Auctioning Images: "Piss Christ" vs. Mohammed in Drag

 
Peaktalk is comparing this latest Islamic hysteria over the Danish cartoons with the fiercely defensive position American liberals took when “Piss Christ” appeared on the horizon.

Remember how offended the Christians were to see a crucifix suspended in a container of urine?

Remember how the avant-garde intelligentsia vigorously defended this piece of crap objet d’art against the outrage of these philistines who were too ignorant to see the value of Mr. Serrano's creation?

So where are these defenders of art now that twelve Danes need their help? Have the Christians ripped out their tongues? Did they get religion themselves in the intervening twenty years? Hmmm…that’s a long time. Perhaps they’re all a bit long in the tooth and dribbly now. Too deaf to hear the racket, perhaps?

In May, 2000, Christie’s auctioned off this effort of Andres Serrano:

"Piss Christ," by Andres Serrano, Lot 51, Cibachrome print mounted on Plexiglas,40 by 30 inches, 1987


The notorious "Piss Christ" by Andres Serrano (b. 1950), Lot 51, is a beautiful image of the crucifixion that seems to float in blood, which caused a great deal of controversy because the liquid is urine and many people felt the image and concept was therefore sacrilegious. While the use of urine was provocative, the resulting image is very powerful and memorable and fine. This lot is numbered 4 of an edition of 10. It had an estimate of $30,000 to $40,000 and sold for $105,000.

“Memorable”? Sure. “Fine”? Hardly. If this is worth one hundred five thousand dollars, then those cartoons are obviously priceless. And since the American taxpayer footed the bill for the creation of this idiocy, certainly the Danish government can go them one better.

Let’s see if Christie’s is brave enough to auction those “memorable” Mohammed images. When you go, be sure to save me a catalogue. I, however, plan to do my bidding by phone.

And do let me know when the building explodes.