UPDATE, November 27, 2012: Same old, same old.
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UPDATE, April 30, 2009: Artist Michael D’Antuono was interviewed on April 29, by Marc Maron on Air America's "Break Room Live."
D'Antuono cancelled his Union Square unveiling yesterday because he says that he was bombarded with over 3,000 e-mails (as of yesterday) from people outraged over the painting.
Maron wanted to know the tone of most of the e-mails.
D'ANTUONO:
That's the reason why I didn't... I didn't... I cancelled the event today is because the overwhelming, 98 percent, were very upset on a religious level. And they were, you know, calling it blasphemy. And, I mean, I don't apologize for, you know, for showing it, creating it and showing it, but I really didn't mean to disrespect people's religion. It's meant as a political piece.
Yeah. D'Antuono's self-promotion continues. It's all about hype.
Of course he knew that he would offend some people. He claims that he had no idea people would be so hurt by his painting. What?
He says it was a sort of sociological experiment. He knew that he was pushing people's buttons on a very sensitive subject -- their faith.
Maron takes the opportunity to express his outrage over religious groups and individuals exercising their right to free speech and expressing their outrage. He bashes Christians as hypocrites, encouraging D'Antuono to do the same.
In my opinion, Maron has the right to express himself, as does D'Antuono and every other American.
Free speech is not a one-way street.
Watch the interview.
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Michael D'Antuono's painting, "The Truth"
Artist Michael D'Antuono
In honor of Obama's 100th Day in office, artist Michael D'Antuono is unveiling his painting, "The Truth."
There's been an effort to hype the painting and stir controversy, which is exactly what D'Antuono wants.
Can You Handle "The Truth"?
Painter Michael D'Antuono To Unveil Controversial New Work at NYC's Union Square
More than a presidential portrait, Michael D'Antuono's new painting "The Truth" is a politically, religiously and socially-charged statement on our nation's current political climate and deep partisan divide that is sure to ignite a passionate dialogue. Until now, D'Antuono's subject matter has been purely non-political, choosing instead to paint iconic celebrity portraits and hard-luck romantic narratives but now the artist feels the need to make a statement. "The Truth, like beauty is often in the eyes of the beholder" says D'Antuono "and this piece is merely a mirror, reflecting the personal and political emotions and opinions of the individual". What is your truth?
On D'Antuono's website hyping "The Truth," he asks people to tell him what they think of his work via e-mail, thetruth@dantuonoarts.com. He wants you to express "your truth."
He sees his painting as a mirror that will reveal "truth" about the viewer. The meaning of the painting is intentionally ambiguous. It doesn't have one "truth." It has many interpretations.
I'm interested in knowing Obama's interpretation of the painting. With Obama being a Christian, I would think he would be very uncomfortable being depicted as the crucified Jesus.
Maybe it doesn't bother him. Maybe he thinks he's earned his place in popular culture as being Christ-like, "more popular than Jesus."
There was an uproar in 1966 when commenting on the popularity of the Beatles, John Lennon innocently referred to Jesus.
Lennon took an incredible amount of heat for his remarks. The Vatican even weighed in on the controversy.
But this is a much different time. Unlike the Beatles controversy, there's not a massive uproar when Obama is compared to Christ or seen as the savior. Whether Obama as Jesus is accepted as legitimate or decried as blasphemous, it's not really a big deal in 2009.
I'm not sure D'Antuono will get the reaction he seeks.
Todd Pruitt writes that "anytime we invest a politician (any politician) with messianic qualities then we are headed down a very dangerous road."
I agree with Todd that it's dangerous to consider a politician to be a messiah, to believe that our salvation lies in the hands of a human being.
Personally, I don't think D'Antuono is interested in making Obama out to be Christ. I don't think he really cares whether people interpret his painting to be elevating Obama to a god-like status or to be slamming the ludicrousness of Obama as Jesus.
I think D'Antuono is interested in pure self-promotion. In that sense, the artist is a lot like the lib media, the White House, and Obama himself. He hopes to exploit the First 100 Days-mania, too. Hype, hype, hype.
D'Antuono's painting is a stunt. This is all about him, not Obama and not Jesus Christ. He wants personal recognition and he thinks this is the way to achieve it, by potentially offending many Christians.
It's really kind of pathetic.
That's the truth.
7 comments:
... there's not a massive uproar when Obama is compared to Christ or seen as the savior.Honestly, I've never seen the whole "messiah" thing come from Obama supporters; it's the right wing blogosphere that's been hung up on the connection.
It's Obama's supporters who think that Obama can change the world and work miracles at home and abroad. Obama can deliver them from whatever.
Remember Peggy Joseph?
"I never thought this day would ever happen. I won't have to worry about putting gas in my car. I won't have to worry about paying my mortgage."
Remember Julio Osegueda?
"It's such a blessing to see you, Mr. President. Thank you for taking time out of your day, oh, gracious God, thank you so much!
"Mr. President, my name is Julio Osegueda. I'm currently a student at Edison State College in my second semester. And, OK... I've been at the same job, which is McDonald's, for four-and-a-half years because of the fact that I can't find another job. Now, with the fact that I've been there for as long as I've been there, do you have any plan or any idea of making one that has been there for a long time receive any better benefits than what they've already received?"
Oh, gracious God, it's not the "right wing blogosphere" that's been hung up on the connection.
Really jimspice? Only from the right wing blogosphere?
"... a light will shine through that window, a beam of light will come down upon you, you will experience an epiphany ... and you will suddenly realize that you must go to the polls and vote for Obama" - Barack Obama
“This is bigger than Kennedy... This is the New Testament. I felt this thrill going up my leg. I mean, I don’t have that too often. No, seriously. It’s a dramatic event.” - Chris Matthews
“I cried all night. I’m going to be crying for the next four years. What Barack Obama has accomplished is the single most extraordinary event that has occurred in the 232 years of the nation’s political history. The event itself is so extraordinary that another chapter could be added to the Bible to chronicle its significance.” - THE REV Jesse Jackson
“Obama’s finest speeches do not excite. They do not inform. They don’t even really inspire. They elevate. . . . He is not the Word made flesh, but the triumph of word over flesh. Obama is, at his best, able to call us back to our highest selves.” - Ezra Klein – Associate Editor of The American Prospect
...and my favorite - Hillary Clinton mocking the utter ridiculousness of Obama's deification on the campaign trail:
“Now, I could stand up here and say, ‘Let’s just get everybody together. Let’s get unified. The skies will open, the light will come down, celestial choirs will be singing and everyone will know we should do the right thing and the world will be perfect.”
If D'Antuono really wants recognition he should do a painting of Muhammed on the cross. I guarantee his world-wide recognition will go beyond his wildest dreams.
D'Antuono probably doesn't want THAT much attention.
I think he wants fame, not to live in fear of being murdered by Islamic extremists.
Hey, who ever wrote this, i was just wondering if i could get your first and last name. i wrote a paper on "the truth" and used this blog as a reference and need that info for my works cited page. thanks.
If you're using MLA format, you don't need to know my first and last name. My screen name will suffice.
If you prefer not to simply use "Mary," then list by the title of the website, "Freedom Eden."
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