Christian paranoia about nudity extends even to Christian art. It's not just that some Christians want to cover up any bare skin on television an movies, they want to cover up bare skin in art depicting biblical stories.
Apparently many Christians get "confused" when they see naked people in art, even Christian art, and don't know how to properly respond. Should they feel reverent? Should they feel excited? Should they feel guilty at getting excited at seeing a bit too much of Eve or Mary?
[Rev. France Davis] is unequivocal in his view that there is nothing inspiring or redeeming about naked figures in religious art.
"Since we sinned, as it said in the book of Genesis, the human body has certain parts that are private," the outspoken pastor said. "We should keep them for more intimate settings like people's bedrooms."
Davis is hardly alone in that view.
From the prudish impulses of the Counter-Reformation, to the Vatican's use of the fig leaf as a genital cover-up a century later, to modern Christians objecting to a nude Christ sculpted out of chocolate, there have always been those who wanted to see everything clothed.
Scores of believers oppose any nakedness in art as blasphemous -- even a glimpse of the Virgin Mary's breast as she nurses her baby son -- or akin to pornography.
Source: USA Today
So, it's "blasphemous" to depict an event which Christians believed happened in a way that it would have certainly happened? I guess so, and that's something that should be kept firmly in mind whenever the subject of blasphemy and blasphemous art comes up: there are many Christians who sincerely believe that an accurate depiction of reality (or what they believe to be reality) is blasphemous.
Even if it were reasonable to ban blasphemy in principle, how could it be reasonable to ban accurate, factual depictions of the real word or history? How could it be reasonable to suppress reality simply to protect religious believers from becoming "confused" when seeing reality?
Christians who are offended or shocked at any hint of nudity seem like a caricature of fundamentalism, but they do exist. I have to wonder if they even get undressed when taking a shower, or if they ever appear nude in front of their own spouses.
In 1997, Mormon-owned Brigham Young University excluded four nudes from a traveling exhibit of Auguste Rodin sculptures, saying they would distract viewers from appreciating the artist's dignity.
At figure-drawing classes at BYU, models wear full-body leotards to avoid any suggestion of impropriety. Even many who admire nudity in classics or in museums may not want it in their sanctuaries.
"I wouldn't have a problem with a nude Adam and Eve in a Mormon meetinghouse, but I can't see it happening," artist Lee Bennion said from her studio in Spring City, Utah. "Not right now anyway. Some (members) would be confused by it."
Art can be a difficult subject. Art does a lot of different things and can perform a lot of different social, political, and religious functions. Unfortunately, many people tend to assume that art has to fulfill just one function and if it doesn't, then it's not really art is or "bad" art.
This is especially true when we are dealing with art that challenges, provokes, or otherwise forces us to confront uncomfortable issues. A great many people seem to prefer "simpler" art that reinforces their assumptions and beliefs. They seem to prefer art that is closer to mere propaganda than art which tries to reveal complexity.
How many devout Christians are there who have (recently) been integral and important members of the artistic community -- devout Christians who are not just believers in their personal lives but who also integrate their religious beliefs into their art? I don't get the impression that there are a lot of them, which would mean that a separation between the art community and the religious community has developed. Such divisions only encourage mistrust and misunderstandings. I more often see Christians (acting as Christians) complaining about art rather than participating in art.
No comments:
Post a Comment