But is it ART?
I have said before that sex-bashing christian groups and the christian-bashing sex groups are two halves of the same problem. The recent feud between the orgnizers of Folsom Street Fair and the anti-abortion / anti-porn group Concerned Women for America coudl be catagiorized as such. After all, CWA has been a favorite target of the alt-sex comunity for several years. Getting blamed for everything. But in this case I dont think the Folzom orgnizers are guilty of the paranoid “damn those evil christains” rallying cry.
In case you dont know whats going on, the whole thing started because of a poster advertising the fair. It shows a spoof of the painting ‘the last supper’ with lethermen and other asorted perverts insted of the deciples. And sex toys in place of food on the tabel.
Its easy to see this as a diliberate thumb in the eye toward christian groups. “Oh yeah? Ya dont like gay folks? Do ya? Well wait till you get a lod of this! Bwa ha ha ha ha!” Intentional confrentation, if not downright hostility, has been a common tactic in gay-rights activism, in the form of ACT UP and others. Briliant execution of intentional confrentation as well. The central figure is wisely pictured as a black man. That way when the enevedable backlash hits then you can claim that the real reason christians are upset is because they are all biggiots.
However, as much as the old ‘lets piss off the christians’ tacticv comes right out of the sex-positive playboox, I dont realy think that was the case this time. Mostly because there are other posters that fit with the ’spoof of famous art’ theme. There is an Oz poster as well as one of Guanyin and the Thousand Arms. The second one inpiticular makes me wonder if it was the intent of the orgnizing committie to be blasphomus on purpose to extract revenge on those filthy opresive sexualy-represed Buddhists.
Although there are parts of the BDSM comunity whos only thought is ‘How can I piss off the christians today’, they are usualy the ones orgnizing political action commities, not the ones orgnizing a street fair. To come clean on the matter, I have even entertained blasphomis artwork ideas myself.
Many years ago I overheard a rigger talking abotu an idea for a suspention bondage photo shoot. He woudl get two women and suspend them in a 69 position. One black woman and one white woman. Black ropes would be used to suspend the white woman. White ropes would be used to suspend the black woman. I loved the idea but never once did it cross my mind that it could be offensive toward Daoism. (I did however worry about it being bigioted toward black people.)
For a long time now I have wanted to duplicate a bondage scene of the Poussin painting Holy Family on the Steps. The piece is a clasic example of the use of balance and shape. I loved the pirimid like form of the colection of figures. I never considered that it might be offensive toward christians. (I did however worry about it being child porn.)
Eairler this year, a briliant photo came out of the Shabaricon convention that spoofed American Gothic. I thought it a bit silly and cute, but never considered that it might be offensive towared some unknown group. Farmers maybee. But I guarentee that somebody someplace will be offended by the photo. (I am however worried about deep-linking to Lochai’s website. Sorry pal, but I couldent find any better link.)
