be very disrespectful to be put in the eyes of our God. He is the One who created us and deserves much more than being placed in urine. "Piss Christ" is absolutely grotesque, and therefore I am perfectly fine with what was done to it.
ReplyDeleteThe piece itself is unique but I think this guy has some major problems. Maybe he's a satanist or a atheist and this is just his way of looking down on other peoples beliefs...like who the hell would think do that and call it art? In my eyes, I think the dude is whack and he needs to check himself...
ReplyDeleteOverall i dislike this piece and how the art work is done. It's disgusting and is tasteless. Anyone can take an object or in this case a holy symbol and pee on it and call it art. But if you saw a guy pissing all over a budda statue or on a temple atlar, calling it artd, I think that more people would see that as disrespect, not art. And he never makes his message clear enough for me to defend it. But I can not see where it is blasphemous, maybe if you look at it as pissing on christ is your way of rejecting him but i dont think his art intended that. Still i don't think he should have done this piece of art.
ReplyDeleteI think that Serrano made this picture to prove a good point. There is so much commercialization of the image of Christ now that it is bordering on ridiculous. I think that he is trying to show people that it isn't the image of christ that is important in the religion really, but that the image is just there to symbolize it somewhat. I can't say too much because this is not a religion that I practice, but I think that Serrano is seeing the over-commercialization of the image of Christ as being somewhat like idolatry. But I dont think that it is blasphemous to do what he did.
ReplyDeleteIn this photograph he is being artistic with trying something new, however, there are people who worship and follow the believes of Christ. Disrespecting someone of such a high value should not be rewarded or made famous for that piece of art. Free Speech doesn't have anything to do with destroying a creation and symbol for Christians. If I were to see this photograph in an art gallery I would ask myself why someone would do something like that? There is a line between being creative and be foolish, Andres Serrano has yet to figure that out. He is using this photograph that is infamous to get him started in a career he wanted as a rock star, now with funding and global exposure from this he will have the funding to do so. Jeffrey Z.
ReplyDeleteI consider myself a pretty open-minded person and I’m completely for free speech but I think he may be crossing a line here. He claims to be making a statement against “billion-dollar Christ-for-profit industry” but I’m sure Christians everywhere are offended by this photograph. It is all about the shock value. He chose the one thing that he knew would cause an uproar which I realize is not entirely uncommon in the arts but I believe this particular piece of art may be pushing things too far. I’m sure my reaction would be completely different if I didn’t know anything about the background of the piece. Honestly, when I first saw the picture it looked like a simple underwater photograph which I thought was pretty neat but once I learned the background of the piece it ruined it for me. Samantha M.
ReplyDeleteI am not a religious person, so I am not sure what is so wrong about the photograph, but I believe in free speech, whether where to draw the line or if you could even draw a line and still call it free speech is controversial. But that is exactly my point, since the very beginning of human speech there are two sides of an argument, if one decided to ban another, a person is either too immature to acknowledge the reality that there will always be a new one, or so center-ego that one cannot tolerate the existence of an idea simply because he/she does not like it. Do I think if it is art, personally I am not sure, I think the picture is nice looking, but I also think putting something, anything in urine and take a picture is gross. And no, he being very famous and want to be a rock star doesn't change my mind that it is gross Hak T.
ReplyDeleteIt is the emotion of the artist belief on: "condemnation of those who abuse the teaching of Christ for their own ignoble ends.". There is a lot of art which is controversial, but become great ideas and inspiration for the future. I do not think the artist created blasphemy. In the eyes of many he probably was disrespecting religion, but for him the concept of this photography was not to shun the religion of Christianity or other religions but to put forth his views of materialism. All ideas broaden ones' knowledge and expand free thinking. This picture is an important concept of the modern world and religion's in society. The basis of this art can be analyzed separately from the image. Jesus floating in mid air shows the godly figure Jesus was. Serrano's was creating an overwhelming burst of emotion within the viewer so they may understand his disapproval of the commercialization of Jesus. For him and maybe others abusing the teachings of Christ for their own good is more controversial than than Jesus splattered in urine.
ReplyDelete(Clint MCGalliard) I would say that this piece is a bit of a slap in the face to Christian believers. I don't think it crosses the line of free speech because there is no line thats what free means. For myself it doesn't bother me as I'm Agnostic but it feels like a jab at Christian followers. As far as it being art I suppose it is since it's somewhat creative but in a negative way.
ReplyDeleteThis piece is very disrespectful. Before I read to see what it was, I though it looked cool. Every one has a right to free speech but I feel as if he definitely crossed the line, I would not call this art.
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