i'm inclined to disagree with the reaction against this piece. i think it is amazing, artistically and the question is why is the medium of chocolate offensive while marble or stone is not? to call this the biggest assault on the church in recent years seems to completely miss the beauty and creativity involved in the piece. it belongs in a gallery (maybe even a church)as opposed to the chocolate medallions above which are more wedded to capitalism than beautiful creative process.
I feel like it's a statement about consumerism, honestly. Perhaps I'm reaching too far but when I first saw it, it was the medium of chocolate that struck me, not the lack of a loin cloth. I immediately tied the chocolate to Easter bunnies with hollow heads. There was an implied "eat me" which of course brought to mind matters of communion vs. consumerism.
I think that the reactivity of the some is comical and sophomoric at best, but I still wonder if the artist's piece is merely a reflection of what he sees or a statement of what he thinks is truth.
While I think your point is valid regarding the reactivity, I think that you're being a wee bit too forgiving. To say that the historicity of marble and stone mediums are equal players for the title of beautiful as is a chocolate Jesus is like asking someone to put Bach in the same category of a whiny emo-garage bands musically. You can call them both art, but time will truly play the definitive card. Most likely this is just a flash-in-the-pan, art, especially if it's left in the sun too long ;)
stacy, great point about the consumerism/communion and "eat me"- that is poignant. i would love to know where the artist was coming from. but regardless, our interpretation may be just as "correct" as his intent. i think your observation above makes the piece all the more important in what it's message could be to the church and myself. how often do i approach the Eucharist with the consumer mindset, how many of us are followers of Christ because of "what is in it for me"? if anything, "my sweet lord" is growing on me in meaning and brilliance.
i can't help but keep going back to the tom waits song of the same name. the irony, humor and satire presented in the sculpture seem to have syncrinicity.
chocolate jesus by tom waits
Don't go to church on Sunday Don't get on my knees to pray Don't memorize the books of the Bible I got my own special way Bit I know Jesus loves me Maybe just a little bit more
I fall on my knees every Sunday At Zerelda Lee's candy store
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus Make me feel good inside Got to be a chocolate Jesus Keep me satisfied
Well I don't want no Anna Zabba Don't want no Almond Joy There ain't nothing better Suitable for this boy Well it's the only thing That can pick me up Better than a cup of gold See only a chocolate Jesus Can satisfy my soul
When the weather gets rough And it's whiskey in the shade It's best to wrap your savior Up in cellophane He flows like the big muddy But that's ok Pour him over ice cream For a nice parfait
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus Good enough for me Got to be a chocolate Jesus Good enough for me
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus Make me feel good inside Got to be a chocolate Jesus Keep me satisfied
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8 How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. John 6:56
I think that a chocolate Jesus is a great representation of who he is, Inviting, and even sweet. Maybe the chocolate should be a bit bitter. It is of course, not a full representation, but really, what is. I think that those who are angry about it, need to step back and imagine, and not take everything so literal and serious. To realize that yes, Jesus was a man, as humiliating and humbling as that is, as glorious as that is, and he DIED .. sorry, started preaching. . all that to say . .a good conversation, and i wish so many christians wouldn't waste opportunities for them ..
full report
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Perhaps this should be in an art gallery too.
i'm inclined to disagree with the reaction against this piece. i think it is amazing, artistically and the question is why is the medium of chocolate offensive while marble or stone is not? to call this the biggest assault on the church in recent years seems to completely miss the beauty and creativity involved in the piece. it belongs in a gallery (maybe even a church)as opposed to the chocolate medallions above which are more wedded to capitalism than beautiful creative process.
I feel like it's a statement about consumerism, honestly. Perhaps I'm reaching too far but when I first saw it, it was the medium of chocolate that struck me, not the lack of a loin cloth. I immediately tied the chocolate to Easter bunnies with hollow heads. There was an implied "eat me" which of course brought to mind matters of communion vs. consumerism.
I think that the reactivity of the some is comical and sophomoric at best, but I still wonder if the artist's piece is merely a reflection of what he sees or a statement of what he thinks is truth.
While I think your point is valid regarding the reactivity, I think that you're being a wee bit too forgiving. To say that the historicity of marble and stone mediums are equal players for the title of beautiful as is a chocolate Jesus is like asking someone to put Bach in the same category of a whiny emo-garage bands musically. You can call them both art, but time will truly play the definitive card. Most likely this is just a flash-in-the-pan, art, especially if it's left in the sun too long ;)
..and by 'forgiving' I'm not speaking about demanding an apology for an offense made.
stacy, great point about the consumerism/communion and "eat me"- that is poignant. i would love to know where the artist was coming from. but regardless, our interpretation may be just as "correct" as his intent. i think your observation above makes the piece all the more important in what it's message could be to the church and myself. how often do i approach the Eucharist with the consumer mindset, how many of us are followers of Christ because of "what is in it for me"?
if anything, "my sweet lord" is growing on me in meaning and brilliance.
i can't help but keep going back to the tom waits song of the same name. the irony, humor and satire presented in the sculpture seem to have syncrinicity.
chocolate jesus
by tom waits
Don't go to church on Sunday
Don't get on my knees to pray
Don't memorize the books of the Bible
I got my own special way
Bit I know Jesus loves me
Maybe just a little bit more
I fall on my knees every Sunday
At Zerelda Lee's candy store
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied
Well I don't want no Anna Zabba
Don't want no Almond Joy
There ain't nothing better
Suitable for this boy
Well it's the only thing
That can pick me up
Better than a cup of gold
See only a chocolate Jesus
Can satisfy my soul
When the weather gets rough
And it's whiskey in the shade
It's best to wrap your savior
Up in cellophane
He flows like the big muddy
But that's ok
Pour him over ice cream
For a nice parfait
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Good enough for me
Well it's got to be a chocolate Jesus
Make me feel good inside
Got to be a chocolate Jesus
Keep me satisfied
FYI
WOW.
that was completely outrageous. embarrassing.
sad.
"Oh taste and see that the Lord is good." Psalm 34:8
How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103
Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. John 6:56
I think that a chocolate Jesus is a great representation of who he is, Inviting, and even sweet. Maybe the chocolate should be a bit bitter.
It is of course, not a full representation, but really, what is. I think that those who are angry about it, need to step back and imagine, and not take everything so literal and serious. To realize that yes, Jesus was a man, as humiliating and humbling as that is, as glorious as that is, and he DIED .. sorry, started preaching. . all that to say . .a good conversation, and i wish so many christians wouldn't waste opportunities for them ..
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