Joaquin, Rasheed Boris Froilan U.

23 January 2023
BSCD IB | ETHICS 101 (TF 11:30AM-01:00PM)
Western Mindanao State University

Art and Offense

In 2011, the Cultural Center of the Philippines (CC) mounted an exhibit that included Mideo
Cruz's "Politeismo" an installation comprised of an amalgam of many images including a statue
of Jesus wearing Mickey Mouse ears, a crucifix adorned with a bright red phallus, and a picture
of the face of Jesus with a wooden ash tray with penis tacked on the middle. Apparently
conceived as a piece to promote critical thought and perhaps debate on idolatry, it was seen by
many in this predominantly Catholic country to be a deliberate insult to their faith. Given the
public outcry and the strong denouncement from various religious and secular leaders, the
exhibit was abruptly closed. In addition to being threatened and having his work vandalized,
Cruz was charged with obscenity. However, he (as well as the administrators of the (CP) was
acquitted of these charges by the courts in 2013.

A case such as this allows us to consider questions on aesthetics, such as "Is it the point of the
work of art to be appealing or to be thought-provoking?" It also allows us to consider political
questions, such as "Who gets to decide which artists and which projects may or may not receive
funding from the state?" Our concern here is ethical, and perhaps we can recognize that a
number of highly significant ethical questions can be raised: Does the artist have an ethical
obligation to the sensibilities of his audience? Or does he have a moral obligation only to be
faithful to his vision and his art? What constitutes offense, and at what point is offense severe
enough as to require control or to justify retribution? Does a religious majority have a monopoly
on the understanding of what is right or wrong? Does an artist have absolute freedom of
expression, or are there proper restrictions to this right?

I – Imagine a scenario in which an image of someone who is the object of religious

devotion (such as Jesus Christ or Mary, the Mother of Jesus) is placed side by side with
a phallic image.

1. Is this an ethical issue? Why or why not?

I am aware of the purpose the of art to be appealing and thought-provoking and make the
viewers develop their own interpretation.  One can see phallic images in majority of artworks
and in most cases, these pictures are important works of art that should be honored and I
concur with that. However, it is important for artists to recognize and respect their intended
audience. Yes, it is true that is not unethical to use phallic imagery in and of itself, but it is
unequivocally unethical to use it in certain contexts and in certain ways. If the target audience
does not worship the subject of the art (the object of his creation), they may not be overly
impacted by a situation in which a picture of someone's object of religious devotion is put beside
a phallic image. It only turns into an ethical problem when it offends those who practice their
religion. This is why the artwork becomes problematic. There is a thin line that separates the
artist and their freedom for creative expression. Placing phallic symbols next to a piece of
artwork featuring Jesus Christ or Mama Mary explicitly exudes blasphemy. These images are
seen by believers as sacred and must not be compromised or disrespected in any pejorative
forms. Nonetheless, we must know to respect one another and one’s beliefs and for artists, they
have an ethical obligation/responsibility towards the sensibilities of his audience.

2. Does the question of the rightness or wrongness of this depend on which

religion
you belong to? Explain your answer.

For me, our religious affiliation has no bearing on what is good or wrong. I think that rightness
and wrongness, morality and immorality, and what’s acceptable and not acceptable would still
depend on each of us as individuals because we are in control of every choice we make,
regardless of our differing ideas and religion. Being considerate of others is crucial in this
situation because not everyone shares the same thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors. Some may
refer to what you do as art, but others may view it as unethical. As a result, I believe that it
speaks more to morals than to religion since if you treat others properly, you will also be treated
right.

II. Look for another example of an artistic creation—a painting, poem, or song—that is a
source of either actual or potential conflict between the expression of the artist and a
sensibility that finds this offensive. Present significant details and the reasons that the
conflict sides might have
on this issue.

Take Me To Church, a song by Irish musician Andrew Hozier-Byrne, speaks a lot about both the
culture and the church and has drawn controversy over its composition. In truth, the singer
wants to denounce how the Catholic church suppresses and obliterates human sexuality and
love. Many Christian organizations strongly condemned the song's radical and upsetting
content. The song is a representative example of the culture's attempts to find life in things other
than the Life, even though it may be contentious to some Christian adherents and his listeners. I
think that if you are not expressing yourself sexually as it comes naturally, you cannot be a real
human.

We frequently forget that Christ forgives everyone who repents of their sins and that He loves all
people. For believers, anyone who does not identify as heterosexual is not accepted or treated
properly in the church. Sadly, this alienates a large contingent of those who are looking for what
only Christ can provide.

Take Me To Church is a song that has a lot of cultural impact. It exposes the church on a crucial
matter and exposes the dominant or soon-to-dominate societal viewpoints.
III - Look for and list down other sources wherein we find a dialogue between ethics and
the various domains of aesthetic, culture, and religion.

 The Effect of Religious Beliefs on the Attitude of Aesthetic Surgery Operation in Islam
 Religion and Culture in Dialogue- East and West Perspectives.
 Aesthetics and Ethics of Faith: A Dialogue Between Liberationalist and Pragmatic
Thought
 Beauty and Holiness: The Dialogue Between Aesthetics and Religion