Shortly after the violent uproar over the publication of a satirical cartoon portraying Muhammad with a bomb for a turban, the University of Saskatchewan's school newspaper, The Sheaf, published a satirical cartoon of their own (one that they have since issued an apology). In this cartoon, entitled "Capitalist Piglet", a pig dressed as a greedy capitalist bureaucrat and the pig's long haired companion are interrupted mid-fellation by a middle-aged colleague who exclaims "Jesus Christ!" at the at sight of the explicit act of oral sex. In the next frame, however, we find that he did not proclaim the name of our Lord Jesus Christ as a vain expletive, but as a reference to Jesus Christ, the benefactor of the blow-job!
I'm not, in any way, condoning the cartoon. However, I think this cartoon calls us as Christians to take a step back for critical self-appraisal. Have our consumptive habits warranted such a cartoon (a "Don't Let My Car Fool You, My Treasure Is In Heaven" sticker on the bumper of a Hummer)? Is the Church directed by the Holy Spirit to make faithful responses to God's calling, or has the Church made a treaty with the Zeitgeist, the spirit of Mammon, allowing this spirit to direct our economic praxis? How should we respond to this cartoon? Should we confirm its accuracy, by crying "sacrilege", attacking everyone and everything involved without confronting the actual critique (which seems to be a valid one), and continuing our current consumeristic habits? Or should we respond with critical self-appraisal, and, as the body of Christ, respond faithfully to Christ's teaching concerning the poor?
13 comments:
No comments? EVERYONE loves it.
(Your cool roommate)
i read this to a group of friends on a saturday night to get their reaction. It was interesting, many got slightly sick at the comic. Others-saw the originality and wit as effective in the message. I think that it went a little far but thats usually what it takes to make me think twice about something. Thanks.
island
I feel that, for the "average" Christian, it might be too offensive, and therefore lose effectiveness. I'm afraid that it will just be labeled sacriligious and ignored. I'm hoping that it will insight some serious self-appraisal, because I think that it reveals a serious problem that has infiltrated the Church.
What about the fact that it takes a comic so vulgar to make people consider anything? Are our personal relationships with our Christ so strained that we don't listen to the gentle spirit that called us to Salvation? Are people / Were people called to Salvation and understanding of the Significance of the new Biblical covenant with a vulgar cartoon or a spiritual slap in the face? Sure there is conviction involved but I don't kknow, and maybe its just me, its usually gentle love and not in your face vulgarity and intolerance that promote life change. Am I wrong? Am I naive in thinking (and wanting it to be true) that love is more powerful than vulgarity and harsh confrontation?
- megan
Megan,
I agree. A gentle hand on the back and a kind intervention is probably the most effective way to get someone to change a way-of-life. But sometimes a shocking "slap in the face" can lead to self-appraisal, or even a satirical cartoon to show the ridiculousness of a current practice (like Pontius Puddle cartoons, a few of which I posted a few months back).
I think that the call for self-appraisal in this cartoon can be viewed as loving. I don't think love is always gentle, neither do I think the Spirit is always gentle. I think this could be viewed as a loving "slap in the face" that could lead to a needed reorientation in the Church.
I just wonder if people will look beyond the vulgarity and harshness and find the truth in the cartoon.
I think if there is a perceived call to not look at vulgarity it is difficult to imagine the vulgarity will be considered enough to be seen past. I think it is a poor choice of medium given the chosen audience and the desired effect. Creativity, parallels drawn- sure I can give it credit. However, Effectiveness is lost in remembering the rules of intentional communication. Know your audience and code your message to them (consider their understanding, perceptions and beliefs).
-Megan
Sure there is truth in all humor of this sort- truth in some peoples minds, otherwise it wouldn't work at all. Yes we should take it as a slap in the face. Will people get it? No - see reasons above.
also - is there any danger in taking your spiritual considerations from cartoons? What if we do ask people to take a moment to consider these cartoons- are we throwing a stumbling block in front of young / weak Christians in suggesting they consider their Christianity in light of any / all media? Lets play the slippery slope game... where do we tell people to stop? From where are we allowed to take our social cues? why can't we just listen to the still small voice?
Isn't it safer to only listen to the still small voice and the Bible?
- Megan (who is really avoiding contracts homework!!- sorry)
I agree, effectiveness was lost. But I think this is because we allow ourselves to be blinded by the offensiveness of the cartoon, and fail to hear the still small voice that is speaking through the cartoon.
(I'm putting off reading for my presentation on Ricoeur)
But don't you think that the still small voice can be heard in less offensive material? I understand that sometimes shock is necessary, but those who really need to see something like this are going to write it off. Maybe they need something like Colossians Remixed...
Oh, yeah...I'm putting of reading Colossians Remixed.
Yes, I think the still small voice can be heard in less offensive material.
However, I think it can be heard in more offensive material...if you have ears to hear.
Look at the prophet Hosea. He calls Ephraim a "whore" and, like Ephraim, the "spirit of Whoredom is within" Israel. This is offensive, shocking, vulgar, etc etc. Yet the still small voice is speaking.
"And you were too busy steering the conversation toward the Lord
to hear the voice of the Spirit, begging you to shut the fuck up.
You thought, it must be the devil, tryin to make you go astray.
And besides, it could not have been the Lord because you don't believe he talks that way."
- Pedro the Lion, "Foregone Conclusions"
I think the Lord does talk that way.
I agree with everything you said...but. No, I see what you are saying, and I do agree with you, but one has to ask what audience this is reaching. I would suggest that it would reach a very minute audience (like disatisfied christians in grad school with a blog). I can hear the still small voice, but I do not think that those most in need of hearing such a message will. The middle class families driving their suburbans to church every Sunday morning are not going to allow such a message to sink in when it is given in such a medium.
This message might work for us, but it will not work for the majority of people who are much less conscious of their religious capitalism.
Yes.
We'll agree to agree.
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