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I believe that religious symbolism is a powerful source of inspiration in art. What do you think of these images about carrying the cross and crucifixion? https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/48078810 https://www.modelmayhem.com/portfolio/pic/48078807 Oct 01 23 07:30 am Link Passion of a Goddess wrote: As images they're good, irrespective of the religious symbolism. Oct 01 23 09:54 am Link I like both of what's going on there! Jan 30 24 06:14 pm Link Where some see inspiration, creativity or intriguing esthetic, others see disrespect or sacrilege. That's just human nature. I personally would not feel comfortable participating in pieces like these, regardless of which religion's dieties or icons are involved. But I may be in the minority, at least in this circle. Jan 30 24 07:46 pm Link JT99 wrote: Feb 01 24 07:44 pm Link I appreciate you being willing to express that. My opinion on the topic largely matches...but I was not brave enough to speak as strongly as you, as the last time I made such an expression on personal faith - despite it not being an attack on anyone - I lost the gig for it. Still, some topics are too important to be concerned about personal cost, and I'm ashamed I didn't say more. Feb 01 24 08:05 pm Link I like both images so much that I went to the OP's portfolio to check out his other work. As someone who was brought up as a catholic, I find the symbolism interesting. The images are beautifully executed. If some find them disrespectful, that's their choice. I don't find the fairy tale of religion to be something that I need to respect. Feb 02 24 01:40 pm Link Red Sky Photography wrote: And I choose to respect even those religions I disagree with - both those that are fairy tales, and those that aren't. That also includes any belief system that insists it is not a religion at all. To each their own. Feb 02 24 02:17 pm Link JT99 wrote: That's one of the good things about America. You are free to believe whatever you want to believe, but you aren't free to make anyone else share or respect your beliefs. Feb 02 24 05:34 pm Link A religious motif can sometimes be used to make a political point; https://www.chisholm-poster.com/posters/CL63947.html Feb 29 24 03:47 am Link Just remain aware that images like these in your possession (forget about actually being the artist) are enough to get you killed in many parts of the world. Feb 29 24 02:16 pm Link Mar 01 24 08:17 am Link Mar 01 24 08:20 am Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: I don't think Christians will be killing people for this kind of image, but they will be deeply offended. Were it depicting some other religious figures such as Islamic leaders, that might be another story. One only has to remember the fall out of the Danish cartoon that offended Muslims to bear out your warning. Mar 01 24 06:52 pm Link Ken Marcus Studios wrote: I don't think Christians will be killing people for this kind of image, but they will be deeply offended. Were it depicting some other religious figures such as Islamic leaders, that might be another story. One only has to remember the fall out of the Danish cartoon that offended Muslims to bear out your warning. Mar 01 24 06:52 pm Link Possession of pornography is illegal in most Middle Eastern, African and Asian countries. Iran and Afghanistan have the death penalty for possession; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pornograp … _by_region Mar 02 24 03:17 am Link Not my cup of tea and I would suspect it is more a political statement than a religious one. I agree Christians aren't going to kill anyone but if he is truly a brave artist he should expand to other religions. Mar 02 24 08:41 am Link Australian Artist Norman Lindsay caused controversy in the early 20th century with his satirical depictions including The Crucified Venus; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman_Lindsay The film Sirens (1994) is based on his life and work; https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/12519-sirens Mar 03 24 02:46 am Link The pictures here are provocative and a worthwhile project. Religious symbolism is of course an important tradition. But I find the closeup portrait that you use as your avatar to be the most powerful of the pictures in this series. The color, the lighting, the expression, the directness, and the symbolism of the thorns actually works here in a way that might be worth pursuing further in your project. Mar 04 24 07:07 pm Link Could we consider an alternative theological perspective? In light of the misogynistic/patriarchal culture that pretends to be Christianity in many "conservative" churches, I think Ramon's images are particularly important for us to contemplate more thoroughly. Throughout most of The Church's history, women's personhood has been regularly crucified by mistakenly imputing to them a second-class status and sexualized shame. That context immediately arrested my attention to these images. (And thank you, Ramon, for sharing them here. I might not have simply stumbled across them for quite some time.) As another reason to contemplate the images in question, consider the scriptural descriptions of "one God eternally existing in three Persons." Remember that both male and female attributes are ascribed to God (BY God, for those of us who hold to the Bible's divine inspiration). Filter that reality through the wide-spread belief in the asexuality of Jesus. Logically, spiritually, emotionally, and socially considered, we should be discussing the topic of women as crucified and/or the depiction of Jesus as female. These are important topics both for theological exploration and our own self-examination, whether or not we prefer not to think about our reactions to religiously themed art that does not conform to our personal beliefs. To Ramon, particularly: where some have labeled your work as "offensive" because they take offense from their perspective on the subjects, I would encourage them and others to consider taking inspiration from your work instead. While some "conservatives" require that others conform to their preconceptions, this one appreciates these as provocative - in that the images provoke contemplation of my beliefs in at least one of the purposes of the cross: to restore this Post-Fall world to the pure and original state of Creation. That depiction in the first two chapters of the Judeo-Christian scripture portray a Trinitarian body-positivity and sex-positivity that had not yet been lost to the curse of cisgendered heteronormative monogamy. Since I do believe that the work of Christ includes a restoration to that original state, I shoot what I shoot, despite the occasional disparagement and attempts to discourage me from matching my behavior to my beliefs. I hope that the comments here (and perhaps elsewhere) do not discourage you from pursuing your vision for communicating something outside the usual box of beliefs most of us were handed by some (probably well-meaning, but) less-thoughtful theologians. Yours, Bill Mar 05 24 07:47 am Link I think You have reduced something Spiritual to the realm of Fetish Mar 06 24 07:00 am Link Garry k wrote: Yes, I agree. Mar 06 24 07:57 pm Link Red Sky Photography wrote: Me too. As someone who was brought up as a catholic, I find the symbolism interesting. The images are beautifully executed. Mar 08 24 02:11 pm Link Garry k wrote: Religion is crammed with fetishes... Mar 08 24 02:14 pm Link Passion of a Goddess wrote: I find the images symbolic of the way men have treated women for millennia. For the founding fathers of this country, women and children were treated as property like the slaves. And even today, the hierarchy of Roman Catholic Church and Moslem leaders consider women unequal to men. And then there's women today vying for status in corporate management, politics, and controlling their own bodies to name a few issues. And any female members here care to comment on pay structure? Mar 09 24 08:26 am Link |
