I remember when Piss Christ came out. At the time I thought that it was massively fucking stupid and way more juvenile than shocking. The art students at my college were doing way more shocking and original stuff.
Piss Obama is only marginally more fucking stupid and juvenile, if at all.
Actually, there’s a new book out about Jewish sports heros, and the guy talks about how Jewish guys pretty much invented our modern version of the game back in, I don’t know, the 30s or 40s or something. But Baseball was the big Jewish sport (and Boxing). Anyway, times change. Just happened to have heard an interview with the author on NPR last weekend.
As for the OP, what makes you thing Beck considers this to be art? He’s an entertainer who nows how to rake in the dough. And he wasn’t using any taxpayer’s money. But he got the attention from you he was looking for!!
I can only lead the horse to water…
Horse is probably just worried you’ll get lost.
I just find it odd that he seems to think there’s daring social commentary in parodying a half-forgotten work of art from 20 years ago. The real discomfort here is the awkwardness of seeing someone do something hopelessly passé and think he’s got a finger on the pulse of things - I’m reminded of the “cool mom” from Mean Girls.
His audience remembers it like it were yesterday. They wouldn’t know who U2 was unless they saw a certain movie. Do your best Bill Paxton saying “Game over, man, game over!” they blink in confusion. That a crazy ass liberal artist made a piss Jesus: that they remember.
You poor bastard.
Don’t tell me you clicked through each one of those.
Piss Christ is not intended as an insult to Christ or Christianity. It’s intended to be a statement about the way that society disrespects Christ and (metaphorically) saying, “Hey - you wouldn’t want to see Jesus covered in piss, right? Well stop pissing all over His message.”
Unless Beck is implying that he’s angry at society for not being more respectful of Obama and his plans, then Beck is a moron and his “parody” misses the mark. Ditto for those of you who didn’t know this and are trying to defend Beck’s stupidity.
Alice Cooper predated Marilyn Manson by three decades.
“… in current use, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of satiric or ironic imitation”
Soooo, you’re saying Beck was trying to mock the original Piss Christ? I’m not sure you understand what Beck was doing (but to be fair - neither did he) or what parody is.
At least Beck gets paid for this nonsense. Can you imagine how shitty Terr’s life is that he has to do it for free?
" I always thought that art was just short for Arthur" - George Harrison
But did he titter uncontrollably when he said it?
Actually, it is not bad art-it has a theme, it expresses the theme, and is an honest use of materials. The message is perhaps not one that most would appreciate-but that is athe purpose of art-isn’t it? Yes, its not as profound a piece as a Rembrandt, but is does get a point across-and it’s edgy.I cannot see why a NYC art gallery would not display such a work. Plus, its a 1st amendment right-it should not be supressed.
And the Grand Guignol was 70 years before Alice Cooper. And gruesome revenge plays were a staple in Restoration England.
Curious about all the outrage, Groucho Marx and Mae West went to an Alice Cooper concert. More than being entertained, which they were, they also enjoyed the validation of their own careers. Alice Cooper was pulling the same strings that they’d pulled years earlier.
Why, ralph, I never would have taken you for a fan of “Piss Christ”.
Nobody’s trying to suppress “Pee-Pee Obama”.
I’m going to go against the consensus here. I actually think it’s a relatively clever piece of satire.
I’ve learned my lesson.
Using beer and calling it “pee-pee” is honest?