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Tuesday, September 25, 2007

Other Last Suppers: Where’s the Outrage?

posted by on September 25 at 16:35 PM

The Simpson’s last supper:

simpsonssupper.jpg

The Sopranos’ last supper:

SopranosSinglebig.jpg

A supermodel’s last supper:

supermodellast.jpg

A Lego last supper:

Lego_last_suppersmall.jpg

A fast food last supper:

fastfood-Supper.jpg

A Boston Red Sox last supper:

Red_Sox_Last_Supper_Small.jpg

A knitters’ last supper:

KnitLastSupper.jpg

A zombie last supper:

zombielastsupper.jpg

A Star War’s last supper:

star-wars-last-supper.jpg

A cats’ last supper:

Cats_Last_Supper.jpg

A dogs’ last supper:

dogslastsupper.jpg

Parodies of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper”: Okay for the Simpsons, the Red Sox, HBO’s mobsters, supermodels, dogs, knitters, Lego, and on and on. Not okay for the kinksters and queers. (If anyone runs across more parodies of the “Last Supper,” send ‘em my way, please.)

UPDATE: Jesus, I spent an hour looking around Google images. I guess I should have been searching blogs, not images. Anyway, Some more from readers:

A better—read, “more sacereligious”—Simpsons’ last supper:

moeslastsupper.jpg

Marilyn Monroe’s last supper:

MarilynsLast.jpg

Phish’s last supper:

Phishlast-supper.jpg

Big Bird’s last supper:

ap_lastsupper.jpg

Popeye’s last supper:

Supper_at_Sea_by_ATLbladerunner-1.jpg

Robert Altman’s last supper (from the film MASH):

mash_09.jpg

Mel Brooks’ last supper:

More to come…

UPDATE 2: Four more before I walk out the door…

A slasher flick last supper:

LSSlasherFlick.jpg

Chairman Mao’s last supper:

LSMoabanquet.jpg

An anime (sp?) last supper:

LSAnime.jpg

Actor Peter Weller’s last supper:

LSPeterWeller.jpg

UPDATE 3: In comments someone asks me what the big deal is—who’s bitching about the Folsom Street Fair poster? Well, go here, here, here, here, and here for the bitching. And remember: the right-wing religious whiners are just getting started. We’ll be hearing more about this.

My good friend Andrew Sullivan calls the poster “a provocation… utterly unnecessary” in a post titled “Culture War Gasoline.” So not all gays agree on this issue. Andrew is also big supporter of the bear movement in gay culture—and often makes fun of me for my taste in men—so it pains me to point out to Andrew that when it comes to “cheap blasphemy,” his beloved bears got there first.

bearlastsuppersmall.jpg

UPDATE 4:

New Testament wine coolers served at last supper:

UPDATE 5:

That 70s Show’s last supper:

LSthat70s1.jpg

LSthat70s2.jpg

LSthat70s3.jpg

UPDATE 5:

The Catholic League is boycotting Miller Beer over the now-infamous poster for the Folsom Street Fair. (Read my thoughts for the Catholic League’s Bill Donohue here.) I wonder if the Catholic League is planning to go after The Tonight Show, John Travolta, Paris Hilton, Carrie Fisher, Pam Dawber, the estate of the “late great John Ritter,” and other celebs over their support and for “juxtaposition artist” Nelson De La Nuez. He’s the artist responsible for this little bit of sacrilege…

Yo Moma’s Last Supper:

LSyomama.jpg

More examples of Nelson De La Nuez sacrilegious art can be found here and here.

More last suppers…

A fury fetish last supper:

LSfuryfetish.jpg

Bunuel’s “Tramps’ Supper” from Viridiana:

LSviridiana.jpg

George Carlin’s last supper:

LSCarlin.jpg

The Flying Spaghetti Monster’s last supper:

LSflyingsmall.jpg

A pizza parlor’s last supper:

LSpizzaparl.jpg

Donkey Kong’s last supper:

LSDonkeyKong.jpg

Uh, some guy’s last supper:

last_supper_small.jpg

A last supper sandcastle:

Last%20SupperSandSmall.jpg

I await the announcement of the Catholic League’s boycotts of pasta, pizza, Donkey Kong, George Carlin, fury fetishism, etc.

UPDATE 6:

Dianna in comments directs us to Renee Cox’s “Yo Mama’s Last Supper”:

LSyomamasmall.jpg Click for the larger version.

RSS icon Comments

1

I personally dig the fast food last supper. Although Jack should be Jesus, not Ronald.

Posted by Mr. Poe | September 25, 2007 4:38 PM
2

The funny thing is that the only person who should be offended, if he chose to be, is Leonardo da Vinci. It's his *visual interpretation* of the Last Supper that's being played on, after all. No Christian ought to hold it in the same esteem as, say, the Bible, which is the only meaningful account of the event.

Hell, I didn't even think the queer parody was well done. The positions were all wrong; it looked like any dinner, or any Supper, not Leonardo's specifically.

Posted by Gloria | September 25, 2007 4:42 PM
3

If Megan Seling can direct you to a copy of "Skits and Stickers," you can watch The State's last supper, featuring "I wanna dip my balls in it!" Louie.

Posted by giantladysquirrels | September 25, 2007 4:47 PM
4

What the shit is this in reference to?

Posted by L | September 25, 2007 4:48 PM
5

Posted by Lee | September 25, 2007 4:52 PM
6

Let's make a last supper with dildos that have little googly eyes on them.

Posted by Ari Spool | September 25, 2007 4:53 PM
7

From the movie MASH

Posted by Mahtli69 | September 25, 2007 4:54 PM
8
Posted by Lee | September 25, 2007 4:54 PM
9

Popeye's last supper is my current computer desktop:

As linked to from BoingBoing

Posted by Martin | September 25, 2007 4:56 PM
10

This one was banned in Milan. I'm not sure if it was because of the religious connotations are the anorexia.

Posted by Mahtli69 | September 25, 2007 5:00 PM
11

zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

who cares except ex catholics

Posted by Oscar Wilde | September 25, 2007 5:03 PM
12

There's a better Simpsons last supper (Homer and friends at Moe's), third from the top of this list of last supper images.

Posted by five toed sloth | September 25, 2007 5:07 PM
13

Missed 'The Devil's Rejects' Last Supper.

