RESPONSE to Yasmeen's post: Labels of Love

HyPEACErisy...

Yasmeen, you made an interesting point when you said: “Faith and products are things that make us feel complete as human beings; it makes us feel like we’re part of something.” This got me thinking of the 1960s and the many that were indeed part of something, such as protests against the Vietnam war. With this, was the rise of the peace sign and the double fingered symbol that represented the hope of an end to war/violence and beginning of the endless preaching of love.

In the 21st century, this same symbol has now become marketable. Peace signs are everywhere! On t-shirts, bags, pencil cases, jackets, glasses, jewelry, etc. Theologically speaking, there is hope that consumers of these peace-products really do act peaceful, but most of the time this is probably not the case. The "desire to be apart of something" that you mentioned, has made some consumers hypocrites. The indulgence in the latest trend is reflected upon more than the symbol itself. Clothing is not bought for quality, but rather for the design or brand name on it.

Some may see this marketed symbol as a good thing because it is a daily reminder of a value that can only bring good. However, does everyone who owns a product with a peace sign on it genuinely understand the meaning of peace? What is the purpose of owning something with a peace sign on it? For some, it can be for personal reflection, or means to advertise a positive value. For others, it is just a way to fit in with the latest trend.

I have been witness to some mistaking the peace sign for the mercedes-benz symbol...

........... 

Is this satire? Will the symbol of peace evolve into one that stands for a shiny, expensive car? This mistake represents our oblivious consumption of advertisements and that most consumers are blinded out of taking real meaning out of what they purchase.

Mass Replication

           The commodification of art is definitely a big topic in terms of popular culture, because "art" is the main product. Anything created by various media (television, radio, film, etc.) is seen as an artful object that has a sole purpose: to make money. However, the amount of money that is profited is not the only focus of this commodification. Mass replication is perhaps the most important because of the increased consumerism that it brings. Products of media have become greatly accessible in the 21st century. 

For example, one can now find an online 360 degree virtual tour of the Sistine Chapel. 

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/index.html

For years, people have travelled around the world to see the Chapel and now it is just a mouse click away!

What does this do to the art in the chapel and the chapel itself? It takes away the aura. The site attempts to create some sort of atmosphere while playing church choir music in the background. Even though the image may be replicated, the aura cannot. Visiting a place like the Sistine Chapel gives a sort of unexplainable religious experience because of the presence of history it holds. History can easily be replicated through text on a computer screen, but art (specifically painting in this case) offers much more than just the visual.

*SIDE NOTE: To explain this link between art and religious experience, I would like to share the amazing opportunity I had to see Leonardo DaVinci’s famous “Last Supper” painting. When I entered the room and laid eyes on the painting for the first time, it seemed as though each person in the painting was alive, especially Jesus Christ. I felt a presence within me as I looked at this painting. I decided to take off my seeing glasses so that I could look at the painting through my naked eye, and even through blurred vision I still felt as though I was in the presence of something so sacred that was one of, if not, the greatest representations of Jesus Christ with his disciples at his last supper.

Furthermore, what does this accessibility of art do to us as consumers? Does our appreciation of art falter? Google has launched an art project (www.googleartproject.com) that has virtual tours of various museums around the world, with extreme close up photographs of paintings. This accesibility certainly takes away from the element of surprise at seeing something for the first time, but the aura of the original art is not just simply diminished because there are photos of it on a computer. That atmosphere is still there, but cannot be experienced in the same way through a computer screen.

RESPONSE to Marica's post: "Twilight Characters Manifesting the Saviour Mode"

         Marica, I’m glad you brought up Twilight in this post. Even though I am not a diehard fan of the series, I still find some representations in the stories to be interesting. I agree with you on your claim that there is presence of the saviour modes; however, when referencing Twilight, I think it is crucial that the element of the supernatural is addressed.

You claimed that Edward Cullen has Christ-like qualities because he is represented through the saviour mode,

But what about the fact that he is a vampire? 

This is an ironic contradiction. Vampires and Christian qualities are not stereotypically seen to be together. Even though Edward is seen as a "good vampire" because he rescues Bella through violent conditions, he still is tempted by his vampire instincts to hurt her. There is an example of this when Edward kisses Bella for the first time, and tests out his limits:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RGO8RG3onWg

He eventually has to back off because he feels his vampire desires overcome him. He is battling between good (his control of himself and consideration of Bella’s safety) and evil (his vampire temptations). This reminded me of the story of Adam and Eve and the forbidden fruit. Bella is Edward’s forbidden fruit; she is a temptation that brings out his evil vampire instincts. It is hard for Edward to kiss Bella because of this. He is afraid that the evil within him will hurt her.

On the cover of the first book, there is a pair of hands holding an apple, which can be seen as the forbidden fruit. Twilight expresses the fact that it is still possible to find Christian elements within a story that has supernatural characters.

I also find that Edward, as a christ-like figure, is sexualized through the desire that he has for Bella. He is not just a friend that is there so save her in hard situations, he wants to be her lover too. He is tempted by her to take the risk in loving an immortal human being. This dangerous, courageous, strong and handsome character is desired by Twilight fans, who want a boy just like Edward to call their own.

Vampire? Christ-like? or the next teen heart throb? I think that Edward Cullen is all in one.