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© 2009 - Ben Heine
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(High resolution version of this image, for
printing purposes, available here)
What you say about the importance of Jesus in your life is really moving and I respect it totally. I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings. I'm not far from thinking the same about this great half God, half man creature.
But I really think you didn't get the real meaning of my illustration.
Not everybody is as close to Jesus as you are. In our modern times and societies, Jesus often remains an "abstract concept". In this specific illustration, my aim was to "humanize" Jesus.
If Jesus had been alive now, don't you think he would have praised condoms' use? I think he would have done so. Because, condoms save life and wearing/using them is a proof of mutual respect (when there are potential risks in a sexual relation).
In the context of what the Pope said during his trip to Africa, I could only depict God or Jesus as they are the highest level before the Pope in the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.
Like you, I believe Jesus is somehow alive and among us. Many people are just too blind to see him.
As an artist, I'm not supposed not to cross sacred red lines, may they be political or religious ones, I'm supposed to be a reflection of the society and the world we live in.
The Headache of Censorship
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By CapnJon
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Ben and myself have been in communication, so I present you his side of the story, and I quote,
"Actually, I think I uploaded the Christ/Condom illustration about 4 times, they deleted it every time with a note saying that the decision had been taken by a DA admin.
I then realized that they closed my account and that it would last 7 days. So I sent them a bunch of crazy emails to show my anger and frustration... A few minutes after I sent these emails, my page was permanently banned, without warnings.
I wish I could come back, because DA offers a great visibility for us artists/activists but I'm not sure that it will be possible. We'll see." And indeed I suppose we will.
However, during our communications with each other, I also was talking with administrators and learning about the process of being banned. I tried to learn what I could, and from what I understand, (forgive me if I am mistaken, as I'm quite new to this site) an administrator can ban anyone they want to, as long as they get a report in regards to the artists in questions artwork. Having not known this information, I have to say that I'm a bit taken aback.
Whenever artwork is hidden, I usually think it is because it lacks serious artistic merit. For example, you shouldn't (nor do I) expect blatant pornography on this website, and I commend our administrators for that. However, there have been some exceptions to this, such as Ben's work. The intention of the piece in question was to cause a stir about a comment the pope made about condoms and their use. Personally I was offended at what the pope said, so I welcomed Ben's submission and indeed had a good laugh at it. But further analysis of the piece shows that it also brings Jesus Christ into a more human aspect, and while it is both quite amusing to look at a glance, it also was much, much deeper. So when I learned it was deleted, I was shocked. At first I thought "why would they delete such an important and relevant piece of artwork? Ben had followed correct procedures, he has done no wrong. Why would this happen?"
Then, I came to realize something. While I am not only in awe of how the administrators maintain the site, I also learned that they are a bit biased. Bias is unavoidable, so I do not want to blast administrators for having their own beliefs, merely that they wield a position of much greater power than the rest of us Deviants, and this inherent bias causes an issue with something: censorship. No matter how good the administrator, I feel as though they cannot avoid this issue, and the issues that censoring an artist causes. First off, when an artist of note is censored, the community goes into an uproar. After all, who wants to see someone they not only look up to but aspire to be like being censored. It is like swatting a beehive with a baseball bat, the end result is a painful mess. However, this also brings to point artists who aren't big that are censored. As you may know, Deviant art is a massive website, and that is why I joined. It's a great way to market oneself and make a name in the creative world. But when an artist is censored, it is essentially cutting them off from communication with millions of other users here on this website. Then, there comes the petitions, voter polls, personal notes (some not worded the nicest mind you) and emails.
Putting myself in an administrators shoes, this becomes a living nightmare. Not only these petitions, but spammers, and the artists who are marketing art that is not their own, and those who make little of artistic merit are still out there on Deviant Art, and I have to ask myself, "How do the administrators do it? It's enough to drive a person insane!"
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Hello DQ members, as I expected it, my illustration "God is Love - Use Condoms" has been deleted and censored by DeviantArt. So I uploaded it again with a "mature content" filter. It was deleted again! A few hours later, I was banned permanently...
