I wanted to make some comment or contribution to the discussion of Mia's new set, but I didn't think it would even be worth it on the boards.
It's all rather disappointing.
Whatever people's views on religion, no matter how pro-this or anti-that, people just went into the usual knee-jerk reactions. Many people were happy to throw out old tropes of "there's nudity in it, therefore it's cool and doesn't matter" and "religion x has done bad thing y/is responsible for a tiny group of nutjobs and is therefore a faulty system that can be dismissed out of hand", people using the term offensive without giving any thought or value to what that word actually means, and a general lack of careful discussion.
I say that I am disappointed because I cannot imagine that there could have been any other outcome. The timing was obviously chosen to illicit the strongest and least thought out reaction from people. Going for the maximum shock isn't particularly difficult, clever, or necessary. Whenever the set went up, especially anytime during Lent, it would have generated discussion; given the numerous, often short and uninspired, posts touting the set as daring artistic expression it betrays a lack of confidence in the work to trot it out in such a contrived manner.
To me, the choice to post that set on Good Friday weakens any claims by defenders of the decision that it was anything other than a publicity gimmick. Given the nature of the site that hardly seems necessary. People look at the new set of the day since it is, after all, specifically designed to encourage people to check the site daily. Did SGmanagement think that somehow this set going up today would increase the number of hits and membership? I cannot think they did. Rather, it was likely done to get a rise out of people, which it would have done anyway.
So, yet again, people talk in circles, insult each other obliquely, and, haha, let's all point and laugh at the silly Christians who get bent out of shape oh so easily.
Do I find the set offensive? No, nor do I find it notably artistic or challenging. People have been doing very similar things for years. It's a set that was designed to get a reaction from people (aside from the typical reaction that sets engender), and the choice of timing assured that it would be the most thoughtless, dismissive reaction possible.
It isn't difficult to get people to react, but it is tricky to get them to think and discuss.
It's all rather disappointing.
Whatever people's views on religion, no matter how pro-this or anti-that, people just went into the usual knee-jerk reactions. Many people were happy to throw out old tropes of "there's nudity in it, therefore it's cool and doesn't matter" and "religion x has done bad thing y/is responsible for a tiny group of nutjobs and is therefore a faulty system that can be dismissed out of hand", people using the term offensive without giving any thought or value to what that word actually means, and a general lack of careful discussion.
I say that I am disappointed because I cannot imagine that there could have been any other outcome. The timing was obviously chosen to illicit the strongest and least thought out reaction from people. Going for the maximum shock isn't particularly difficult, clever, or necessary. Whenever the set went up, especially anytime during Lent, it would have generated discussion; given the numerous, often short and uninspired, posts touting the set as daring artistic expression it betrays a lack of confidence in the work to trot it out in such a contrived manner.
To me, the choice to post that set on Good Friday weakens any claims by defenders of the decision that it was anything other than a publicity gimmick. Given the nature of the site that hardly seems necessary. People look at the new set of the day since it is, after all, specifically designed to encourage people to check the site daily. Did SGmanagement think that somehow this set going up today would increase the number of hits and membership? I cannot think they did. Rather, it was likely done to get a rise out of people, which it would have done anyway.
So, yet again, people talk in circles, insult each other obliquely, and, haha, let's all point and laugh at the silly Christians who get bent out of shape oh so easily.
Do I find the set offensive? No, nor do I find it notably artistic or challenging. People have been doing very similar things for years. It's a set that was designed to get a reaction from people (aside from the typical reaction that sets engender), and the choice of timing assured that it would be the most thoughtless, dismissive reaction possible.
It isn't difficult to get people to react, but it is tricky to get them to think and discuss.
VIEW 10 of 10 COMMENTS
pharcyde:
i noticed you dont seem to mind the set, those were just my thoughts about it.
gumbercules:
i'm not going near this topic...