Mary goes beyond contrary to perverse! Image source: California Newswire.
An article in California Newswire reports that a portrait of the Virgin Mary showing her collared and shackled has stirred controversy ... who'd a thunk it?
The portrait, entitled "The Lady of Nazareth Chooses To Play Along" is by Marilyn Artus, an artist and feminist who created it to protest the way Catholics and various prominent conservatives are encroaching on women's rights ("the war on women" as it's been called). There is all sorts of symbolism in the work beside the bondage (a coat hanger, a scarlet letter, etc.) but somehow, I don't that other symbolism is going to be what attracts attention, if any mainstream media pick it up.
I say "if" because the article seems to be searching for outrage but not finding any. An interview with an Oklahoma City Catholic (where the art will be exhibited as part of a tour) found him expressing the eminently reasonable position that it was all right for the artist to use such symbolism to express her opinions.
Still, with "50 Shades of Gray" growing in popularity by leaps and bounds, you have to wonder what kind of weird cross currents are going on out there in that great big culture of ours.
"Mary, is that you?" "Mmmmfgh!" Image source: Hogtied.
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