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See what DeviantArt is, it allows huge collections of images with genitals everywhere but not a little drawing defying the Establishment... I find this pitiful. It seems that political art doesn't have its place on this "Big Brother" site. How does DA dare to call itself "Deviant" then?!
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Anyway, I send this mail to suggest you to not open an account on DeviantArt as something like that could happen to you too. Ok, this is a shocking cartoon, but hey, it will never be as shocking as what the Pope said in his plane to Africa...
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If you support individual freedom of expression, I beg you to post this image on your site, download it in high resolution, print it, etc, so that it can be seen by more people,
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thanks,
Ben
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It is well know to many of us who produce art in support of Palestinians that members of the DeviantArt community selectively attack such works as ‘anti-Semitic’ to have them censored and removed by the DeviantArt administration. Generally, we have been able to counter these attacks by Zionists by simply designating our works as ‘mature due to sensitive subject’ labels. This makes the removal of Ben’s work all the more baffling.
As Ben stated, he even labeled his art as ‘mature’ only to find it still removed. Shame on you DeviantArt! Simple searching of the DeviantArt site will uncover many images of male and female nudity with questionable or obvious lack of artistic merit. I’ve seen some photographs that wouldn’t even reach the level of bad pornography of the amateur kind.
Ben’s censored image is not questionable in any way by a rational mind. His statement is obvious concerning the Catholic Pope’s recent ridiculous statements about condom use in Africa. Unfortunately, the Pope has every right to make dangerous and misleading statements but it is also an artist’s right to respond.
DeviantArt’s actions in several areas like ‘sensitivity’ to Zionist complaints and the type of blatant censorship against Ben should make us all reconsider our association with the DeviantArt site. Maybe we should leave DeviantArt to bad Goth photography and horribly amateur, anime doodlers.
* As I was preparing the hyperlinks for this post, I became aware that Ben Heine’s DeviantArt page is empty due to “This person has been banned from deviantART permanently.”
This action gives me one more reason to delete my own account. I believe it is time to create a site of my own that will showcase editorial art that terrifies the main stream media.
* * *
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By Juan E. Drault
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But if you decide for us, and you throw away not only the illustration but the whole gallery of Ben Heine that I enjoyed very much, then I found your action unacceptable. No way that you can justify yourself by using your Service Terms, and say "he accepted those terms and that´s the end of the conversation", your Service Terms actually allow you to ban whatever and whoever you want: "obscene, offensive, blasphemous, pornographic, unlawful, threatening, menacing, abusive, harmful, an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, illegal or otherwise objectionable;"
Using these terms, and based on your decision for ben, many other images on DeviantArt with God or Jesus would then be violating these Service Terms, like for instance "God is dj".
And if you keep looking you will find a shocking poem from Nekotal at http://nekotal.deviantart.com/art/god-razor-17590904. Below this poem, you will find a commenter saying "it's scary" just beside another user's comment saying "it's beautiful". So, that´s my point. That´s subjectivity, and that´s a freedom act. That´s what art produces.
I know Ben, and he is constantly defending human rights, defending life, and that´s why I invited him to support the World March for Peace and Nonviolence, and he immediately accepted, he is there in the list beside many other personalities. He is a very valuable person, committed with actions for a better world. "God is Love - Use Condoms" intends to defend the life of Africans that are dying of AIDS, tons of them, and hundred of organizations are trying since many years to help teenagers to understand the HIV risk and to make them use condoms, but the Pope in a violent act of ignorance just imposed his dogmatic vision. Your action is somehow the very same, a subjective vision of what is good and what is evil.
I ask you to restore Ben´s account, and I suggest to review your Service Terms.
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Big Brother is on the Ride Again...
