Star Wars
The Simpsons
...and The Sopranos
Posted on 04/03/2009 6:44:42 AM PDT by denydenydeny
Never has a painting in the Chuck Jones Gallery window attracted so much attention.
It has stopped Old Town pedestrians midstep, eliciting smiles and thoughtful looks from some; frowns, angry telephone calls and unfriendly notes demanding its removal from others.
Two weeks ago, the gallery put on display an oil painting parody of Leonardo da Vinci's “The Last Supper.” Named “The Gathering,” it substitutes Looney Tunes and other cartoon characters for disciples and Bugs Bunny for Jesus.
“We never intended to offend anyone,” said Mike Dicken, national sales director for the gallery at 2501 San Diego Ave. “Most people think it's fun and amusing, but 5 percent are pulling their hair out.”
The anonymous complaints came in – 10 to 12 a day by phone – and a few notes, unsigned or signed “A concerned citizen.” So the gallery added a biography of Dallas artist Glen Tarnowski, explaining his intent and his background as a devout Christian and an alumnus of California Lutheran University.
Craig Kausen, the Irvine-based gallery chain's CEO and grandson of late Warner Bros. cartoonist and artist Chuck Jones, said he even consulted a local priest who, while he hadn't seen the artwork, was not upset by the concept.
“There is nothing irreverent about it whatsoever,” Kausen said.
Tarnowski defends portraying Wile E. Coyote, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Porky Pig, Pepe Le Pew, the Road Runner and other characters as disciples, saying God loves people so much that even if we all were cartoon characters, he would have come to us, perhaps in the form of Bugs Bunny.
“Chuck Jones was the absolute master in using cartoon characters to communicate the issues we deal with in life,” Tarnowski said. “We all resonate with these characters.”
Two customers expressed interest in buying the artwork but, at $20,000, it's not in the average budget, Dicken said. So, for now, it is still in the window, and employees are happy to let Dicken answer the phone.
In an environment like that, publicly mocking Christian iconography while recoiling in terror at the thought of offending Muslims is not just hypocrisy. It's an act of deep moral cowardice.
It's like the old joke where the American says "We have free speech in America. I can make fun of the American President all I want." And the Russian says "We have free speech in the Soviet Union too. I also can make fun of the American President all I want."
That’s pretty funny, but not new, there are so many parody pics of this it isn’t even funny. It is still hard to beat Mel Brook’s version though.
“We never intended to offend anyone...” Uh huh. Yeah. Sure. Allow me to translate: You meant to offend a bunch of people that you calculated you could get away with offending, you POS.
Gotta be kinda embarrassing for everybody involved to know that they’re associated with an organization so bankrupt of ideas that this was their best one.
Why would the world attack Christianity alone?
Let’s see, the world is ruled by the father of lies,
and Christianity is THE truth...
Yep, that about answers it.
Star Wars
The Simpsons
...and The Sopranos
I dare them to show us they are equal opportunity supporters and display a Last Supper parody of Muhammad or even a single parody of the Obama and his floosey wife?
“We never intended to offend anyone,” said Mike Dicken
You will pardon me sir if I do not belive you.
Holy Koran has clearly stated that whoever insults the Prophet of Islam, Muhammad, should be killed!!
Oh, sorry. Wrong religion. //Sarc//
LOLs, Yep like that but in the mode of Muhammed.
Good image for Muhammad’s last meal!
If everyone who offended Christianity and got away scott free with it were killed, there’s be none of you left.
To Paraphrase someone evil.
I don’t know how to post pix, but this was the worst.
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