Posted by Grant Cogswell | September 25, 2007 5:07 PM
14

There is nothing sacred about the last supper painting.
I could care less about any of them or any comical imitations of it.

It's the idiotic things you say today that bug me Dan!!! Tomorrow I may love you to pieces but today you're just a big fat headed jerk!
You don't know me so who gives a rip what I think about you!

Posted by mj | September 25, 2007 5:08 PM
15

Not to mention how frequently it's been used in art. I remember my sophomore year of college I wrote a very poor paper about Renee Cox's "Yo Mama's Last Supper," which is NSFW, btw.

Posted by uwmatthew | September 25, 2007 5:11 PM
16
Posted by Mr. Poe | September 25, 2007 5:12 PM
17

Don't forget Mel Brooks and The History of the World, Part One:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CPuJzwtoKXk

Posted by JC | September 25, 2007 5:20 PM
18

Poe that is a great painting by a great artist. I love her!

Posted by mj | September 25, 2007 5:23 PM
19

How about the Peruvian Last Supper, with a cuy (Guinea Pig) as the centerpiece dish?

http://www.geocities.com/mart_eden/lastsupper.jpg

Posted by Sachi | September 25, 2007 5:28 PM
20

The Last Supper, with breakfast cereal characters by Aubrey Hallis
http://wtbw.net/wtbw/last-s/2.jpg

Posted by mac+cheese | September 25, 2007 5:29 PM
21

What did they have for dessert?

Posted by Will in Seattle | September 25, 2007 5:31 PM
22

I don't see why anyone's bothered with any of these images. Why give attention to the "American Taliban" and its concerns except to make the ad nauseum Stranger point that religion is bad? I've LOVED The Stranger for years, but the anti-religion crusade is gettng o-l-d.

Posted by parsonbrown | September 25, 2007 5:31 PM
23

@ 21 Angel Food Cake....

Posted by mj | September 25, 2007 5:38 PM
24

22, the anti-religion crusade will be "o-l-d" when people's superstitions no longer threaten the continued life of humanity on this earth, when people stop oppressing and killing one another for their regional metaphysical wish-fantasies.

Oh, here's the link for the 'Rejects' supper, Dan:

http://www.upcominghorrormovies.com/movies/rejectssupper.jpg

Posted by Grant Cogswell | September 25, 2007 5:42 PM
25

Mao's Last Supper by artist Zhang Hongtu

http://liuzhou.blog-city.com/maos_last_supper.htm

Posted by Jim | September 25, 2007 5:50 PM
26

For clarification, this post is in reference to the gay porn one:
http://www.folsomstreetfair.org/images/fsf_posters/FSF2007_poster_print_800px.jpg


Right?

Posted by john | September 25, 2007 5:52 PM
27

Whoa, that zombie last supper rules!

Posted by Dougsf | September 25, 2007 6:06 PM
28

I'm offended by the Phish's last supper one, but just because it reminds me of the travesty that was Coventry. 5 mile walk to see those shows? Sheesh...

Posted by zzyzx | September 25, 2007 6:17 PM
29

Grant: I thought it was mostly things like the internal combustion engine that are threatening the continued existence of (human) life on Earth. You can't really put that off on religion. I mean you'd have to burn an awful lot of heretics to generate that much CO2.

Religious fanatics just make the time we have left a lot more annoying.

Posted by flamingbanjo | September 25, 2007 6:20 PM
30
Posted by The Defenestrator | September 25, 2007 6:22 PM
31

If someone sets a nuclear device off in a large city -- New York, London, Tel Aviv -- it's not going to be a terrorist cell from AAA or Budget Rent-a-Car. It will be a religious nut.

Posted by EXTC | September 25, 2007 6:24 PM
32

http://www.brandonbird.com/supper.html

It's all, um, Peter Weller.

Posted by Kiru Banzai | September 25, 2007 6:25 PM
33

The Christian religion breeds toxic cranky idiots who can't take a joke. Islamofascists don't like cartoons. Both of these religions are evil.

Only Judaism is a religion of justice and tolerance. Dan's a gelibter to keep up the Christ bashing. The louder the Christians complain, the more we should bash their religion. Maybe they'll finally come to their senses and see that Judaism is the only truth.

Posted by Issur | September 25, 2007 6:34 PM
34

Also, you do see the difference between suggesting someone's virgin god is enjoying kinky sex and making him yellow, right? I'm not saying the outrage is in any way justified, only that it's perfectly explicable why these artists can do it with very little opprobrium and the Folsom Street Fair can't.

Posted by Kiru Banzai | September 25, 2007 6:37 PM
35

The fundies are furious about sex toys being swapped for the body of Christ. So where's the outrage about the body of Christ being swapped with a beer? Birthday cake? Christ's intestines? A can of spinach? A chocolate malt? Dog treats? Balls of yarn? A Happy Meal?

They're upset about a leatherman standing in for Christ. Okay, what about a mobster standing in for Christ? Or a serial killer? Or a clown? Or Luke Skywalker? Or Big Bird? Or, worst of all, Peter Weller?

Yeah, yeah: they're extra-special touchy about sex. That doesn't make turn this "outrage" into anything other than an opportunistic attempt to beat up on queers and seize for themselves the right to tell us when we may and when we may not offend them or appropriate iconic imagery that belongs to the world, to all us, and not just to the bible beaters at Concerned Women for America.

Posted by Dan Savage | September 25, 2007 6:59 PM
36

A favorite of mine: Frida Kahlo’s Last Supper.

Posted by jw | September 25, 2007 7:05 PM
37


Council passes rules for cops. Wonder how ex-cop Burgess would have voted vs. lefty Della?

Council passes rule"This is to make sure that we not only have a strong system of police accountability but that we also have public trust," said Councilmember David Della, who co-sponsored the legislation with Nick Licata and Richard McIver.

Posted by caleb | September 25, 2007 7:13 PM
38

Dan your tone is off on this one. Right now it's Iran that is anti-homosexual. That's why Israel and America are going to attack Iran - to install a pro-gay regime. This is the message we're trying to get out. Isolate Iran, humiliate Iran to soften American public opinion for the invasion Iran.

Please stop reminding everyone that much of America is anti-gay too! It will imply the American and Israeli military should enforce a pro-gay regime in America. That's not going to happen.