By Zoran Matić Mazos
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This happened because of the last illustration he posted, depicting a crucified Jesus wearing a condom. The message, stated clearly, was "GOD IS LOVE. USE CONDOMS." Initially they made him put a "mature content" flag, and this is (not by my standards) somewhat understandable. Then they deleted the image again and Ben put it on a second time. Then: permanently banned.
This is NOT a matter of religion or blasphemy. In my personal dictionary, "GOD IS LOVE" is, more or less, what poor Jesus said preaching during all his short 33-years-span of mundane life. And it is NOT "hate art", because the image was expressing the doubts (shared by millions of people) on what Benedictus the Sixteenth stated about the use of condoms in a world chock-full of AIDS victims and unwanted children (who, after some year, usually die from starvation while Benedictus and the likes of him spend time polishing their jewelry).
So, it's NOT blasphemy and it's NOT hate art. Let's read the terms of service: DA can delete images "obscene, offensive, blasphemous, pornographic, unlawful, threatening, menacing, abusive, harmful, an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, illegal or otherwise objectionable".
Hmm... let's see: in fact, they can delete more or less what they want. Shucks: no need to be Plato to invent a dialectic gizmo by which insert any unwanted image in one of the above categories.
And, with this, as a surplus, all us deviants and DA lose one of the most reknown modern illustrators and won't be able to see his works here anymore?
I wonder where the meanings of "deviant" and "art" are, right now.
Congrats.
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Tonight Belgian artist and cartoonist Ben Heine has been completely banned from http://benheine.deviantart.com/ for his cartoon (the one here reproduced) "God is Love. Use condoms". The full size cartoon that Ben created in response to a recent statement by Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to Africa: "One cannot overcome the problem of AIDS with the distribution of condoms," the pope told reporters on the plane. "On the contrary, they increase the problem". Can be see on Ben Heine's blog at.
Ben is a great artist, cartoonist and illustrator. He can be (this is part of his work) highly provoking, but he never lacks of touch, elegance and style. To ban his artistic works as they were pornographic is highly offensive for the artist and for all of those who like and can fully appreciate his work.
Ok, Whatever we accept the concept of his art or not, DA has to respect everyone's right to express his thoughts using their Art. And they have to stop the double standards they're doing here.
Plz, Let's unite, and stand against these double standards. Support Ben by spreading the story, writing a journal, or whatever. Thank You everyone. Peace & Solidarity.
Ben Heine censurado
por DeviantArt
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Esquina Montevideo para Rebelion.org
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El motivo fue la ilustración de Ben que acompaña este post y que fue realizada como respuesta a las declaraciones del Papa en Africa, el pasado marzo, acerca del uso del condón. Claro, este último tiene el privilegio de no ser censurado y mucho menos llevado a juicio cuando hace declaraciones engañosas y peligrosas.
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Ben, hizo uso de su derecho a responder con su arte a las nefastas declaraciones del Pontífice. Una vez más, el arte político y comprometido es censurado por los perros guardianes de este sistema. Por suerte para todos, este tipo de acciones no lograrán silenciar la forma de expresarse de Benjamin, ni de otros que como él ponen su arte al servicio de los “sin voz”, al decir de Eduardo Galeano.
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Desde esta Esquina, enviamos toda nuestra solidaridad a Ben y convocamos a nuestros lectores y amigos a boicotear la página de DeviantArt, como forma de protestar por la flagrante censura que ejercieron contra este magnífico artista.
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Hi Ben!
I am a fellow artist on DA, and was told by Doublecrash of your banning for “God is Love”.
I believe your artwork is very important and I myself am getting more and more political in my work. I’ve seen your work on your Blog page.
I don’t think that DA should be banning images that have a powerful message in these chaotic political times. I don’t like that they think they can apply the rules without considering each piece carefully. I also don’t like the terminology they use when noting people about removing artwork. I recently got one – the terms “violation” and “reported” makes an artist feel like a criminal. All they had to do was note me and ask me to remove it. They are unnecessarily heavy-handed, and I think power has gone to their heads a bit.
