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OK ENOUGH! This is the last straw…or is it the Last Supper?
The Christian Right and the Catholic church, the purveyors of purity and sanctity and esteemed paragons of virtue, with one having numerous evangelical preachers involved prostitution and the other with rampant pedophilia and wide scale coverups of same, began their cacophony of outrage at the opening ceremonies of the Paris Olympics, claiming the tableau mocked Christianity and in particular, DaVinci’s rendition of the Last Supper, as if to say their faith was on such rocky ground that such an insult would bring it to ruination.
Their ignorance of art was placed on the world stage for all to see. Their concern for the reputation of faith was reminiscent of the proverb: “It is far better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
One would think that the argument is a no-brainer. Was the scene at the Olympics openng ceremont based on the Christian faith and in particular, DaVinci’s “Last Supper” murial or was it fashioned after the “Feast of Gods” by van Biljert? Hmmm…let me think… one is based on a somber scene in Jerusalum with Jesus telling his disciples the end is near and one would betray him that is dining with him now. The other is a painting depicting a festive scene from Greek mythology, depicting Greek gods at a marriage reception. Greek mythology, Greek gods, Greek Olympic games… I think I’m starting to see a pattern here… Apparently that pattern is invisible to the Christian Right. And yet, somehow, they are able to form a connection between Greek games and Judaea Christianity based on their limited art knowledge. But what relevance to the proceeding would the Last Supper have to Greek Games??? Exactly. NONE.
Perhaps now is a good time to attempt to provide some Fine Arts instruction before ALL the books are burned. I’ll keep it brief so as not to bore.
Let’s start with Da Vinci’s Last Supper Murial (L’Ultima Cena). The mural is housed in the refectory of the Convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan, Italy. It took him 3 years to complete (1495 through 1498) because he had trouble finding someone to embody the characteristic of betrayer, Judas. Ironically the same subject that portrayed Jesus became destitute, living on the streets and DaVinci was immediately drawn to him as the perfect subject to portray Judas. At the time, he was unaware that he had used him 3 years earlier.
Next, let’s review the other painting which currently hangs in the French museum, Musée Magnin in Dijon, France (which is why it was apropos for a Parisian event). The Painting, “Le Festin des Dieux (The Feast of the Gods) by the Dutch painter, Jan Hermansz van Bijlert was created in the mid 1600’s… long before the current political climate whipped everything into the frenzy it is now. This painting depicts an assembly of Greek gods on Mount Olympus for a banquet to celebrate the marriage of Thetis and Peleus. The figure seated at the table in the center has a halo of light behind his head. This was Zeus. According to Greek mythology, all of the gods were invited except one, Eris, the goddess of discord. This was the seed that began the Trojan War according to Greek lore.
Next, take a look at the two images of the Paris opening ceremony in question. The first scene at the red carpet “table” is called, “The Festival” and features members of the LGBTQ community, many in drag. Also make note of the fact that the 2024 Olympic Games features 191 athletes who are openly in the LGBTQ community for the first time in history which gave rise to the idea of inclusion and diversity in the ceremony. Notice that the DJ in the center is wearing a silver headpiece that resembles a halo. Now take note of the Last Supper image of Jesus….no halo. He has not risen yet and so he is depicted as a man by DaVinci. Also take note of the food on the table of both paintings…one is essentially bare except for some bread and wine depicting austerity, the other is replete with an abundance of food, depicting opulence. Also note the child to the left in the Feast of the Gods painting and the absence of a child in DaVinci’s Last Supper. Lastly, the mood of the Last Supper is somber. Jesus knows he is about to be betrayed by one of his own disciples. The Feast of the Gods depicts a jovial mood, celebratory and lavish. The two paintings could not be more diametrically opposite.
The second Paris opening ceremony scene shows a figure in blue skin depicting the god Dionysis, the Greek god of wine, vegetation, pleasure, festivity, madness and wild frenzy. There is NO MISTAKING he is not associated in anyway with the Last Supper, try as the Christian Right may. His presence on the scene further validates the case that this is about GREEK MYTHOLOGY and NOT about the Last Supper or Christianity.
In college, I enjoyed my Fine Arts class. I also had the privilege and good fortune of seeing both pieces of art in person. The Last supper, with its history of Judas and Jesus being the same model years apart for DaVinci was fascinating. The fact that it survived on the remaining wall after a bomb destroyed the rest of the church in World War 2 was also interesting to learn. The history of DaVinci’s painting made it one of my favorites. While the Dutch painter’s version of the Feast of the Gods was less rich in history, it was much higher in image quality. I enjoyed its vibrant colors as opposed to DaVinci’s faded painting on the wall, but as I said, the history/provenance of the Last Supper made it my favorite of the two.
SO, plainly, the Paris opening was really not demonic or satanic. It was simply artistic expression. This kind of misunderstanding of artistic representation shows a need for art education more than the indignation currently ramped up needlessly. Maybe we all need to take a step back and take a moment to distinguish between the innocuous and the malicious. We Christians are not always the “soft target.”
But who am I kidding. No amount of intellect or education will persuade the Christian Right from their monolithic, tunnel view of world and the feigned persecution they so fervently claim at every chance, whether it be a book, a movie or in this case, an artistic display of Greek mythology because, after all, these are the GREEK OLYMPIC GAMES and in the context of that, why would anyone assume that the tableau was anything but anti-Christian?!!!
Maybe attempts at educating them on Fine Arts was a bit too high-brow. It might be easier to pick up a copy of Trumps Bible and turn a few pages in the New Testament (that would be the SECOND HALF of the book that Christianity is based on…being the life and teachings of Jesus Christ). It would not take long to read that the definitive tenets of Christianity are love and tolerance of all. A few more pages into it, you will find that Jesus even commented on immigrants and poor and how we treat them will determine our place within God’s Kingdom. You cannot claim to be Christian, while simultaneously defecating on the very foundational principles taught by Jesus. The two are incompatible. Unless you’re defecating on the walls and desks in the House of Representatives on January 6, 2021….then of course, God gives you a pass and your welcomed into Trump Towers on Heaven’s highest cloud with beautiful sunsets and gorgeous, scenic views like none other.
P-L-E-A-S-E! Give me a break! This is nothing but a distraction by the Christian Right because they fear Trump is not getting enough press anymore since Kamala Harris is the main story these days.