Attacking Christians is always good, especially the lunatic hypocrisy of the Christian religion. It shows that Judaism is better, Israel is the shining light of Judaism. But right now we've got to make Iran out as the most anti-gay country in the world, showing how anti-gay much of America is will confuse the message.

Remember - America should attack Iran because Iran is anti-gay. America supports pro-gay regimes the world over. The sound bite is that simple.

Posted by Issur | September 25, 2007 7:18 PM
39

I enjoy Issur's comments; there seems to be a lot of truth to them. Maybe a fellow believer in his message can concur, or likely not.

I think the majority of these images happened after Warhol's deconstructing multi-renditions, which aren't that great in person. he really turned the Artworld (the machine that is) upside down, and I think it's never going to right itself again.

Posted by June Bee | September 25, 2007 7:33 PM
40

you know what's really offensive? posting more than 5 (or god forbid, more than 15) images in a post without a cut tag.

What else is offensive:

>>A Star War’s last supper

and who is this "Chairman Moa" you mentioned?

Posted by X-offender | September 25, 2007 7:43 PM
41

So where is the Stranger's last supper? Can't you guys pose for a photo or photoshop yourselves or something??? I'd like to see it!!!

Posted by Kristin Bell | September 25, 2007 8:18 PM
42

sent this one to your e-mail Dan
Bush's last supper

http://z.about.com/d/politicalhumor/1/0/W/Y/bush_lastsupper.jpg

Posted by m | September 25, 2007 8:56 PM
43

@47 i agree. we need a stranger last supper. doesn't seem like it would be that tough to make it happen?

Posted by rob | September 25, 2007 9:23 PM
44

@41 rather

Posted by rob | September 25, 2007 9:24 PM
45

@11

Oscar Wilde converted to Catholicism before he died and his writing is full of Christian themes.

Posted by NJ Matt | September 25, 2007 9:42 PM
46

SLOG NEWS FLASH: Fundamentalists Criticize Queer Last Supper, Apparently Don't Like Gays

Thanks for keeping us informed, SLOG.

Posted by parsonbrown | September 25, 2007 10:03 PM
47

What about New Testament Wine Coolers? The last supper part isn't spectacular.. but the video itself is quite a gag.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=rorZciy5fe4

Posted by Miguel | September 25, 2007 10:10 PM
48

Wasn't there a Algonquin Round Table last supper as well?

And if you do a Stranger Last Supper, can I be in the background holding a covered dish?

Posted by catalina vel-duray | September 25, 2007 10:10 PM
49

"Other Last Suppers: Where’s the Outrage?"

I ask, 'Where's the outrage about the Folsom street fair?' While I agree with your sentiment, so far we have only your word that 'rumor has it' that someone, somewhere is up in arms. I'm not wasting my disgust on a rumor.

Until you give us some Focus on the Family press releases or pictures of angry christianists (love that term as a counterpart to islamist!), it's hard to believe that anyone but YOU is making a big deal out of the poster. yeesh.

Posted by dbell | September 25, 2007 11:07 PM
50

In "The Cook the Thief his Wife and Her Lover," it's more of a conceptual comment on The Last Supper than a parodied image. Why can't more filmmakers be like Greenaway? I think seeing "Drowning By Numbers" when it came out pushed my insanity quotient up more than a few notches. He also has film called, in other word, 'ZOO,' which is quite good.

Posted by June Bee | September 25, 2007 11:09 PM
51

I'm with #49: Who screamed about the Folsom thing? Sounds like no one cares.

I've never seen the original "last supper" image, but it seems like it's been done to death. (Ha!)

Posted by la | September 25, 2007 11:15 PM
52

In the last one displayed, it's all James Woods, except for Robocop, played by Peter Weller. Open your eyes and check your facts.

Posted by Dylan | September 25, 2007 11:21 PM
53

The only time you will see 13 people eating supper on only one side of the table is at a formal dinner.The Last Supper was not a formal dinner (It wasn't even expected to be the Last Supper).

Having noted that...

The "Lego Last Supper" picture reminds me of "Davey and Goliath", the old Lutheran Church claymation TV show.

Gosh, that brings back memories! I loved that show even though I am not Lutheran. Whatever happened to those two?

Posted by lawrence clark | September 26, 2007 12:29 AM
54

some funny fucking shit here - thanks for the giggles and gufaws

by the way - the orignal fresco is awesome - all the mocking is OK - but de vinci is rad to the max

queer too

Posted by ANDY | September 26, 2007 12:40 AM
55

That '70s Show did one too, but I don't have a cap.

Posted by Ted | September 26, 2007 1:03 AM
56

don't know if anyone cares, but the anime one is from a series called "negima". and yes i do fell like a giant nerd for knowing this

Posted by Okaba | September 26, 2007 4:45 AM
57

Don't care.

Posted by Boomer in NYC | September 26, 2007 6:19 AM
58

Fundies (fundamentalists) forget (or, are too stupid to know) that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. Oh, well, ignorance is bliss and there are a lot of blisters out there.

Posted by ActorRon | September 26, 2007 6:39 AM
59

Dan, I hope you're pointing all this out to your good buddy Andrew.

Posted by monkey | September 26, 2007 6:48 AM
60

@53 oh gosh, i would definitely go see a feature length "Davey and Goliath."
A classmate and I in elementary school used to imitate Goliath the dog a lot saying/groaning in that low baritone, "Hiii Daaavey."

trivia: i met a real life Mancunian the other night at a Philipino bar on 1st ave in Belltown! she told me about the rave scene of the early 90s going to the Hacienda often during the Happy Mondays rage. I dedicated my butchered Kareoke of Bowie's "Changes" to her. head on over to tcraftnation for further info, or slogwise jump imperative Continue reading

Posted by June Bee | September 26, 2007 6:56 AM
61

Dan, you can choose to get all upset about the moronic antics of a bunch of "Christian" zealots, or you can choose to ignore them, just as you would ignore LaRouche tablers, Tim Eyman's signature gatherers, and Scientologists. They're nuts. And you certainly don't need to help them by giving them attention.

Posted by Greg | September 26, 2007 7:51 AM
62

There should be a Star Trek Last Supper!! Spock would have to be Christ though

Posted by Suck it Jesus, Mohammed and Moses | September 26, 2007 8:28 AM
63

There was also a really good one from an issue of DC Comics "Countdown" that had the Justice League in "last supper" formation. For bonus points, the final issue of "Legion of Superheroes" "Great Darkness Saga" had a send-up of the Creation of Man (?) with Darkseid in place of God. If that ain't blasphemy, I don't know what is.

