What is the point of Piss Christ?

[The Mad Monk]

I want to hear from those who understand this work.

[MRT144]

to piss people off

[Asher]

Probably to stimulate conversation such as this.

More pointedly, what is the point of art?

[loinburger]

The artist is taking the piss out of the art community hahahahhahahahaahaha

[snoopy369]

More pointedly, what is the point of art?

To get people into arguments as to 'what is Art'. Alternatively, Art is anything you can't figure out what it is...

I have a kid's book I read to my son at night, "Goodnight Chicago". Each page has a Chicago landmark on it. On one page, it says simply, 'Goodnight, Art'. Its picture?


Ummmm, yeah... apparently that's a Flamingo? Sigh...

[The Mad Monk]

Probably to stimulate conversation such as this.

More pointedly, what is the point of art?

A difficult thing to pin down.

To express the opinions, or perhaps values, of the artist, or the artist's patron. I think that's the most succinct way to put it.

[Bugs ****ing Bunny]

The fact that you needed to make this thread justified the art's existence.

It's a piece of plastic. Why is that anything significant?

It's in the shape of a man on a cross. Why does that change anything?

It's supposed to represent someone called Jesus. How does that affect matters?

This Jesus influenced a religion. Should that change anything?

It's suspended in an amber fluid. Is that significant?

The fluid is of human origin. Does that add another level of meaning?

It's urine. Where does that leave us, and why?

If it makes you think, and makes you talk about it, it has succeeded as art.

[MRT144]

The fact that you needed to make this thread justified the art's existence.

It's a piece of plastic. Why is that anything significant?

It's in the shape of a man on a cross. Why does that change anything?

It's supposed to represent someone called Jesus. How does that affect matters?

This Jesus influenced a religion. Should that change anything?

It's suspended in an amber fluid. Is that significant?

The fluid is of human origin. Does that add another level of meaning?

It's urine. Where does that leave us, and why?

If it makes you think, and makes you talk about it, it has succeeded as art.

To a degree I agree with this. But on the other hand, just stirring people up isn't a great accomplishment.

[Felch]

We talk about Alby's failed love life though, so the standards for art are pretty low.

[Imran Siddiqui]

We talk about Alby's failed love life though, so the standards for art are pretty low.

Though more and more I get the feeling that Alby's failed love life is a long term performance art.

[Imran Siddiqui]

FWIW, this is what it looks like:



It's actually kind of beautiful in its own way.

And according to wiki:

Serrano has not ascribed overtly political content to Piss Christ and related artworks, on the contrary stressing their ambiguity. He has also said that while this work is not intended to denounce religion, it alludes to a perceived commercializing or cheapening of Christian icons in contemporary culture

Sister Wendy Beckett, an art critic and Catholic nun, stated in a television interview with Bill Moyers that she regarded the work as not blasphemous but a statement on "what we have done to Christ": that is, the way contemporary society has come to regard Christ and the values he represents

[Kidlicious]

We talk about Alby's failed love life though, so the standards for art are pretty low.

Alby's life beats piss christ by a long shot.

[DinoDoc]

This seems appropriate here: Obama in Pee Pee: Is Glenn Beck a brilliant satirist?

[Guynemer]

Is Glenn Beck a brilliant satirist?


Ummm... no.

[DinoDoc]

I like the fact the jar got up to $11,300 before eBay pulled it.