This weeks Jesus picture isn’t a picture in the traditional sense. It is webster’s second definition:
a description so vivid or graphic as to suggest a mental image or give an accurate idea of something
The following lyrics come from Ben Fold’s Jesusland. The song is talking about the south’s reputation for being "God’s Country". I think it makes a interesting point about christian culture also.
Take a walk
out the gate you go and never stop
past all the stores and wig shops
quarter in a cup for every block
and watch the buildings grow
smaller as you go
Down the tracks
beautiful McMansions on a hill
that overlook a highway
with riverboat casinos and you still
have yet to see a soul
Jesusland
Jesusland
Town to town
broadcast to each house, they drop your name
but no one knows your face
Billboards quoting things you’d never say
you hang your head and pray
for Jesusland
Jesusland
Miles and miles
and the sun goin’ down
Pulses glow
from their homes
You’re not alone
Lights come on
as you lay your weary head on their lawn
Parking lots
cracked and growing grass you see it all
from offices to farms
crosses flying high above the malls
A longer walk
through Jesusland
Jesusland
Watch the video here
This week’s Jesus picture isn’t one at all, but a collection of photos to create an interactive flash game.
Play Homeless or Jesus
Now some of you may, at first, think “Dumb guy, this is sacreligious”, but isn’t a white smiley man with hair extensions and fake blood even more so?
I know it’s been a while and this isn’t all together something new. This weeks Jesus Picture of The Week comes from The Brick Testament. A lego retelling of the bible. Less sacreligous than “Jesus is My Homeboy”, but not good powerpoint slides for a Sunday Sermon.
I really like his representation of the devil as a sexy latin soccer player vampire. The textuality* of it is amazing. Also Jesus looks like a weird mix between a lead singer of a cheasy 90’s rock band and Luke Skywalker.
*Slightly related to sexuality. Not brothers, but closer than 6th cousins**
**Me and Britney Spears
A comment from a new friend and reader (not you Jimmy, keep clicking) has re-sparked a brushfire on this blog known as the Jesus Picture of the Week. Though more of the roadside, I threw my cigarette out the window on I-5 type, it is impressive nonetheless. Well today I burn down the Angeles National Forest.
Now if you can’t see him, click here to cheat.
Now after studying this picture for quite a long time. I happened to notice some similarities between this remarkable façade and a certain piece of art being displayed at a party I attended titled,”Welcome to Space.” The aptly named party was thrown by none other than a friend of mine (not Dave Bazan, but I have met him). The “original” piece of art commissioned for the party itself (which was a thrill, it had robots, spacemen, and even an egyptian) was done by none other than our own Curt Merlo. Curt has enjoyed some growing popularity on this blog, but what I am about to show you will change all of this.
Some say they see Jesus, others the head of Michelangelo’s David, and even a pouncing husky. I see nothing more than a fraud with a rocket ship and some extremely clever glyph-like typography.
Its been a while, so I’m giving you two. Here you go:
I can’t help but see an uncanny resemblace in the first picture to someone I know with the initials NP. Maybe I can post a picture.
These images are copyright Toni Berry. I will take them down at any time at the request of their creator.
What is better than wearing a gold “Jesus being executed” around your neck? Being able to stick one on your windows. This weeks Jesus picture comes from about.com. The “Suction Cup Jesus” is registered patent number D0381184. Thank you Nicholas J. Monahan.
At first I wanna laugh and then I think I’m offended.
Everything about this picture offends me.
I’m bringing back an old feature where I post a picture of Jesus. Sometimes they are offensive, sometimes funny and sometimes simply ridiculous. This is one is a t-shirt design.
This one comes from Threadless.
Threadless allows users to upload t-shirt designs which everyone then votes on and they print the most popular.
This week’s bad Jesus picture comes from Trevor Debenning.
Bush is not only a Jesus fan, but he also is a Lord of the Rings fan.
Looks like we have a lot in common. I bet if I had the chance to meet him, that he would like me, we would become friends and then I could hang out at the white house.
Commentary: I love it when people are creative. The person who made the above photo obviously dislikes Bush, but unlike many other Bush haters I actually considered his position. Activism done creatively, with some sense of tact, is easy for people to take and may even win over other followers, but sadly this isn’t the nature of american activisim. It’s a culture of “we hate you, and we want you to hate us”. These sort of radicals only attract other radicals. This may explain Bush’s win in november. He clearly had a lot of shortcomings as a president, but the people who flocked to him, were running away from extremists (on both sides).
A simple photoshop created image carries the same message as “Bush is a communist, neo-fascist, nazi, homophobic, Jesus loving, liar who has oil running in his vains and poops on little helpless children for fun”, but it says it in good humor. Some might argue this is watering down the message but its not. I myself am very passionate about certain issues (the watching of television, for one) and I believe at times it is necessary to seperate oneself from the crowd, even though it may offend people, but when I know my actions will push someone farther from the re-thinking of an idea/issue, I try to take a path which allows them to make the same discovery I have. So next time your gonna change the world try to bring a couple people with you, it just might help. There is a reason that optimism, positivism and activism all end in the same three letters.