You are a very talented artist and have a powerful voice, and to be banned on an art site is a disgrace. I think you are a good example to learn from, and doing this would serve all other artists on DA in regards to’ freedom of speech’. Artists don’t just make pretty pictures to hang in homes, they express views that need to be discussed. Art has always been and will always be controversial, and DA has to get used to that fact. Also leaving up ‘hate’ images and pornographic images tells me that the DA admins aren’t necessarily the experts in such matters. I have a degree in Visual Art and I know the Uni lecturers I studied with would consider your art very important. DA just doesn’t have a clue.
Cheers, Ben!
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Hi Ben,
This is Mingu444 from DeviantART, in case you're wondering. Hey .. I just saw that you were banned there, and I wanted to tell you how incredibly bummed out I am for you and for that community. I knew there would be a reaction to one or two of your latest drawings, but I wasn't expecting that harsh of a response, and I really disagree with it.
In the spirit of full disclosure, I should tell you that I'm Catholic ... not born and bred, but a later in life conversion. I'm only telling you that to say that while some of the images you drew were certainly provocative in their own way, I know that your intention is to make a point that you feel strongly about, and I find no offense in it.
I think you're a brilliant artist and a very intelligent human being. I'll miss seeing your work at DA, but I'll visit your personal website for updates, and if you don't mind I've added you to my contacts list here. Take care, Ben ... I wish you all the best.
Kat
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Hey Ben,
Yeah, DA is running biased policy.
This site allowing genitals photo around, but banning yours. This site allowing blood nudity photo but banning Palestine war journalism photo in the name of 'sadistic-blood artwork violation'. This site allowing using any 'google' photo to be vector traced, or manip, and reproduced as derived artwork, but they will banning any 'google' photo that reproduced to support Palestine in the name of 'copyright violation' --eventhough they havent checked/confirm it to the artist itself. This site allowed clearly copyrighted materials subject from anime, manga, games that just having minor editing to be submitted as an fan-artwork, but they will easilly give you art-thief label to you if you do this kind activity to produce anti-Israeli occupation artwork.
They even deleted journals. NMI write a report about Gaza situation in their journal, but then they deleted it. NMI use the journal feature to publish war-journalism, but they dont like it. So why is this feature named 'journal'?
In last February, I had 5 of my artwork deleted, because of "Copyright Violation", 1 highly popular (traffic bringer), 3 is Palestine related artwork, and 1 Capitalism critic. And several days later they sent me a nice note telling me that I'm an art thief.
This kind of situation is the one which make lazy to produce artworks to be submitted to DA. I'm lucky enough that I havent been banned yet. But I think someday it will. When I 'gave-up' to be vocal in DA, I see theres 3 'vocalist' that could maintain the protest, that is Latuff, Baldinger and you. But this time they banned you. So there's only 2 left.
I cannot draw, so I use photo to give illustration of message in my artworks. And this is the 'hole' they were extreemly happy to 'exploit'. But you. You can produce your artworks independently without using any copyrighted materials, so they cannot 'exploit' you from copyright policy. You tends to silence and passive when the anti-Palestine provoked you, so they cannot trapped you to fall into 'etiquette policy'. And when you upload your latest artwork, they think this is the right time to 'get rid of you once and for all' [evil-laugh background voice]. And there you go: banned.
Best regards,
Lahandi
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Dear Ben,
I support you all the way to say your opinion without any censorship or supervision.
I am not Catholic or even religious, but the most shocking thing is not the cartoon but what The Pope said!
I stand with you all the way and I hope this will not stop you to do and say what you mean and what you would think!
Ben, you are not alone !
Nayer
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Simple, but with much expression! The simple ideas are often the best ideas!
I wouldn't go so far like other guys and call the pope a murderer of millions because of his statements, but he definitely destroyed most of the sex education in Africa which was done in the last decades.
It's a true pity. This cartoon might hit some catholic people in their faces, but sometimes it's neccessary.
Thanks for this visual statement, Ben.
