Officials in a small Michigan town moved a city-approved public sculpture about the importance of relying on one another after residents complained that it was “disgusting” and an “abomination.”…. Mark Chatterley’s “Blue Human Condition” was unveiled near Adrian City Hall last week as part of the city’s public art program. But after objections from residents, officials moved the sculpture to a less visible section of a park on Tuesday. So what’s the issue? Unfortunately, some people missed the “relying on each other” forest for “orgy” trees. After it was installed, the sculpture was dubbed “The Orgy Statue,” according to the Adrian Daily Telegram, presumably for apparent “genital” contact, though the seven figures are sexless.
Having grown up in a small town (less than 1,000 people) in northern Minnesota, I’m not unfamiliar with small-minded people who choose to assume the worst rather than trying to see the good. It’s sad, but there are those in small-town America (and elsewhere) who’d be lost without something to be outraged over. Perhaps it makes them feel relevant, as if by venting their copious indignation, people in decision-making positions are forced to pay attention to them. While it’s true the squeaky wheel gets the grease, it too often happens that squeaky wheels make noise because their frustration and impotence turns them into bullies.
I’ll admit that when I first saw Chatterley’s sculpture it took a moment to grasp the significance of it. My reptile brain defaulted to “Ha! They’re @+#$^%&!!”…until I took a closer look and began to understand what it was really about. Sure, it’s prurient…if you choose to see it that way, but it’s a stretch. Seven sexless figures leaning on one another, with no obvious sexual act depicted. End of story, right?
Except that the screaming ninnies who’d convinced themselves that Chatterley’s work was pornographic weren’t about to stand by while community morals were assaulted. Nosirree, they were going to stand up and make themselves heard…and in so doing revealed themselves to be every bit the ignorant, art-illiterate reactionaries you might suspect them to be.
Of course, the story wouldn’t be complete without the hyper-religious, self-righteous zealots checking in. Cue the righteous, uber-Jesus-y outrage in 4…3…2….
Local pastor Rick Strawcutter of Adrian’s The Church on Bent Oak noted that the statue was installed as the city commission voted in favor of an anti-discrimination ordinance that gives equal rights to LGBT individuals, legislation he said would “enshrine perversion and abomination in a protected status.” The two together show that officials are leading Adrian to Sodom, he explains in a YouTube video, describing various sex acts the figures — he claims they are male — are supposedly engaged in.
“Everybody I know who sees [the sculpture] just feels like it is in itself an abomination,” Strawcutter said in the video.
Evidently the good reverend moves in a small, extremely narrow-minded, and judgmental circle. If you’re predisposed to see sin, licentiousness, and perversion, there’s not much that’ going to keep you from finding it. The idea that Chatterley’s “Blue Human Condition” is in any way promoting perversion, licentiousness, or any other icky sexual behavior is ridiculous. Still, Strawcutter is using the faux controversy to push his ignorance- and fear-based theology. “An abomination?” REALLY? Do any of the figures have sexual organs? Are any of them depicted performing sexual acts? Of course they aren’t, not that the truth will stop the good citizens of Pleasantville for demanding that the “filth” be removed from their midst. Because Lord knows we can’t have anything that makes people think about sex…and we certainly can’t have something that makes people think about (GASP!!! OH, THE HORROR OF IT ALL!!!) gay sex.
As ANY good Christian knows, sex is a dirty, nasty, disgusting business…and gay sex?? Oh, the humanity….
Strawcutter may have convinced himself that Chatterley’s figures are male and that they’re engaged in all manner of sodomy. He’s free to his opinion, of course, just as I’m free to ridicule him for allowing his ignorance and homophobia free reign. And people wonder why I find modern Christianity so disturbing….
This is why we can’t have nice things, y’all.