Posted by JoshWatermanMN | September 26, 2007 8:28 AM
64

I find it entertaining that people get upset about derisive imagery regarding some long dead rabbi. Religion got silly after people stopped recognizing aspects of their world and ascribing to those aspects some deity. Pagan religions make so much more sense. They begin from what is observed and make an attempt to find what is.

"πρῶτον μὲν θύοντα χρὴ αἰτεῖσθαι θεοὺς ταῦτα διδόναι καὶ νοεῖν καὶ λέγειν καὶ πράττειν, ἀφ᾽ ὧν θεοῖς μὲν κεχαρισμενώτατα ἄρξαις ἄν, σαυτῷ δὲ καὶ φίλοις καὶ τῇ πόλει προσφιλέστατα καὶ εὐκλεέστατα καὶ πολυωφελέστατα." -Ξενοφῶν

Posted by Eratosthenes | September 26, 2007 8:52 AM
65

Mmmm... Sacrilicious

Posted by iwanttobealion | September 26, 2007 8:54 AM
66

I have to wonder if the so-called Christians that are complaining the most can actually name the apostles depicted in da Vinci’s Last Supper. I'd be willing to be most of them can't.

Posted by Mark | September 26, 2007 10:32 AM
67

Poster for the 2006 San Franscico Mime Troupe Show "Godfellas":

http://sfmt.org/Press/images/godfellas/poster4x6300.jpg

Posted by monkeymind | September 26, 2007 10:58 AM
68

Fundies always suffer from convenient memory lapse: Leonardo da Vinci was a homosexual, so they should actually be protesting the original painting.

Posted by Jim Provenzano | September 26, 2007 11:27 AM
69
Posted by Buck Thrust | September 26, 2007 3:05 PM
71

I was once expressly invited to a dinner party in Brooklyn to be the 12th genderqueer in a last super photo shoot. I wonder what became of those images?

Posted by J | September 26, 2007 4:24 PM
72

I was once expressly invited to a dinner party in Brooklyn to be the 12th genderqueer in a last supper photo shoot. I wonder what became of those images?

Posted by J | September 26, 2007 4:24 PM
73

I love this:

...the right-wing religious whiners...

Amen to that (so to speak).

Great montage, too!

Posted by Joe G. | September 26, 2007 4:57 PM
74

I loved this post, not least because I am the Jesus figure in the knitters' last supper photo -- it's my blog on which you found it. And actually, I had the pleasure of meeting you in person, Dan, about 6 years ago when you came to speak at Brown University; I was the starry-eyed 23-year-old who picked you up from the train station and escorted you around campus. I've long been a fan, and seeing my photo on your blog totally made my day.

(This was a lame comment - more fan mail than useful contribution to the conversation - so feel free to delete it.)

Posted by Rachel | September 26, 2007 4:58 PM
75

Dan deserves fan male he's a sweetie! Christianity is for idiots and mocking everything about Christianity is good for The Stranger's circulation.

As a Jew I enjoy reading apostate Christians ranting about the perversions of their former religions. The sooner America realizes that Judaism is the only true faith, the better off this country will be.

Posted by Issur | September 26, 2007 7:11 PM
76

I totally took a knitting class in the room where the knitting last supper picture was taken. I used to work at that school! I think I know some of those people! I could say that I was saved by knitting.

Posted by KnitPearl | September 26, 2007 8:18 PM
77

Hey, Rachel! Nice to hear from you... thanks for making my visit to Brown such a blast...

xo
Dan

Posted by Dan Savage | September 26, 2007 9:07 PM
78

There really should be a Hello Kitty last supper.

Posted by LDK | September 26, 2007 10:39 PM
79

Damn--top 10 Internet resources with a bullet.

For the record, Sullivan's protestations are absurd. As this thread makes clear, getting the vapors just cause some leather dudes ripped off the Last Supper, c'mon. Trash them for being cliched, maybe, but welcome to the past several hundred years. If he's going to get pissed about everyone who makes fun of Christian imagery, he better have a lot of free time.

Posted by whetstone | September 27, 2007 1:04 AM
80

Not to mention that the kind of religious believers who get their hair shirts in a bunch over such stuff are the same religious believers who feel most free to trash *other* religions, usually in much harsher terms than mere parody. America's Protestant fundamentalists and Catholic reactionaries produce a steady stream of propaganda directed against competing Christian sects, "cults," Islam, other world religions, and "secular humanists." (And liberal Protestants respond with their own jeremiads. That's not because they're just fighting back, or hypocrites -- it's because they're Christians. But then even some of my fellow atheists have adopted the mode.)

I did like the bears' last supper though.

Posted by The Promiscuous Reader | September 27, 2007 7:13 AM
81

In Andrew's defense, he's no wet blanket, no easily offended matron. And I doubt he got the vapors over this. He tossed up one short post--I'm the one that's been pumping out the copy over this. Andrew's right, though, when he calls it a provocation -- that's not an absurd point. It was a provocation, and a pretty successful one. Andrew doesn't think it was a wise or justified provocation. I happen to disagree. But Andrew isn't freaking out over this. Bill Donohue is.

Posted by Dan Savage | September 27, 2007 7:14 AM
82

What, no Flying Spaghetti Monster last supper?
http://www.venganza.org/images/wallpapers/Last-Supper.jpg

Posted by Scotty B | September 27, 2007 9:09 AM
83

Thanks Dan for the entertaining interpretations shown here today.

Bill Donohue and his Catholic League seem to be a rather loud bunch of professional complainers, along the lines of Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton. Albeit with a different focus.

Donohue and his group complained loudly about a bit on a Morning show in the San Diego area. It is called Lash Wednesday and "sinners" can call in to confess their sins in the "Radio Confessional". The sin picked as the best by the host, The Reverend Dave, a real radio priesty guy, wins a prize.

They interviewed Bill once, and got a great sound bite that they turned into the title of their 'best of' album that year, "Double Talking Liars".

I wonder if he has ever seen the Religiously themed dildos and butt-plugs that some company is/were making.