Marc
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Totally amazed at this action by DA. Totally appalled as well! Ben's work has been a damn GIFT to this place and they remove it? They do not accept an Adult filter even?
Yet they do allow gory bloody photography and painting that makes one's skin crawl? I love browsing through DA for images and have spent many happy hours and come across some very bizarro stuff.
I am not an artist and do not contribute, but what I can and will do is write tomorrow to whomever I can find to voice my dissatisfaction with this punitive and petty action.
We will not be silenced!
Barbara
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The answer my friend, is blowing in the wind", as Bob Dylan long time ago wrote and sang. But, don't worry, this is not the first and not the last thing like this in our blasphemous World. We are heading towards its end by doing this kind of censorship as well.
I am a Muslim from Bosnia and Herzegovina but who can tell me the nationality of amebas or ancient cells. Nobody! Continue what are you doing. Let's fight for the World without censorship, hatred and the World in which we would not say that MY GOD IS THE BEST GOD. We all came from the same God but we give him/her different names. If there is, of course, any God at all! Sincerely,
Sabahudin
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I always loved this little story:
High above the Earth, on a cloud, Jesus sits with St-Pierre and wonders if people still remember who he was. So St-Pierre gives him the possibility to go one night on Earth.
Hop, he arrives in a place where there are young and old people, of all shapes and forms, and all cry when they see him : Oh My God, Jesus, Jesus's come !
Very happy and proud, Jesus comes back on his cloud and says, well cool, people still remember who I was !
St-Pierre frowns and confess, well, sorry, but it seems I sent you to a hospital, and people being ill, it's normal, they think about you.
So Jesus makes another experience, this time in a sunny and funny place, full of people of all backgrounds ... who cry just the same.
Again he comes back joyfully, and again St-Pierre frowns, the center being a home for the elders. And being old, blah blah...
The third and last time, Jesus is categoric and wants a place full of young people, modern, amusing themselves...
And hop, he arrives in a kind of nightclub. And well, no need explaining... encounters a cute person and they spend the night together. In the morning Jesus suddenly realizes he didn't ask the most important thing, and before leaving he ask :
- Huh, by the way, do you know who I am ? Sleepily the other answers :
- Hum, well, where you come from, who you are, and all, I really don't know and don't care, but in bed, waow, you make love like a real little God.
Aylin
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Dear Ben, I love you for being banned in DA. Not because I want you out there but because you are a thousand of galaxies.
Tina
* * * * * * * * * * * *
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Thank you all for this most needed support!
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.Deviant Dreaming
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By thepoetryman
Too dirty! Too ungodly!
Too iconic, like some unthinkable
Beast leaping out a child’s throat,
Wielding its claws as switchblades
(Or bullets or bombs),
Planting red lips upon the sleeping,
Bringing innocence to its knees.
Too much, God damn it!
Too rich! Too immeasurable
Like a pedophile’s rancid erection
Penetrating a child’s flaccid faith
Etched within youth’s center;
They’ll choose not to speak of it-
A secret... censored between fleshes.
A voice hollowed out,
Suppressed like a fearless work of art.
Too dirty! Too ungodly! Too iconic!
Who needs such art, such temptation?
(Flesh without cover)
Can’t have the commoners thinking such
Rigid ideas, might cause a mutiny…
Let us have cockle shells
And other silent dreamings;
Not essentials like art and reflection.
No! Too difficult! Too insurmountable;
A child’s dream or a mother’s breast.
Best keep such things under wraps,
Hidden where they belong.
Too filthy! Too profane!
Too iconic like some naughty child
Jumping out the belly of a beast,
Wielding his mind as a paintbrush
(Or a pen or a dance),
Moving his thoughts over the nobility
Bringing them to their knees.
