Freedom of Artistic Expression in Orthodox Russia

[OrthodoxTexan]

Link (http://www.mosnews.com/feature/2004/06/23/sakharov_museum.shtml)

Reminds me of the controversy over the "artist" who decided to express himself by desecrating the image of the Panagia. Why do some people need to express themselves artistically by making art that will offend others?

[Kripost]

Surely there are other better methods for criticism, instead of using blasphemy. The one using coca-cola is really terrible.

[Reader Nilus]

Surely there are other better methods for criticism, instead of using blasphemy. The one using coca-cola is really terrible.I for one did not think it terrible, at all quite the reverse. Of course we know that Coca-Cola is not Christ's Blood, not life itself, but remember Coke says it is the Real Thing, and that would be Christ's Blood which is Indeed drink. What is going on now in Russia is the assault of the consumer nihilistic values on an Orthodox culture. The art shows that in stark terms.
Jeff the Finn

[Grand_Duchess-Elizaveta]

I for one did not think it terrible, at all quite the reverse. Of course we know that Coca-Cola is not Christ's Blood, not life itself, but remember Coke says it is the Real Thing, and that would be Christ's Blood which is Indeed drink. What is going on now in Russia is the assault of the consumer nihilistic values on an Orthodox culture. The art shows that in stark terms.
Jeff the Finn
"Besides, they do not like the fact that many of God’s servants turn the religion into a business. In Russian cities, it is becoming increasingly fashionable to consecrate new markets, restaurants and even bars with prayer and holy water. Many Russians were also surprised by the church’s intention to develop a special prayer for State Duma deputies.

It was against such commercialization that one of the artists at the exhibit protested, painting Christ against the background of a Coca-Cola advertisement with the inscription “This is my blood,” the plaintiffs tried to explain." (quote from the link above)

This had nothing to do with Coke's "Real Thing" slogan. It was a protestation of the commercialization of religion. I don't think this form of artistic expression should be illegal. However, I do think it's in poor taste. I mean, one of the "artists" cut the head out of an icon of Christ so that people could stick their own heads in it. Pretty disrespectful if you ask me.

[Reader Nilus]

But it does not matter if the artist had Coke's slogan the real thing in mind or not, it adds power to the message that the artist is getting across with the coke ad. We in the west have grown up with the cheapening of everything, so it does not strike us as it does some in Russia, the art is fantastic if you ask me cause it shows in about as stark terms what they are dealing with in the consumer ethic, which stands almost 180 degrees opposite of Orthodox ethics. Artists portray life and sometimes life is in poor taste.
Jeff the Finn

[Suzannah]

But it does not matter if the artist had Coke's slogan the real thing in mind or not, it adds power to the message that the artist is getting across with the coke ad. We in the west have grown up with the cheapening of everything, so it does not strike us as it does some in Russia, the art is fantastic if you ask me cause it shows in about as stark terms what they are dealing with in the consumer ethic, which stands almost 180 degrees opposite of Orthodox ethics. Artists portray life and sometimes life is in poor taste.
Jeff the Finn
Jeff,
Somedays I wish I lived closer to your town, just so I could buy you a beer once in a while. On a non-fast day of course. :)

*You must spread some reputation around before giving it to jeffthefinn again*

[Rick of Wessex]

Texan,

Why do some people need to express themselves artistically by making art that will offend others?

It's the same thing with Marilyn Manson: if you do not have talent, go for polemics. :sigh:

Rock

[Sergius_Lucius]

It was against such commercialization that one of the artists at the exhibit protested

perhaps it is true about one particular "work" but they also made a statue of a naked woman on the cross and a parody on western icons of Madonna. I think the main intention of the exhibit was just playing with religious symbols. One of those artists some years ago made an "performance" in which he chopped icons with an axe and offered to visitors do the same. He explained that he personally had nothing agaist religion, he just played a role of a militant atheist.