# The MOST offensive piece of art ever. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 2, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669 "2012-11-02T15:00:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/1 "2012-11-02T15:00:48Z")
My art class has made me realize how little I find things truly offensive. Obviously, some things are just offensive to my eyes because it is such BAD art. [Case in point.](http://fineartamerica.com/contestlogos/logo1-most-offensive-paintings.jpg) However, nothing that the other students posted TRULY offended me. So, without further adieu, I beg of you to post the trashiest, most offensive piece of art you can find. Goatse and other rule 34s are discouraged, seeing that this is supposed to be about “real” art. These things have to be at least able to go in a gallery. Sorry. Hopefully we can find what the most offensive, revolting art piece is. (BTW…if this is more Cafe Society, feel free to move it there.) ---
**Author:** ![Ellen\_Cherry](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ellen_cherry/32/3600_2.png) [@Ellen\_Cherry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellen_Cherry)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/2 "2012-11-02T15:02:35Z")
> [@Oedipus](#): > > (BTW…if this is more Cafe Society, feel free to move it there.) It is. Moving there, from IMHO. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/3 "2012-11-02T15:04:19Z")
Hrm. I don’t consider the OP example to be offensive, but neither do I consider it art. But I have my own definition of ‘art’, in that I require it to be at least an attempt to communicate or give SOMETHING to the viewer, and not just be a bit of regurgitated potato that makes the artist feel a little better for having thrown it up. ---
**Author:** ![Oedipus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Oedipus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oedipus)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/4 "2012-11-02T15:07:13Z")
Thats what I’m saying. It doesn’t morally offend me. It just offends my eyeballs. lol [Piss Chist is pretty bad…](http://misfitpolitics.co/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/pisschrist.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/5 "2012-11-02T15:12:26Z")
Kewpies are not THE most offensive, but they’re pretty high on my list. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/6 "2012-11-02T15:26:06Z")
A lot of people were upset when Chris Ofili’s _The Holy Virgn Mary_ (paint, elephant dung) was pout on exhibit in 1996. > **[The Holy Virgin Mary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holy_Virgin_Mary)** > > The Holy Virgin Mary is a painting created by Chris Ofili in 1996. It was one of the works included in the Sensation exhibition in London, Berlin and New York in 1997–2000. The subject of the work, and its execution, caused considerable controversy in New York, with Rudolph Giuliani – then Mayor of New York City – describing Ofili's work as "sick". In 1998, Ofili was the first black artist to be awarded the Turner Prize. The painting was sold for £2.9 million ($4.6 million) in June 2015. > On... [http://media.ft.com/cms/62c97b7a-0c96-11df-b8eb-00144feabdc0.jpg](http://media.ft.com/cms/62c97b7a-0c96-11df-b8eb-00144feabdc0.jpg) I don’t personally find it the most offensive, but I can see the point of view of the offendees. And I don’r care for it myself. ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/7 "2012-11-02T15:28:47Z")
Are the links safe for work? ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/8 "2012-11-02T15:36:36Z")
Mine are. One is wikipedia. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/9 "2012-11-02T15:44:14Z")
A bunch of idiot conservative soccer moms in (ready for it??) Kansas thought [this sculpture](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/accept-or-reject-sexting-sculpture_n_1870525.html) in an arboretum warranted calling a _grand jury_ over charges of promoting obscenity to minors. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/10 "2012-11-02T16:09:17Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > A bunch of idiot conservative soccer moms in (ready for it??) Kansas thought [this sculpture](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/accept-or-reject-sexting-sculpture_n_1870525.html) in an arboretum warranted calling a _grand jury_ over charges of promoting obscenity to minors. As was stated in the article, that’s a camera, not a camera-phone. So it’s not promoting sexting, which the moms seem to be pushing, it’s promoting taking nekkid pictures of yourself. And while the piece is not bad, and the subject matter is ‘meh’, I would question placing it as ‘art’ in an area where kids regularly see it. I mean, come on. There’s better things to promote, you know? Why waste that space on something that could be used for something actually inspiring? And in the woods? wtf. Poor placement, and not really inspiring anything but to take nekkid pics of yourself. And, judging by the web, that’s not a need that needs filled, lol. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/11 "2012-11-02T16:12:42Z")