© 2008 mrp/thepoetryman
My Dreams Are Here
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Image above and poem
below by Peter S. Quinn
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My dreams are here in earthly stay
Like corrode on earth to go
In years to come as it all may
Some be lost like others grow
Each dream in roots of desolate
In all their wordless to give
This and that in pleasures made
And futures new to live
Go away! Go away! No-More-Ignorance
Go away! Go away! Give each of us a chance
We are together to bring art out
Love and peace is what it is all about
We artists of every nation
Bringing our love with anticipation
We don't require any Censored Theme
All we want is true art in its mainstream
Let's sing together now for our peace
And making our dreams coming through to please
Let's give hope when there's a cloudy sky
Be alive and true without asking why
Bliss of touching and feelings found
My guessing with moments on
Times that were and are around
When later I will be gone
My flowers given and taken
With ascend to carry age
When heart-strings are re awaken
That gave my roses their weight
Go away! Go away! No-More-Ignorance
Go away! Go away! Give each of us a chance
We are together to bring art out
Love and peace is what it is all about
We artists of every nation
Bringing our love with anticipation
We don't require any Censored Theme
All we want is true art in its mainstream
Let's sing together now for our peace
And making our dreams coming through to please
Let's give hope when there's a cloudy sky
Be alive and true without asking why
No time shall break my seeds to thrive
And grow its bouquet's blossom
When I'm dead I'll still be alive
In the whole lot my work is from
My flowers given and taken
With ascend to carry age
When heart-strings are re awaken
That gave my roses their weight
That gave my roses their weight!
Go away!
We aren’t going to take it anymore
Go away!
We aren’t going to take it anymore
.
.
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Dali Revisited by Willem Rasing.
Nerosunero.
Indikat.
It's a medium that provided opportunities for everyone to participate, discuss and debate issues that concern them. Unlike other media where the information flow is unidirectional - from the government to the masses - the Internet allowed a multi-way communication process giving the chance for anybody to air their opinions and views on issues affecting them.
But now, things didn't seem to go that smoothly... as, websites turned to enjoy the so called "Internet Censorship", according to their own rules, opinions, and decisions.
In this contest, We're asking for artworks works with "Censorship" theme... Artworks that expresses our refusal to these actions... asks for a complete freedom of expression within our profiles, blogs and websites.
He is our guest of honour For this contest.
So if you like Ben's work,
then please spread the word!
If you are against internet censorship,
then please spread the word!




.
>>> See all the submitted works <<< .
Contact No More Ignorance
to submit your works at: No.More.Ignorance@gmail.com




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21 comments:
I always loved this little story.
High above the Earth, on a cloud, Jesus sits with St-Pierre and wonders if people still remember who he was.
So St-Pierre gives him the possibility to go one night on Earth.
Hop, he arrives in a place where there are young and old people, of all shapes and forms, and all cry when they see him : Oh My God, Jesus, Jesus's come !
Very happy and proud, Jesus comes back on his cloud and says, well cool, people still remember who I was !
St-Pierre frowns and confess, well, sorry, but it seems I sent you to a hospital, and people being ill, it's normal, they think about you.
So Jesus makes another experience, this time in a sunny and funny place, full of people of all backgrounds ... who cry just the same.
Again he comes back joyfully, and again St-Pierre frowns, the center being a home for the elders. And being old, blah blah...
The third and last time, Jesus is categoric and wants a place full of young people, modern, amusing themselves ...
And hop, he arrives in a kind of nightclub.
And well, no need explaining ...
encounters a cute person
and they spend the night together.
In the morning Jesus suddenly realizes he didn't ask the most important thing, and before leaving he ask :
-Huh, by the way, do you know who I am ?
Sleepily the other answers :
- Hum, well, where you come from, who you are, and all, I really don't know and don't care, but in bed, waow, you make love like a real little God.
:p
Totally amazed at this action by DA. Totally appalled as well! Ben's work has been a damn GIFT to this place and they remove it? They do not accept an Adult filter even?
Yet they do allow gory bloody photography and painting that makes one's skin crawl? I love browsing through DA for images and have spent many happy hours and come across some very bizarro stuff.
I am not an artist and do not contribute, but what I can and will do is write tomorrow to whomever I can find to voice my dissatisfaction with this punitive and petty action.
