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Down Under
Churches upset by 'Star Wars' art
2005-09-02
AN ARTWORK that shows Star Wars characters nailed to crosses has sparked controversy before its public debut. The controversial piece called 'Crusci-fiction' consists of a roomful of 25 replicas of robot C3P0 hanging on crosses.

Church leaders and Christian groups have condemned the exhibit as ridiculing and trivialising their beliefs. They said it was only a matter of time before Christians started to use Victoria's religious vilification laws to defend their faith.
Any suicide bombings? Assassinations? Mobs of people rolling their eyes and making faces?

No?
Catholic Vicar-General for Melbourne Monsignor Les Tomlinson, said the crucifixion was very sacred to all Christians because it depicted Jesus "in the very act of winning salvation for mankind". "To trivialise it is offensive," he said. "It's disappointing that Christian symbols seem to be able to be ridiculed, but those of other religions or groups are not."

He said people offended should peacefully contact the gallery to express their views.
Australian Christian Lobby head Jim Wallace said Christians were becoming impatient with their views being mocked in art and advertising. "If we don't have a reasonable response Christians are going to start to use these laws. There's a real groundswell there," he said.

But artist Jud Wimhurst, whose exhibition False Idols contains the contentious piece, defended his work. "We weren't doing it to offend anyone," he said.
"We were just doing it to get attention. I'm really a lousy artist, and this was the only way I could think of to get people to notice my crappy work," he added.
"We're talking about products and the fact that everything's for sale.

"Both technology and religion are for sale today."

The False Idols exhibition, which opens at Fitzroy's Intrude Gallery in a fortnight, is described as an exploration of pop culture, religion, science fiction, music and film.

Not all church representatives were upset by the display. Anglican spokesman David Richardson, who is Dean of St Paul's Cathedral, was unfazed by the artwork.
I'm not surprised, though if the young 'artist' had included an anti-Druid image, the goof Dean might have been upset.
"On first glance, as an image of crucifixion, 'Crusci-fiction' seems fairly inoffensive," he said. "It makes an interesting contrast to Mel Gibson's take on the Jesus event.

"Christians don't have a monopoly on crucifixion so I don't see this as especially blasphemous."
Posted by:Oztralian [AKA] God Save The World

#4  But artist Jud Wimhurst, whose exhibition False Idols contains the contentious piece

OK, now I suggest he organizes an exhibition about Muhammad. Anyone noticed that the provocative "artists" never touch this subject?

Posted by: JFM   2005-09-02 15:59  

#3  I always thought Princess Layme would be better for quality S&M.
Posted by: Mona Gorilla   2005-09-02 15:56  

#2  phil_b: I don't think your link is working.
Posted by: Anonymoose   2005-09-02 14:19  

#1  The Australian electoral system allows 'fringe' or minority views to get senate representation. In the last election the Christian Coalition was the big winner and the Greens and another Leftist party were the big losers. I'm an atheist but also interested in political trends. What we are seeing is a groundswell against the Left's tranzi etc. agenda in part due to the breakdown of the MSM's information filter.
Posted by: phil_b   2005-09-02 07:53  

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