Posted by Mark H | September 27, 2007 10:53 AM
84

should christians actually be offended? isnt idolotry banned or a sin or something? i guess i should know since i was raised catholic. Andrew Sullivan should chill out. he finally woke up from following Bush, here's hoping he will get over his silly superstitions.

Posted by rich weaver | September 27, 2007 11:59 AM
85

Here's the DC comics version:

http://www.foot2mouth.com/wordpress/?p=307

The problem (one of the problems) with these right-wing Christianists so eager to be offended is this: They think they OWN Jesus and Christianity. (And marriage. and the U.S.A.) They don't understand the concept of a shared cultural heritage, and they don't know how to share in general.

To which I say: If you want, you can make a two-hour movie in which the humiliation, torture, and execution of Jesus is shown in continual, graphic, bloody detail, down to the last shred of flayed flesh and the last cry of agony. If we want to, we can create a version of The Last Supper containing images of people like ourselves.

The Folsom Street image contains no meanness or disrespect directed at Jesus. (It’s hard for me to say the same about Gibson’s Passion.) It does, perhaps, contain a pointed message to Christianists.

Posted by Spectrum Rider | September 27, 2007 12:00 PM
86

It is, as Andrew said, a deliberate provocation, which the gay community has a perfect right to do; Christians have an equivalent right to voice their displeasure.

To those of you that love the term "Christianist" in order to lump committed Christians into the same category as Islamists: Go ahead, take Andrew's challenge. Publicize next years Fair by showing a cartoon of Muhammed in drag. Then you'll understand the fundamental difference between what you call "Cristianists" and Islamists.

Posted by SweatingThroughFog | September 27, 2007 12:49 PM
87

I think you meant, "mmm... sacrilicious"

Posted by jon | September 27, 2007 12:50 PM
88

After I saw Sullivan's comments I went hunting for Last Supper images and found a statement that there is apparently a velvet Elvis Last Supper. Can't find an image tho, but that one would be a great find. And there are lots of Last Supper lunch boxes, wall clocks, throw pillows, you name it and it's there. Where's the outrage?

Posted by Don | September 27, 2007 2:34 PM
89

Thanks Don: Now I understand the game. You stick your thumb in a favorite target's eye, then use the target's outrage as evidence of their bigotry - because the target hasn't been scrupulously meticulous in responding to previous slights by others.

And no one is supposed to notice that the conscious and deliberate (this is an advertising campaign after all) selection of the target is itself evidence of bigotry.

Posted by Sweating Through Fog | September 27, 2007 3:06 PM
90

folks like 'sweating thru fog' and andy sullivan are missing the whole point. it's "bigotry and purposeful provocation" if leather people do a parody of the painting but all these gazillion other parodies are just fine and dandy ..?!? huh ?

Posted by el polacko | September 27, 2007 4:20 PM
91

You think the Christians are looney because they complain, and it's brave to mock them?

Be really brave. Try advertising with a similar mockery of Mohammed. Put together an ad with Mo, goats, dildos, and leather. I dare you.

I'll bet every last one of you cowards came up with an excuse before you got to this line. "Wait ... that wouldn't be sensitive and tolerant."

I call BS. It wouldn't be safe, because, while the Christians will complain, muslims will firebomb your building after slitting your throats.

Why don't you be brave and mock cripples and orphans. That's pretty safe, too.

/rant You may now continue your congratulating one another on your magnificent bravery.

Posted by watchin | September 27, 2007 4:41 PM
92

el polacko: I'm not missing the point at all. The dynamic you describe in your note
is the "game' I described in mine. Pick a favorite target, and claim bigotry in their reaction to your deliberate mockery. Read what I wrote again, and consider why a Christian icon was chosen for what you call a "parody"

Is there any chance in your mind that this community, based on an advertising campaign that they chose, shows any evidence of anti-Christain bias? Or does the claim of victim status carry with it the implicit claim that this group can never be guilty of hate, of bigotry, of bias or of just plain, childish meanness?

Posted by Sweating Through Fog | September 27, 2007 8:33 PM
93

Call it what it is, and what it was meant to be. An insult and a slap in the face to Christians. I believe the Gay community, small though it be, should continue on its hateful, mean spirited campaign. They are after all attempting to get society to accept their life style and to have same sex unions viewed as marriage and it is in fact Christians who are defeating them from accomplishing this. It just seems logical that they would attack the folks who are preventing them from getting what they want. I believe they should take their parade to New York City,or down south in the good old bible belt, better yet how about Saudi Arabia, its way too safe in California. All I know is, if I were attempting to get my cause taken serious, the smart choice would be to offend the larger segment of the population.

Posted by Mary | September 27, 2007 11:55 PM
94

Let's try this again:

The image is not an attack on Jesus or on Christianity. It IS an attack on anti-gay prejudice, and so some subsection of Christians may think it's an attack on them. But as they sometimes fail to remember: They are not Jesus. They are not Christianity.

I understand that some Christians are quite anti-gay, and therefore see any association, no matter how symbolic, between Jesus and gayness to be a terrible insult. They are entitled. But, in all fairness, they can't expect gays to agree with them and support them in their prejudice. Gays who like themselves do not see putting Jesus in a gay context as an attack on Jesus. Why would they?

All this outrage is just a thin veneer over anti-gay bigotry. After all, the Sopranos Last Supper - which depicts Jesus and his disciples as butal, murderous thugs - was shown far more widely than the Folsom Street image, but I don't remember a single Christian organization or web site screaming about it. Perhaps you think homosexuality is far, far worse than being a Mafia killer. Again, you're entitled.

I've seen this kind of faked outrage, pretending to be principled, often before. When the gay community started something called the Gay Olympics, the government came after them - not, they insisted, because they were picking on gays, but becaus NO ONE was allowed to use the word "Olympics" without special permission. The Gay Olympics folks were able to find about 200 events that used the word, including the Nude Olympics and the Chicken Olympics, that the government never bothered with. They still had to settle for calling theirs the Gay Games, though.

The reason that dozens upon dozens of individuals and groups - not just gays, but, as you can see in this thread, artists, advertisers, and humorists of every stripe - create versions of The Last Supper, and not "a Muslim holy scene," is not because they're cowards. It's because The Last Supper is familiar, an iconic image of Western culture, and therefore a parody or homage carries some connotation. People do similar parodies of the Mona Lisa and American Gothic, without ever being accused of "attacking" the artists or subjects of those paintings.

