Are the controversial artworks at CCP a Freedom of Expression or simply an insult to Christianity?

  • Thread starter Thread starter alitaptap
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
A

alitaptap

Guest
An art installation that mixes Christ with kitschy symbols of pop culture and includes a crucifix with a movable penis has set off an uproar among conservative Catholics and other Christian denominations, who say the installations are a mockery of their faith.

Mideo Cruz, the artist responsible for the installation, intended to be a commentary on icon worship, has been branded a “demon” and bombarded with death threats and hate mail since his work featured in an exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP) that began June 17 and runs until Aug. 21.

Christian-led groups on Monday sent a demand letter to Raul Sunico, the CCP president, demanding that the CCP shut down the entire exhibit, which includes the works of 30 other artists besides Cruz.

Civil suit poised

If their demand is not met by Thursday, the groups said they would file a civil suit against the CCP—and all 31 artists—for allegedly violating its mandate under Presidential Decree No. 15 that created it.

The CCP is being funded by taxes for the purpose of “awakening the consciousness of our people to our cultural heritage,” said Jo Imbong, executive director of the St. Thomas More Society, one of the Catholic groups, at a forum sponsored by the Catholic Media Network on Tuesday.

“But is it our cultural heritage to mock and insult religious personages and icons? Is it aesthetic to vandalize a venerated representation of objects of worship and reverence? Is vulgarity and blasphemy a Filipino value?” said Imbong.

She said those responsible for the CCP exhibit also violated Article 201 of the Revised Penal Code, “they have a liability because they have offended the religious belief of a country that is 85 percent Christian.”

Article 201, on offenses against decency and good customs, of the Revised Penal Code penalizes those who offend any race or religion.

newsinfo.inquirer.net/35347/%E2%80%98sacrilegious%E2%80%99-artwork-stirs-uproar-in-exhibit
 
alitaptap said:
The CCP is being funded by taxes for the purpose of “awakening the consciousness of our people to our cultural heritage,” said Jo Imbong, executive director of the St. Thomas More Society, one of the Catholic groups, at a forum sponsored by the Catholic Media Network on Tuesday.
Click to expand...
So much for “our cultural heritage”.
It stinks, from the Pit! :mad:
And Cruz was surprised by the reaction. “i believe him; but thousands wouldn`t!” :rolleyes:

It`s just another wedge being driven in, to make a mockery of the Faith, complete with “a perfectly reasonable explanation” for the blasphemy. The Father of Lies has a silver tongue.
 
They wouldn’t mock gays, muslims or cultural minorities, so why mock Christianity?
 
Thanks for your replies, Fink and cTG.

The controversial art exhibit includes images and statues such as:
  1. A wooden replica of male genital in front of Jesus Christ image.
  2. An image of Christ wherein his eyes had been darkened by ink.
  3. Crucifix with condom.
  4. Religious pictures beside women underwear models.
  5. Seated Christ statue with red ball on His nose and a semi mickey mouse ears.
 
I wouldn’t want to live in a country where the silencing of dissenting opinions and expression is considered a cultural value. Just because he doesn’t find it aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean that no one else should be allowed to view it. Maybe Imbong should consider that.
 
EmperorNapoleon said:
I wouldn’t want to live in a country where the silencing of dissenting opinions and expression is considered a cultural value. Just because he doesn’t find it aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean that no one else should be allowed to view it. Maybe Imbong should consider that.
Click to expand...
And, maybe Cruz (ironic name!) should reconsider where he puts on his obscene, blasphemous show.
im sure there are lots of anti-Christian places thatd welcome it. Wouldn`t you agree? 😃

Meanwhile, the retreat of decency and respect for God continues, to the great satisfaction of some. :rolleyes:
 
Fink said:
And, maybe Cruz (ironic name!) should reconsider where he puts on his obscene, blasphemous show.
im sure there are lots of anti-Christian places thatd welcome it. Wouldn`t you agree? 😃

Meanwhile, the retreat of decency and respect for God continues, to the great satisfaction of some. :rolleyes:
Click to expand...
The problem is some officers of the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CCP), a government organization, are defending the artist (Cruz).

The artworks exhibition was launched on June 17 on the occasion of CCP’s celebration of Jose Rizal’s (national hero) 150th birthday.This exhibit was proposed to the CCP as the artists’ response to this important celebration, and makes the connection as well to the 400th year of the University of Santo Tomas (a Catholic school). I magine that.

I think this has something to do with the Reproductive Health Bill being pushed by some politicians and government officials.
 
I basically think this is silly----I side witht the homeowner--------(although I feel the guy was slightly too provoking).

HOWEVER---------

What IF a man (let’s say an atheist) were to plant a cross in his front lawn with a sign attached to it saying “This is a HUGE LIE,”-------would you folks then say, “too bad?”
After all, it is his lawn and “if folks don’t like it, too bad.”

I would defend the right of this guy to plant that cross in his lawn, as totally repugnant as I would find the sentiment.

What about you guys?
 
EmperorNapoleon said:
I wouldn’t want to live in a country where the silencing of dissenting opinions and expression is considered a cultural value. Just because he doesn’t find it aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean that no one else should be allowed to view it. Maybe Imbong should consider that.
Click to expand...
I’m for anyone saying whatever they want. But they should do it with their own money, not tax dollars.
 
