This is the headline:
Virgin Mary billboard sparks outrage in New Zealand
A church billboard showing a shocked Virgin Mary gasping as she examines a pregnancy testing kit has sparked outrage in New Zealand.
Really?
Take a look:
I actually love it.
I’m a sucker for the retro and contemporary mix. Mind you, this is a much further gap the usual 8-bit retro video game art skinned onto today’s pop culture.
This piece of the Virgin Mary is so — human.
It takes the concept, the ingrained visual of the Virgin Mary and places into her hand something we can identify with, today.
This is beauty. This is art.
I’m not sure why it’s causing so much controversy.
Thoughts?
[via The Telegraph]
Z says
I’m not sure why, either.
I’m not saying I like it. I don’t even think it’s art, really.
And I for sure wouldn’t spend any money on it.
But I’m with you, I don’t get the big deal.
The only thing I can think of is maybe it could be considered blasphemy?
Allan White says
I think if you were Catholic (I’m not), you might understand the outrage.
I like it too, but I’m not sure she would have reacted that way, being forewarned by the Angel.
Mark says
I think this is hilariously brilliant. It tackles the issues for Mary and many young mums of today.
However I’m pretty sure that my Catholic family would go a bit mental seeing this claiming it to be extremely irreverent.
Buddy Jesus anyone?
Daniel Berman says
The surprise would seem to be less, having been forewarned by the angel. That said there would seem to be a difference between experiencing a visitation that might be passed off to the imagination or mental irregularity later, and the quiet reality that yes what I was told has indeed happened just as the angel said it would.
Frank Gantz says
Eric, like the “retro and contemporary phrase.” I agree with Daniel that even being forewarned would not eliminate surprise. Abraham and Sarah were forewarned and still very surprised.
Eric Dye says
True. I agree. #allspeculation
Mark says
I love the fact that here we are mostly men from the western world talking about the reaction of a middle eastern teen age girl from year zero finding out she really is pregnant.
If there was a hashtag for this we’d have to use #OutOfTouch
Frank Gantz says
Wow, Mark. So commenting is limited to being a twin? The image was obviously intended to spur thought and discussion. I think you’ve totally missed the point.
Mark says
No Frank! Nooooo! I was pointing out the hilarity of the fact that we couldn’t be a more out of touch scope of people to discuss the emotional state of the parodied Mary.
It was only a humble observation.
I’m loving the fact that the image is provoking discussion as it was intended.
Paul Clifford says
I like it, too.
I agree that knowing something will happen and experiencing it are different. Knowing you’re going to get married and getting married are different.
Paul
Eric Dye says
Ska-doosh! Great comparison!
Kraft says
I’m late to the party, but as a Catholic, by way of the graphic itself, not offended by this at all.
While somewhat incorrect (e.g. the angel’s asking Mary to carry Jesus and her saying yes), it gives teens and young women who find themselves surprised by a pregnancy some reassurance that the most famous unplanned pregnancy in the history of the world wasn’t a bad thing.
The Catholic diocese’s response (from the Telegraph article) is good though. It does misrepresent the Nativity by not focusing on Mary’s assent to the will of God.
Either way, I wouldn’t consider it offensive.
The same church’s billboard from a few years prior though…
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/6832468/Christians-outraged-by-poster-showing-Mary-and-Joseph-after-sex.html
That is over the line in my opinion.
Eric Dye says
I agree. Way over the line.