Today I saw a man wearing a shirt with the famous multi-armed Shiva image on it. Except it was a robot, with different tools in each hand. It was advertising a software product. This was at work; the many Indians who also work in the company seemed strangely unperturbed.

Posted by Spectrum Rider | September 27, 2007 11:56 PM
95

"...therefore a parody or homage carries some connotation"

American heritage Dictionary on "parody": "A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule."

The "connotation" is ridicule, and I don't think you are claiming ridicule of Da Vnci, or of Western Civilization. The Fair chose this particular icon to ridicule. The Christion's with the "fake outrage" chose to be outraged at this particular instance of ridicule. Why is the latter choice evidence of bigotry, but not the former?

Posted by Sweating Through Fog | September 28, 2007 6:33 AM
96

if camp is a mode of expression an an aesthetic in which something has appeal because of its bad taste or ironic value, then the advert in question represents gay camp at its best.

the irony at work in this advert (and the irony intended by the artist) is one that recruits and co-opts a recognizable Christian icon—the last supper—to celebrate the unbridled sexuality condemned by the very same christianity as taboo, sinful, and disordered.

the meaning and subversive intent couldn’t be clearer, as far as i’m concerned: it has far less to do with attacking christianity (lampooning perhaps) and far more to do with elevating, even sanctifying, that which is regarded by conservatives as deviant. the fact that it is perceived as being in poor taste is part of its campy appeal.

let’s remember that jesus was also accused of doing things that were considered to be in very poor taste, for precisely the same reason as this; namely, he subverted deeply held religious values (i.e. the sanctity of the sabbath, cleanliness laws, et cetera).

moreover, here’s a radical notion: to any christians or conservatives, gay or otherwise, who are offended by the folsom street fair poster, here's another radical notion: don't look at it.

here's another radical notion: the glbt community has absolutely no obligation or responsibility to make ourselves look respectable to conservative Christians, Christians in general, gay conservatives,
conservatives in general, or anyone else. hasten the day when the conformist elements in the glbt community wake up to this reality.

in the end, it's not such a radical notion at all. it's simply realism. we can go to great lengths, engage in all manner of cultural contortions to conform, to be "just like them", to appear as normal and non-threatening and non-sexual and non-promiscuous as possible--none of it works. what's worse than that the quest for respectability is born of fear and self-loathing among the glbt community and that it's repressive and violates self-determination is that in the end it's futile.

the idea that we can somehow make ourselves less loathsome to conservatives (or evangelicals or whoever) is a myth, and a dangerous one at that. the marriage debate should demonstrate that to even the most committed conformists within the glbt community.

it's time to rediscover and embrace our queerness. to hell with "we are just like you" and useless attempts to make ourselves acceptable to the far right.

Posted by Dean | September 28, 2007 9:09 AM
97

***
"...therefore a parody or homage carries some connotation"

American heritage Dictionary on "parody": "A literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author or a work for comic effect or ridicule."

The "connotation" is ridicule, and I don't think you are claiming ridicule of Da Vnci, or of Western Civilization. The Fair chose this particular icon to ridicule. The Christion's with the "fake outrage" chose to be outraged at this particular instance of ridicule. Why is the latter choice evidence of bigotry, but not the former?
***

Well, let's see:

- Because "parody or homage" is not the same thing as "parody"
- because "comic effect or ridicule" is not the same as "ridicule"

Which is to say, you're cherry-picking both my post and the definition to come up with the result you want. Maybe they just thought it was funny, the way the Simpsons Last Supper (with Homer as Jesus) is funny? I did.

There is nothing hateful or mean-spirited about the image. Jesus is not being ridiculed. Anti-gay bias IS being ridiculed, and I'm sorry (but unsurprised) if you see that as a personal attack on you. And Jesus.

As the lack of outrage at the many other parodies of The Last Supper (especially the Sopranos one) shows, you and your compatriots are engaging in what, in legal terms, would be called "selective enforcement." If anyone else parodies The Last Supper, you evince little emotion; if gays do it, the floodgates open. Selective enforcement is a fairly common indication of bias.

Posted by Spectrum Rider | September 28, 2007 10:34 AM
98

"Jesus is not being ridiculed. Anti-gay bias IS being ridiculed" So you admit ridicule is the intent, and hence acknowledge that my cherry-picking was spot on, after all. And . . . let me guess - the Fair promoters are ridiculing the anti-gay bias in Western art? Anti-gay bias in 15th century Italy? No - the ridicule can only directed at alleged anti-gay bias found in the essential sacrament of Christianity.

Besides - I thought the Fair wasn't supposed to be a gay event?

Ridicule is a tool that can be used by anyone:

Check out the Fair press release here:

http://www.folsomstreetfair.com/fair-press.php?relNum=77

And my parody of it:

FOLSOM STREET EVENTS™ LAUNCHES POSTER DESIGN FOR 25th ANNUAL FOLSOM STREET FAIR™
Poster image draws inspiration from the annual Islamic Hajj, in a poster entitled: Masjid al-Harem.

Folsom Street Events has released its latest poster design for the 25TH Annual Folsom Street Fair. This year, the official poster, drawn by renowned artist Theo van Gogh, uses well-known community members as players in a strikingly original interpretation of the annual, worldwide pilgrimage to Mecca. The poster is the second in a series that draws from well-known paintings, album covers, movie posters, or other iconic images. Community members celebrate exuberant sexuality by donning their S/M regalia, and dancing around not the Kaaba, but a 10 story phallus.

According to Andy Copper, Board President, “We are extremely pleased with the outcome of this poster, and we are looking forward to a particularly inspirational event season. There is no intention to be particularly pro-religion or anti-religion with this poster; the image is intended only to celebrate the sacred roots of raw sexuality. It is a distinctive representation of diversity with women and men, people of all colors and sexual orientations. Just as Mecca draws people of all races throughout the world, we hope people from all continents will come come celebrate with us!”

Folsom Street Events acknowledges that many of the people in the leather and fetish communities are spiritual and that this poster image is a way of expressing that side of the community’s interests and beliefs. This year, Folsom Street Fair is dedicated to “San Francisco Values,” previously used against the San Francisco community for its support of sexual diversity and now used by Folsom Street Events as a way to reclaim power by the fetish community.

