August 29, 2008: Crucifrog

ZenGum · 08-29-2008, 05:45 AM

Story from here.

Quote:

An Italian museum has defied Pope Benedict and refused to remove a modern art sculpture portraying a crucified green frog holding a beer mug and an egg that the Vatican had condemned as blasphemous.

The board of the Museion museum in the northern city of Bolzano decided by a majority vote that the frog was a work of art and would stay in place for the remainder of an exhibition.

The wooden sculpture by the late German artist Martin Kippenberger depicts a frog about one metre 30 centimetres high nailed to brown cross and holding a beer mug in one outstretched hand and an egg in another.

SNIP

Museum officials said the artist, who died in 1997, considered it a self-portrait illustrating human angst.

More story at the link if you want.

Sundae · 08-29-2008, 05:56 AM

Having grown up Catholic myself and having family who still are, I fail to see how this is offensive.

I wish some Christians would stop trying to take ownership of a historical form of capital punishment. If they stop trying to make graven images representative of god then artists would no longer see them as valid images to be used in art.

DanaC · 08-29-2008, 06:44 AM

Yebbut, we're talkin' about the Vatican. Is there anything that doesn't trigger offence?

HungLikeJesus · 08-29-2008, 09:18 AM

I've been expecting a letter from them for the last year and a half.

Griff · 08-29-2008, 09:34 AM

Sorry HLJ, I can't seem to get the first draft through comittee.

dar512 · 08-29-2008, 09:59 AM

The article doesn't say what the beer and egg are supposed to mean (if anything). Something German, maybe?

barefoot serpent · 08-29-2008, 10:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

The article doesn't say what the beer and egg are supposed to mean (if anything). Something German, maybe?

hangover cure... as long as the frog is raw.

dar512 · 08-29-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by barefoot serpent

as long as the frog is raw.

Well it's got that loincloth on, so I guess not.

Sundae · 08-29-2008, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dar512

The article doesn't say what the beer and egg are supposed to mean (if anything). Something German, maybe?

Beer = yeast = fertility = life (and gets you laid)
Egg = fertility = life (nom nom nom, breakfast in bed)

It all comes down to sex in the end.
The Pope should feel grateful it's not the Crazy Frog with his little frog pecker on display.

WillieO · 08-29-2008, 10:55 AM

This could be a perfect plot for a new Muppet Movie. Fozie Bear could play John, the beloved. Miss Piggy would be Mary Magdelene of course. Someone call Hollywood!

lookout123 · 08-29-2008, 11:17 AM

I don't care about the blashemy angle here, but i do have a problem with this being considered art. come on, at some point we need to step up and say, "no this stupid half assed attempt at wit is not art, now go get a fucking job and quit applying for grants!"

Juniper · 08-29-2008, 11:32 AM

SG, I agree with you on one point - Jesus was not the only guy who was crucified, duh. I guess it's all about the *intention* - did he intend to be blasphemous? Was it symbolically referring to Jesus or to some generic other fellow who got nailed up there?

In other words, would it have the same meaning if it was a frog strapped to an electric chair?

My guess is no...so maybe I don't agree with you entirely, I still think it's blasphemous. Still kind of funny though.

Lookout: Agree with you too. It's like something you'd find in a cheesy souvenir shop, with the tourist trap's name screenprinted on the cross.

"I got nailed in...[insert location]"

I bet it'd sell!

HungLikeJesus · 08-29-2008, 11:40 AM

I'm not really sure what blasphemous means, and I'm not about to go looking it up, just in case they're watching me.

barefoot serpent · 08-29-2008, 11:56 AM

I think it means you can't crucifry a Hindu frog

Griff · 08-29-2008, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lookout123

I don't care about the blashemy angle here, but i do have a problem with this being considered art. come on, at some point we need to step up and say, "no this stupid half assed attempt at wit is not art, now go get a fucking job and quit applying for grants!"

ditto

[thread]
I get the idea that the church/state (secular) conflict is getting more intense in Italy. Mix in the cultural clash with Islam and you've got some difficult choices to make and some serious side-swapping going on.[/jack]

08-29-2008, 09:18 AM	#4
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I've been expecting a letter from them for the last year and a half. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-29-2008, 09:34 AM	#5
Griff still says videotape Join Date: Feb 2001 Posts: 26,813	Sorry HLJ, I can't seem to get the first draft through comittee. __________________ If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you. - Louis D. Brandeis

08-29-2008, 09:59 AM	#6
dar512 dar512 is now Pete Zicato Join Date: May 2003 Location: Chicago suburb Posts: 4,968	The article doesn't say what the beer and egg are supposed to mean (if anything). Something German, maybe? __________________ "Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller

08-29-2008, 11:17 AM	#11
lookout123 changed his status to single Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Right behind you. No, the other side. Posts: 10,308	I don't care about the blashemy angle here, but i do have a problem with this being considered art. come on, at some point we need to step up and say, "no this stupid half assed attempt at wit is not art, now go get a fucking job and quit applying for grants!" __________________ Getting knocked down is no sin, it's not getting back up that's the sin

08-29-2008, 11:40 AM	#13
HungLikeJesus Only looks like a disaster tourist Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: above 7,000 feet Posts: 7,208	I'm not really sure what blasphemous means, and I'm not about to go looking it up, just in case they're watching me. __________________ Keep Your Bodies Off My Lawn SteveDallas's Random Thread Picker.

08-29-2008, 05:56 AM	#2
Sundae polaroid of perfection Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 24,185	Having grown up Catholic myself and having family who still are, I fail to see how this is offensive. I wish some Christians would stop trying to take ownership of a historical form of capital punishment. If they stop trying to make graven images representative of god then artists would no longer see them as valid images to be used in art.

08-29-2008, 06:44 AM	#3
DanaC We have to go back, Kate! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 25,964	Yebbut, we're talkin' about the Vatican. Is there anything that doesn't trigger offence?

08-29-2008, 10:55 AM	#10
WillieO perfesionul spel cheker Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Fresno, CA Posts: 70	This could be a perfect plot for a new Muppet Movie. Fozie Bear could play John, the beloved. Miss Piggy would be Mary Magdelene of course. Someone call Hollywood!

08-29-2008, 11:32 AM	#12
Juniper I know, right? Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 1,539	SG, I agree with you on one point - Jesus was not the only guy who was crucified, duh. I guess it's all about the intention - did he intend to be blasphemous? Was it symbolically referring to Jesus or to some generic other fellow who got nailed up there? In other words, would it have the same meaning if it was a frog strapped to an electric chair? My guess is no...so maybe I don't agree with you entirely, I still think it's blasphemous. Still kind of funny though. Lookout: Agree with you too. It's like something you'd find in a cheesy souvenir shop, with the tourist trap's name screenprinted on the cross. "I got nailed in...[insert location]" I bet it'd sell!

08-29-2008, 11:56 AM	#14
barefoot serpent go ahead, abbrev. it Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Lawrence, KS Posts: 2,623	I think it means you can't crucifry a Hindu frog Attached Images __________________ Chooses rowing vs. wading

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