unofficial blog for course ART007

Lehigh University
Art Architecture and Design
113 Research Drive
Building C
Bethlehem, PA 18015

Controversy, Erica

Andreas Serrano

Piss Christ by Andreas Serrano 1987

On first glance, I didn’t suspect anything. I didn’t know the name of the photo. I could see a vague crucifixion but that was all I noticed. The color didn’t even stand out to me, it was just the angle of the crucifixion that I was looking at. Then I looked at the title and wondered why it was called “Piss Christ” and thought it seemed a bit obscene. With further research I learned that this was a controversial piece because Serrano had dropped the crucifixion figurine into a jar of his own urine. Is this some kind of mockery towards Jesus? Is this to show his disgust with Christianity/Catholicism? I learned that he meant for an innocent piece, but it just didn’t come across that way when we learn what is actually going on in the image. Sure, it is innocent before we understand that Jesus is submerged in Serrano’s own urine. But after, I’m not sure if I can believe Serrano’s “innocent” meaning behind the photo.

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