I don’t think this art exhibit really is an expression of freedom of expression. No art museum in the West would allow an art exhibtit glorifying the Nazis, nor would one in the Philippines allow an exhibit glorifying Moslem terrorists. If by any chance one was begun, they would quickly withdraw it because of the offense given to quarters they respect. This exibit at issue is more about what the leaders of this center personally accept, and in fact it seems they have borrowed from the Western art world notions of politically correct art, and so they feel perfectly free to offend the Catholics of the Philippines.
 
I went to the news page and there are actually comments defending him. Sad what the world has gone to.
 
The message of Pope Benedict to Artists during exhibit honoring the 60th anniversary of his priesthood is very relevant:

Papal Address to Artists of Anniversary Exhibit
“Never Seek Beauty Far From Truth and Charity”
VATICAN CITY, JULY 7, 2011 (Zenit.org).- Here is a translation of the address Benedict XVI gave Monday at the opening of an exhibit in his honor titled “The Splendor of Truth; the Beauty of Charity: Artists’ Homage to Benedict XVI on the 60th Anniversary of His Priesthood.”
*Lord Cardinals,
Venerable Brothers in the Episcopate and the Priesthood,
Dear Friends,
It is a great joy for me to meet you and to receive your creative and manifold homage on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of my priestly ordination. I am sincerely grateful for your closeness on this most significant and important celebration for me. In the Eucharistic celebration of last June 29, Solemnity of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, I thanked the Lord for the gift of the priestly vocation. Today I thank you for the friendship and kindness you manifest to me. I greet cordially Cardinal Angelo Sodano, dean of the Sacred College, and Cardinal Gianfranco Ravasi, president of the Pontifical Council for Culture who, together with his collaborators, organized this singular artistic demonstration, and I thank him for the courteous words he dedicated to me. I also greet all those present, in particular you, dear artists, who accepted the invitation to present a creation of yours in this exhibition.
Our meeting today, in which I have the joy and the interest to admire your works, is a new stage on that path of friendship and dialogue we undertook on Nov. 21, 2009, in the Sistine Chapel, an event that I still have engraved on my soul. The Church and artists meet again, to talk with one another, to support the need for a conversation that is and must be ever more intense and articulated, also to offer to culture, more than that, to the cultures of our time, an eloquent example of fruitful and effective dialogue, oriented to making our world ever more human and beautiful. Today you present to me the fruit of your activity, of your reflection, of your talent, expressions of the different artistic realms that you represent here: painting, sculpture, architecture, craftsmanship, photography, cinema, music, literature and poetry.
Before admiring them with you, allow me to pause just a moment on the thought-provoking title of this exhibition: “The Splendor of Truth; the Beauty of Charity.” In fact, in the homily of the Mass pro eligendo pontifice, commenting on the beautiful expression of St. Paul in the Letter to the Ephesians, veritatem facientes in caritate (4:15), I defined the “living of truth in charity,” as a fundamental formula of Christian existence. And I added: “Truth and charity coincide in Christ. To the degree that we come close to Christ, in our life also truth and charity unite. Charity without truth would be blind: truth without charity would be like a ‘clanging cymbal’ (1 Corinthians13:1).”
It is precisely from this union, I would like to say symphony, from the perfect harmony of truth and charity, that genuine beauty springs, capable of awakening admiration, wonder and true joy in men’s hearts. The world in which we live needs truth to shine and not be obfuscated by lies or banality; it needs charity to inflame it and not to be overcome by pride and egoism. We need the beauty of truth and charity to reach the depth of our hearts and make them more human. Dear friends, I would like to renew to you and to all artists a friendly and passionate appeal: never separate artistic creativity from truth and charity; never seek beauty far from truth and charity, but with the richness of your genius, of your creative impulse, be always courageous seekers of truth and witnesses of charity. Make truth shine in your works so that their beauty awakens in the sights and hearts of those who admire them the desire to make their existence, all existence, beautiful and true, enriching it with that treasure that never diminishes, which makes of life a work of art and of every man an extraordinary artist: [the treasure of] charity, love.
May the holy Spirit, architect of all beauty that is in the world, enlighten you always and guide you to the ultimate and definitive Beauty, the one which inflames our minds and hearts, and which we hope to be able to contemplate one day in all its splendor. Once again, thank you for your friendship, for your presence and for taking to the world a ray of this Beauty which is God. I impart to you wholeheartedly, to your loved ones and to the whole world of art my Apostolic Blessing.
*
 
why don’t the artist try mocking at his own parents,grandparents, relatives and sibling ?😃
 
How are the offensive photos of this exhibition allowed to be posted on this website?

Aren’t things checked before they are posted?

What next?
 
EmperorNapoleon said:
I wouldn’t want to live in a country where the silencing of dissenting opinions and expression is considered a cultural value. Just because he doesn’t find it aesthetically pleasing doesn’t mean that no one else should be allowed to view it. Maybe Imbong should consider that.
Click to expand...
Are you saying that criticizing the controversial artwork is a suppression of freedom?
 
alitaptap said:
Are you saying that criticizing the controversial artwork is a suppression of freedom?
Click to expand...
No, it is his right to criticize. It should not, however, be his right to shut down the entire display or censor this artwork just because he doesn’t find it aesthetically pleasing.
 
EmperorNapoleon said:
No, it is his right to criticize. It should not, however, be his right to shut down the entire display or censor this artwork ***just because he doesn’t find it ***aesthetically pleasing.
Click to expand...
Thats an understatement, if ever there was one! Hardly apt for something thats blasphemous and obscene! 😦

But, of course, it mocks Christianity; so it should be accepted as legitimate free expression. :rolleyes:
 
It would not have been exhibited if CCP (government agency) did not allow it.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top