When Lady Gaga was accused of being a member of the illuminati and is a "messenger" of cultic messages, her die hard fans were quick to respond and deny the claim.
When images of Jesus (or should I say Catholic faith) were "desecrated", well, what do you expect? Devotees shamelessly and barbarically act to denounce it (as if they did not learn anything from the teachings of Jesus).
I am in no position to talk about religion as I am a sinner and never a saint. But just like what I have mentioned in Kay's Blog (Amvagueities), I think the root of all problem is...well...RELIGION itself.
If I am not mistaken, I don't think Jesus made mention about religion as the way to salvation (unless of course we treat the personal pronouns "I" and "me" in John 14:6, which refers to Jesus, as "religion")
The recent controversial Kulo exhibit at the Cultural Center of the Philippines proved a lot of facts about Filipinos in relation to thinking, culture, beliefs, temperament, among others. So many that I will just try to present them as briefly and clearly as I can in this post.
1. The Filipino and the Art of Thinking
Noynoy is correct when he said that there is no absolute freedom. The artists cannot expect the people to accept their art, but in the same way, the people do not have the right to destroy other people's work just because they don't like it. (If liking and disliking is easy as a push of that button, then think again, because reality is beyond Facebook.) M. Cruz's creation could be really offensive, but what's the difference with what other people did by vandalizing and trying to set the exhibit on fire (to no avail)? From these series of events, we realize how Filipinos think: impulsive and critical (as in skeptic) rather than meditative and analytical. I admit that my initial reaction was negative as well, and it took a lot of discussions via text with Kay for me to realize a number of things. (Thus, the late post.)
2. The Filipino and the Art of Appreciating Art
"Art can be beautiful it can be ugly...If it's always good, it's propaganda"-Prof. Jose Alberto Tanedo, UP College of Fine Arts (Prof. Tanedo on Art)
I think Prof. Tanedo said it clear enough: we cannot just have everything beautiful, simply because this world is a world of perspectives. What's beautiful to me may not be beautiful to you, and what's morally upright to you may not be morally upright to me. I think Filipinos are locked in the idea that Art is "beautiful". Let's remind ourselves that the Spoliarium is never "beautiful". It's horrendous, in fact. But today, we see it as an art worthy of national praise. I like the last part of Prof Tanedo's statement. True enough, if everything given to us appears beautiful and good, then that's dangerous. Even Jesus told His disciples that the tasks ahead are never smooth. (Matthew 24:9). Bottom line is that Jesus never said that our lives in this world will be full of happiness and beauty. It only becomes beautiful once we have accepted him us our Lord and Savior and begin to see bad things as good things. I am not an Art Scholar or an Art Critique, but I guess we have to go back to basics, for someone to say that something is beautiful, he/she has to explain and rationalize. Beauty is relative.
3. The Filipino and the Art of Overacting
Whatever it is that came into the minds of the vandals, and Dr. Chua when he said, "Hindi gawa ng Pilipino yan! Gawa yan ng Demonyo!" I think it's plain overacting. I believe the reason of CCP for putting up an open forum is to be able to open up ideas and clarify issues (and not begin a shouting match). Sadly, even the most professionals of professionals return to savagery because of emotional imbalance leading to what we commonly know as Overacting. A Black Nazarene devotee even ranted something unchristian because of her overacting, "Hindi namin sya mapapatawad...isa itong kabastusan sa aming...replica" (See: CCP shuts down Kulo) I strongly suggest that she reviews the Bible as it teaches the most basic act of "forgiving". Most of us thinks that because we devoutly do what we traditionally do, God favors us. We forget that it's not about religion, it's about relationship with Jesus. She said it herself...it's a...well....REPLICA.
4. The Filipino and the Art of Forgetting
I'd like to end this lengthy blog with a reminder: Exodus 20:4 "You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below." We seem to have forgotten this 2nd commandment from God. Aren't we supposed to be worshipping Jesus and not His "replicas"? So what if a "good for nothing" artist lambasts the replica, does it destroy your faith? Does it destroy your God? If yes, check your faith. The last time I checked, Jesus is in my heart...not in CCP...and never in your altars.
***
The effects and controversies it reaped reflect how shallow the Filipino faith is...or shall i say fanaticism?
2 comments:
uhm,sir?
is that really you?
we all miss u and we want you to know that being an English major is not the same without you....
this is the first time I've read your blog sir. :)
Post a Comment