Friday, November 30, 2012

He Who Smelt It, Dealt It.....


I was going to ignore this, but on the other hand...Sheesh.....Somebody grab a Swiffer....
The Flamboyantly Asnine right-wing talk show host Glenn Beck tried to emulate Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ" yesterday by doing the same thing with an Obama bobblehead. "Piss Christ", as you know, has been the target of right-wing outrage for years because it was created with $15,000 grant, partly from the NEA.
Beck is selling his work for $25,000. He says it's not in reaction to "Piss Christ" however, but to a painting of Obama crucified, at the Bunker Hill Community College Art Gallery Now, the creator of “Truth,” Michael D’Antuono, said that his “First Amendment rights should override someone’s hurt feelings” and that “we should celebrate the fact that we live in a country where we are given the freedom to express ourselves.”
After receiving roughly 4,000 angry emails over the painting, D’Antuono also said he respects “their right to express themselves” and hopes they will afford him the same.
Bidding for what Beck, 48, titled 'Obama in Pee Pee' had reached $11,000 before the online auction site sent him an email explaining that 'You listed an item that contains urine. We do not allow the sale of bodily waste. Please do not relist.'
get a whiff of this!
Having stated that he expected the piece to sell for $25,000, which he would have donated to charity, Beck labeled the move an 'injustice' and 'censorship' as the Tea Party hero continued his oft-repeated theme that the United States is losing its core values.

Appearing on Blaze TV dressed as an art-critic and affecting a faux-French accent, the self promoting pseudo intellectual polemicist questioned whether liberal art critics would show the same level of tolerance for art regarding their own political 'savior of mankind' and then proceeded to submerge the Obama figurine into the jar of 'pee-pee'.
Beck, who has even lost his position at Fox News, claimed to be presenting an 11 minute plus semi coherent rant on the concept of obscene art and its protection under the 1st Amendment.
Repeatedly expressing his dislike for artist Michael D'Antuono's painting of Barack Obama crucified with a crown of thorns on his head, Beck surprisingly said that he had no right to demand the art not be displayed. Beck screwed on the top of the jar and gleefully presented to his audience the artwork 'Obama in Pee Pee'
'Art is in the eye of the beholder and this guy has a right to do this. I think its offensive. I don’t think its close to reality but whatever floats your boat. I support his right to do exactly that,' said Beck.
'I agree with him that people who are upset should not trump his right to be able to do it and be able to hang it wherever he wants – as long as its wanted there.'
Pointing to a copy of the Constitution, Beck said, 'That document means I can't stop the artist and the spirit of that document is that I shouldn't try.'
As he placed the bobble-head of the president of the United States into the jar of 'pee-pee' Beck exclaimed, 'So whether you're offended by this one or by this one,' he said pointing to the Obama jar and then the Obama crucifixtion painting, 'Sucks to be you, doesn't it? Welcome to America.'

In case you were wondering what "inspired"
Beck, this is Serrano's piece, Piss Christ
In fact the urine was only beer but that did not stop eBay terminating the online auction of the artwork
Ebay prohibits the sale of certain items, including 'offensive material,' on its website.
Its policy reads: 'We don't allow items that promote or glorify hatred, violence, racial, sexual, or religious intolerance, or promote organizations with such views. We’ll also remove listings that graphically portray graphic violence or victims of violence, unless they have substantial social, artistic, or political value.'
The inspiration for Beck's stunt was photographer Andres Serrano, who in 1987 placed an image of a plastic crucified Jesus into a jar filled with his own urine.
Even Serrano has commented, 'I don’t see anything wrong with provocative art and… I look forward to the day when I can make work that will even disturb me.'
Making the same point in his video yesterday, Beck stated that his point was to create a riposte to the Obama crucifiction and cause liberals to react.
However, as a reminder that even Glenn Beck has respect for the institution of the presidency, he admitted that the urine was in fact Dos Equis beer. Hell, I loves me some Dos Equis!
I Loves Me Some Dos Equis, And From What I Gather, Barack Does Too!

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