Andy Copper, adds “We hope that people will enjoy the artistry for what it is – nothing more or less. Many people choose to speculate on deeper meanings. This is one artist’s imagining of a pilgrimage that is at one both sexual and sacred - all we did was adopt the iconography of Mecca and we have made it our own. The irony is that homosexuality has a long and wonderful history in Islam. In truth, we are going to produce a series of inspired poster images over the next few years. Next year’s poster ad may take inspiration from American Gothic by Grant Wood, the flag raising at Iwo Jima, or even Raphael's 'The School of Athens' - community members are already preparing for roles in that one!"

When asked about the murder of the poster artist, Theo van Gogh, and the worldwide rioting that has claimed dozens of lives, Copper said: "I guess it wouldn’t be Folsom Street Fair without offending some extreme members of the global community, though.”

Posted by Sweating Through Fog | September 28, 2007 12:40 PM
99

Sweating Through Fog, if the only possibilities you can think of are: either it's making fun of anti-gay bias in Western art, in 15th Century Italy, or in "essential sacrament of Christianity" - and then come to your conclusion by a process of elimination - then you have blinders are, a bizarrely literal approach to parody, and a narrow understanding of the expressive range of pictures. Nobody thinks the Eucharist is intrinsically anti-gay. (Quite the contrary.)

Try this: by putting MODERN archetypes in a well-known historical picture, they are making a comment on MODERN culture and its attitudes towards those archetypes. (Possible message: much of modern culture finds these archetypes profane, but imagine the possibility they are sacred.)

Try this: they thought it was funny.

There are other possible interpretations, of course. Process of elimination is, in this case, limited as a deductive tool.

Your "Islamic" version, on the other hand, shows a lot of unexpected imagination. And if I lived in a culture suffused with Islamic images, it might seem funny, clever, or striking to me. But I don't. Most of the people who created the Folsom Street image were probably raised in Western society, where Christian images (including, in particular, The Last Supper) are omnipresent in both original and modified forms. Many of them are probably Christian. They are commenting on that culture. More precisely: they are commenting on THEIR culture. Theirs as much as yours. Anti-gay, right-wing Christians don't own Christianity.

They have no obligation to work their way through all the modern religions of the world. It is more likely that Muslims will use Muslim themes to comment on their own culture - as, say, Salman Rushdie did when he wrote The Satanic Verses. I completely and utterly support his decision to write it, and find the way he was treated by the fundamentalist Muslim world to be horrible and disgraceful.

How about you? Who do you sympathize with in that incident? If you think that Christians should be outraged by the Folsom Street image, then I can only assume that you think Muslims should be outraged by The Satanic Verses. And, just as you think the Folsom Street folks were being unnecessarily provocative, rude, and disrespectful to Christianity (and shouldn't have done it, even though they are legally permitted), you probably also think that Rushdie should never have written a provocative, rude, disrespectful book like that. Even though he was commenting on his own culture. Right?

Posted by Spectrum Rider | September 28, 2007 3:02 PM
100

"the Eucharist is intrinsically anti-gay. (Quite the contrary.)" - I was led to that interpretation by your statement that the poster "was ridiculing anti-gay bias." So whose bias is being ridiculed?

"Try this: by putting MODERN archetypes in a well-known historical picture, they are making a comment on MODERN culture and its attitudes towards those archetypes. (Possible message: much of modern culture finds these archetypes profane, but imagine the possibility they are sacred.)"

An archetype is, by definition, always ancient, not modern. Nevertheless if they wanted to comment on archetypes and modern culture an excellent alternative motif was available - Rachael's "The School of Athens" Anything they did in the poster they could have done using that picture as a model - but then again no one would have been offended, hence they wouldn't have achieved what they were after. They would have missed out on the smug conceit of bravery.

"Try this: they thought it was funny."

I did try that - looking at the other entries there were some funny ones - notably the Wizard of Oz one. But of course there aren't any L. Frank Baum fanatics around would would take the bait.

"They have no obligation to work their way through all the modern religions of the world." Certainly not, and I sincerely hope they don't.

"How about you? Who do you sympathize with in that incident?"

Let me summarize my thoughts this way. I consider myself a Christian, and am not personally offended by the poster. I think there are Christian anti-gay bigots and I think there are gay anti-Christian bigots.

I am not offended by sincere, deep, and pointed criticism, so I support Salmon Rushdie, Christopher Hitchins, Richard Dawkins, Ayaan Hirsi Ali...the list goes on. Quite the contrary, I admire brave people who challenge and take great risks.

What I am offended by is childish pride in giving flippant, shallow offense. What I fear is the Balkanization of our society - a pluralistic society is a rare, precious thing, and groups that dance around the edges of gratuitous insults play with fire. When societies unravel everyone suffers.


Posted by Sweating Through Fog | September 28, 2007 4:20 PM
101

Hey, Mary (hee-hee... you might want to go with a different screen name if you're going to make anti-gay posts): the kinksters weren't trying to launch a national campaign to offend what are clearly the only good people in the world, pearl-clutching lock-kneed sexophobes. It's a local poster for a local event. People in San Francisco, we don't care. We moved here to get away from you people. Had various PC-LK-SPs not taken up the poster and written press releases about it, you could go to bed tonight with your fragile faith untested. So if you're offended, blame Michelle Malkin for shoving a local poster for a local event in your face, not the outrageously hot models or clever designer.

Anyhoo, I love the way all those sites described Folsom as "a gay block party." San Francisco has several gay block parties, but this is not one of them. Come on, pearl clutchers! Straights should be condemned for any non-vanilla urges, too, right? Are you listening, Reverend Ted? Oh, I guess he wasn't straight.

Posted by cornucrapia | September 28, 2007 5:03 PM
102

Where Dan Savage (not his real last name, mind you) misses the point entirely (no, this shouldn't surprise anyone) is that it is the intent and the intention behind the Folsom Last Supper image.

Much like the intent behind the killing of Matthew Sheppard that made it a hate-crime, (more serious than if he had not been gay), it is the intent and intention of the Folsom image, not so much the image itself.

I am surprised that someone like Dan is not aware of this, since homos are supposed to be so "in tune" to unintended intentions and the unspoken real meaning behind things. What is like, Dan, to be such an obvious hypocrite and grandstanding poser? Oh, Dan will never answer, he can't, he can only spout hatred.

Dan lies about his age too. Just so you know.

