PISS CHRIST

'''Piss Christ''' is a controversial photograph by American photographer Andres Serrano. It depicts a small plastic crucifix supporting the body of Jesus Christ submerged in a glass of the artist's urine. The piece was a winner of the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art's "Awards in the Visual Arts" competition,^[1] which is sponsored in part by the National Endowment for the Arts, a United States Government agency that offers support and funding for artistic projects.
The piece caused a scandal when it was exhibited in 1989, with detractors accusing Serrano of blasphemy and others raising this as a major issue of artistic freedom. On the floor of the United States Senate, Senators Al D'Amato and Jesse Helms expressed outrage that the piece was supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, since it is a federal taxpayer-financed institution.
Sister Wendy Beckett, an art critic, consecrated virgin and Catholic nun, voiced her approval of Piss Christ. She explained in a television interview with Bill Moyers that ''she'' regarded the work as 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.^[1]
Serrano produced other similar works to much less controversy; ''Madonna and Child II'' (1989), for example, in which the subject is similarly submerged in urine, is not nearly as well known as "Piss Christ".
''Piss Christ'' is often used as a test-case for the idea of freedom of speech, and was described in the journal ''Arts & Opinion'' as "a clash between the interests of artists in freedom of expression on the one hand, and the hurt such works may cause to a section of the community on the other." ^[3] It is referred to in many popular publications including Bill Maher's book ''.
Some have claimed that ''Piss Christ'' violated Separation of church and state. [1], [2], [3]. Because Serrano received a $15,000 government grant for ''Piss Christ'', comparisons have been made to the U.S. military spending $1,000 on a toilet seat. [4], [5].

Contents

In popular culture

Compare to

See also

References

External links

In popular culture

★ ''Piss Christ'' was included in "Down by Law," a "show within a show" on identity politics and disobedience that formed part of the 2006 Whitney Biennial.

★ The BBC documentary "Damned in the USA" is (for a major part) about the controversy surrounding "Piss Christ".

★ The Fear Factory song "Pisschrist" on the 1995 album ''Demanufacture'' was inspired by Serrano's work.

★ There is also an anarcho/crust punk band from Melbourne, Australia named Pisschrist, known for their anti-religious lyrics.

★ The Manic Street Preachers had originally intended to use Piss Christ for the cover of their debut album, Generation Terrorists, however their record label wanted to avoid any religious controversy, and the royalty was deemed excessive.

★ Musician Momus mentions this piece in his song "Protestant Art" on the album Folk-Tronica.

★ Jesse Helms' reaction to "Piss Christ" inspired Loudon Wainwright III to write his song "Jesse don't like it".

★ "Pisschrist" is mentioned in the web comic Jerkcity in strip number 732, "Strike, Day 6".

Compare to

★ The controversial exhibition Ecce Homo

★ Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy

★ Strelnikoff Mary of Help of Brezje controversy

★ Chris Ofili and his Sacred Virgin Mary montage

See also

★ Censorship by religion

★ Freedom of speech versus blasphemy

★ Grotesque body

References

1.
2.
3. Sacrifice, Piss Christ and Liberal Excess


Article on Hate Crime http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21794

External links

★ Annotated transcription of U.S. Senate discussion about "Piss Christ"

★ Read Andrew Hudgins's poem "Piss Christ," based on the photograph.

★ Damien Casey, "Sacrifice, ''Piss Christ'' and Liberal Excess", Part I, ''Arts and Opinion'', Vol. 3, No. 3, 2004. A defense of ''Piss Christ''. Caution: some of Serrano's images shown on this page, including from the ''History of Sex'' series, may be unsuitable for some viewers.

★ Michael Casey, Anthony Fisher, OP, and Haydan Ramsay, "Sacrifice, ''Piss Christ'' and Liberal Excess", Part II, The Rebuttal, ''Arts and Opinion'', Vol. 3, No. 4, 2004. A response to Damien Casey.