> [@Sicks\_Ate](#): > > A bunch of idiot conservative soccer moms in (ready for it??) Kansas thought [this sculpture](http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/10/accept-or-reject-sexting-sculpture_n_1870525.html) in an arboretum warranted calling a _grand jury_ over charges of promoting obscenity to minors. Those are nice tits. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/12 "2012-11-02T16:20:08Z")
> [@CalMeacham](#): > > A lot of people were upset when Chris Ofili’s _The Holy Virgn Mary_ (paint, elephant dung) was pout on exhibit in 1996. Certainly makes the virginity thing more understandable. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/13 "2012-11-02T16:31:31Z")
I’m normally of the school of: if you don’t understand what you’re looking at, it’s not the fault of the object. However, the Portland Art Museum presently has a piece that pretty graphically shows pedophilia in action. It’s not in a room of its own, with a warning sign near the door; it’s on full display, where anyone can round a corner and see it. This is by design of the museum director, who loves to think that he’s being daring and unconventional. I think he’s just being a dick. The piece is offensive and doesn’t belong there. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 4:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/14 "2012-11-02T16:39:57Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > I’m normally of the school of: if you don’t understand what you’re looking at, it’s not the fault of the object. However, the Portland Art Museum presently has a piece that pretty graphically shows pedophilia in action. It’s not in a room of its own, with a warning sign near the door; it’s on full display, where anyone can round a corner and see it. This is by design of the museum director, who loves to think that he’s being daring and unconventional. I think he’s just being a dick. The piece is offensive and doesn’t belong there. Ugh. What is the point of that kind of art? Seriously? It’s just Trolling in Real Life. The only debate or conversation it’s going to start is over the validity of the piece itself, so it’s culturally and socially pointless. ---
**Author:** ![I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/858c86/32.png) [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Made_French_Toast_For_You)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/15 "2012-11-02T18:13:26Z")
I don’t think I’ve ever been outright offended by a legitimate piece of art, but the work of Jake and Dinos Chapman comes very close. So, kudos, I guess? [F\*ck Face (NSFW)](http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/aipe/imgs/chapman/CHAPMANfuckfaceCHA0003.jpg) [Zygotic Acceleration, Biogenetic, De-Sublimated Libidinal Model (NSFW)](http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/aipe/imgs/chapman/CHAPMANzygoticaccelerationCHA0006.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/16 "2012-11-02T18:17:48Z")
Yeah, there is definitely a lot of art that is simply the artists expressing themselves, getting something out, and I really do have _zero_ problems with that. The problem I have is sharing it just to get what could only be a negative reaction. ---
**Author:** ![sqweels](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f19dbf/32.png) [@sqweels](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sqweels)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/17 "2012-11-02T18:49:17Z")
Speaking of _Piss Christ_, I often wondered, what if the artist is lying and it really isn’t urine? Or alternately, what if it is urine but he never told anyone and called it something else? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/18 "2012-11-02T18:50:29Z")
I think that photographer that sets up tableaux with body parts and/or whole dead bodies is pretty offensive. He gets his parts from Mexican morgues, mostly, I think. But I don’t think finding something offensive is a condemnation of it. Maybe it’s good art. I just can’t handle it because I’m offended. Found him -[Joel Peter Witkin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joel-Peter_Witkin) (link is safe). ---
**Author:** ![corkboard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e9bcb4/32.png) [@corkboard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/corkboard)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/19 "2012-11-02T18:53:21Z")
> [@I\_Made\_French\_Toast\_For\_You](#): > > I don’t think I’ve ever been outright offended by a legitimate piece of art, but the work of Jake and Dinos Chapman comes very close. So, kudos, I guess? > > [F\*ck Face (NSFW)](http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/aipe/imgs/chapman/CHAPMANfuckfaceCHA0003.jpg) > [Zygotic Acceleration, Biogenetic, De-Sublimated Libidinal Model (NSFW)](http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk/aipe/imgs/chapman/CHAPMANzygoticaccelerationCHA0006.jpg) Is it art? I guess so. But is it necessary? ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [November 2, 2012, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669/20 "2012-11-02T19:22:57Z")
> [@sqweels](#): > > Speaking of _Piss Christ_, I often wondered, what if the artist is lying and it really isn’t urine? Or alternately, what if it is urine but he never told anyone and called it something else? Duuuude. In any case I’d argue that like most highly controversial pieces, this photograph is badly misunderstood or oversimplified. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-most-offensive-piece-of-art-ever/639669.md?page=2)