Posted by baboothegreat | September 28, 2007 5:30 PM
103

Where Dan Savage (not his real last name, mind you) misses the point entirely (no, this shouldn't surprise anyone) is that it is the intent and the intention behind the Folsom Last Supper image.

Much like the intent behind the killing of Matthew Sheppard that made it a hate-crime, (more serious than if he had not been gay), it is the intent and intention of the Folsom image, not so much the image itself.

I am surprised that someone like Dan is not aware of this, since homos are supposed to be so "in tune" to unintended intentions and the unspoken real meaning behind things. What is like, Dan, to be such an obvious hypocrite and grandstanding poser? Oh, Dan will never answer, he can't, he can only spout hatred.

Dan lies about his age too. Just so you know.

Posted by baboothegreat | September 28, 2007 5:31 PM
104

Yes, I lie about my age -- often, and gleefully. This is a secret? I've been writing "Savage Love" for 16 years; the last time I gave my age in the column I claimed to be 27. Yeah, I'm trying to fool people.

And my name isn't Savage? That's going to come as a shock to my Dad, Bill Savage, my brothers, Billy and Eddie Savage, my sister, Laura Savage, and all the rest of the Savages back in Chicago.

I'm not sure what accusing me of lying about my age and name -- even if I did so with the intent to mislead -- gets you, babs.

And, come on, are you comparing the kidnapping, torture, and murder of a gay kid with a poster? This is a hate crime? Your skin's so thin you must bleed in the rain, kiddo.

Posted by Dan Savage | September 28, 2007 9:01 PM
105

An Irish gaming website, Paddy Power, has an advert for their site which shows the Last Supper table as having several card games and a roulette wheel. Jesus has a huge load of chips.

http://www.pp-gallery.com/landscape.php

or

http://www.pp-gallery.com/display.php?id=72

That, too, caused protests and outrage when it was displayed on posters (in Ireland).

Paddy Power has taken down its Last Supper posters around Dublin and replaced them with ones reading: "There's a place for fun and games. Apparently this isn't it."
Posted by Owlmirror | September 29, 2007 1:09 PM
106

So then Dan, you are not offended at all, or think it is in bad taste, that God Hates Fags has a animated gif of Matthew Shepard's head in flames in a representation of him burning in hell? That is equally in bad taste as the the Folsom Last Supper.

Let's not forget that "words kill=hate crimes" is based on intent. But no, don't address the "intent", Dan, just change the subject and ignore the intent. Maybe you're just not intelligent enough to understand the whole "intent" of it all. I am not surprised.

Posted by baboothegreat | September 29, 2007 6:36 PM
107

Here's another one with fast food icons, but you can get it on a t-shirt. (They're out right now, but sign up for a reprint if you must.) http://www.threadless.com/product/278/The_Fast_Supper

Posted by L | September 29, 2007 7:30 PM
108

Dude, you've got me SO beat on this one! Congrats, love ALL the images you've dug up.

Posted by Alexander | September 29, 2007 8:06 PM
109

OT but in the last one,just under update six,on the far right,is that a klingon?

Posted by monkeyspanker | September 30, 2007 12:59 PM
110

George Harrison dot com
Living In The Material World

Posted by NG | September 30, 2007 9:15 PM
111

Here's another one, this time for a club night called Poptastic some years ago.
http://shlomp.com/portfolio/?t=print&c=poptastic&p=poptastic-6th-birthday

Posted by Last Slapper! | October 1, 2007 7:06 AM
112

Thanks for the link Dan - you found even more versions than I did. It's such an iconic image it just lends itself to parody. What I love is who gets chosen as the Judas to the Christ figure.

Posted by Jeremy Barker | October 1, 2007 7:25 AM
113

Hope I'm not too late for this. Here's a version of some male models last supper I just found when I was cleaning my temp files folder but I can't remember where I got it from:

http://zedadam.googlepages.com/male-model-last-supper.jpg

Posted by Zed | October 2, 2007 12:16 AM
114

The folsom poster is very appropriate and on topic. Maybe that's why the Christians are so angry, because they are caught red handed. Jesus sharing his own flesh and blood, sacrificing himself on the command of his dominant father and all trusting in this same father that the Big Master will keep things in his hand and ultimately take loving care of his slaves. Even betrayal (ordered betrayal by Judas, fine example of role play) is in the story. If that isn't SM, I don't know what is!

Posted by Johan Holtkuile | October 2, 2007 1:00 PM
115

You might have already seen this weird juxtaposition of The Last Supper with the Alice in Wonderland mad tea party with conpiracy imagery as a commentary on current political climate:

The Mad Tea Party by Mark Bryan

If THAT doesn't get religious people upset, I can't imagine what would.

Posted by Nomen Nescio | October 2, 2007 10:39 PM
116

People like "Mary" who are supposed Christians wouldn't even know about posters like this if they weren't out looking for things to complain about. the gay community has only ever been damaged BRUTALLY by the christian right which is not very christ like! Mary stay out of our neighborhood. you don't see us at your pta meetings or church gatherings so piss off and leave us to our opinions and our expressions!

Posted by Michael Fontana | October 3, 2007 11:02 AM
117

People like "Mary" who are supposed Christians wouldn't even know about posters like this if they weren't out looking for things to complain about. the gay community has only ever been damaged BRUTALLY by the christian right which is not very christ like! Mary stay out of our neighborhood. you don't see us at your pta meetings or church gatherings so piss off and leave us to our opinions and our expressions!

Posted by Michael Fontana | October 3, 2007 11:03 AM
118

People like "Mary" who are supposed Christians wouldn't even know about posters like this if they weren't out looking for things to complain about. the gay community has only ever been damaged BRUTALLY by the christian right which is not very christ like! Mary stay out of our neighborhood. you don't see us at your pta meetings or church gatherings so piss off and leave us to our opinions and our expressions!

Posted by Michael Fontana | October 3, 2007 11:03 AM
119

Artist/photographer Elisabeth Ohlson's Ecce Homo exhibit (1998) featured a "last supper" that cause significant controversy in Sweden and Europe. The dead pope cancelled a meeting with the Archbishop of Uppsala over it!
You might want to borrow the picture from the website above to add to your impressive collection.

Posted by Philipp' of Sweden | October 4, 2007 1:30 PM
120
Posted by nik | October 8, 2007 5:34 AM

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