We will not be silenced!
Hello Ben:
I want you to know that you count with all my solidariy. I'm not an artist, but i wrotte a post in my blog, so more people can support you.
Thank you for your art and compromise. You are not alone.
Silvia
As a Catholic I found the drawing offensive myself and I kind of feared that the DA mods would spazz over it. It's a damn shame too because I'm such a fan of most of your work. You should have just kept it off of DA the first time and accepted that not everything can be posted.
Remember that Christianity is not the enemy - it's ignorance. However, fighting ignorance requires tools that are not only sharp, but can also be soft enough to allow acceptance. Next time you make your point on the Church's position on condoms, do so with a little more class! That way this won't happen again.
Doro (CodeAires)
I always loved this little story.
High above the Earth, on a cloud, Jesus sits with St-Pierre and wonders if people still remember who he was.
So St-Pierre gives him the possibility to go one night on Earth.
Hop, he arrives in a place where there are young and old people, men and women, and all cry when they see him : Oh My God, Jesus, Jesus's come !
Very happy and proud, Jesus comes back and says, well cool, people still remember who I was !
St-Pierre frowns and confess, well, sorry, but it seems I sent you to a hospital, and people being ill, it's normal, they think about you.
So Jesus makes another experience, this time in a sunny and funny place, full of people of all backgrounds ... who cry just the same.
Again he comes back joyfully, and again St-Pierre frowns, the center being a home for the elders.
The third and last time, Jesus is categoric and wants a place full of young people, modern, amusing themselves ...
And hop, he arrives in a kind of nightclub.
And well, no need explaining ...
encounters a cute person
and well they spend the night together.
In the morning Jesus suddenly realizes he didn't ask the most important thing, and before leaving he ask :
-Huh, by the way, do you know who I am ?
Sleepily the other answers :
- Hum, well, where you come from, who you are, and all, I really don't know and don't care, but in bed, you make love like a real little God.
:p
Nice story, Anonymous... Love love love!
Dear Barbara, thank you for your deeply appreciated support.
It's a big loss for me, especially for the "human network" that I had built there (more than 4 thousands personal contacts, lots of personal and professional messages...).
And DA owes me lots of money, I still had a paid subscription there, and I also sold artworks and calendars on this site, while I only had a real tiny percentage of the benefits (5 or 10%).
I sent them many mails to say they were totally corrupted and didn't consider their artists as human-beings. They banned me for this and for the Christ/Condom cartoon...
Brujita,
thanks a million for your support and your post in Spanish in your blog! Good day to u
Dorotea, please read the updates on my post so you can understand better the purposes of this illustration. And stay in touch
Ben, while I agree that you are an amazing artist and I'm sad you won't be on DA anymore, you have to keep in mind that DA does NOT allow erections in any way, shape, or form. It is strictly against policy. While the picture is truly great, it is against policy and the DA staff acted accordingly. It's not their fault that you posted a picture that is clearly a violation of the rules of the site, a rule they have posted in numerous locations.
Censored: When an idea is repressed by authority.
Censured: When a public official is reprimanded for misconduct at his duties.
Ben,
I don't care that it was against the "posted rules", rigid as they are. I do, however, care that the work is of such import, something I hadn't thought of; Jesus with an erection somehow never crossed my mind. Maybe it's just me...
It is a great (unCodly)piece, dearest Ben!
I rank it at the highest level in its audacity and at the highest level, thus far, of your political works!
You, my friend, have given my muse reason to stay up, or better yet, to keep me up late tonight and into the morning. :>)
Keep pushing the envelope. Keep erecting such visions of delight, hard eye-candy. Of course, if your pushing an envelope, an erection may prove quite useful.
Instead of lobbing any further puns, I shall now retire, with my muse, to the writing room.
Peace...
By the way... I loved the right hand of Jesus showing a peace sign. Nice touch.
This is really interesting topic.
On one hand every artist should have freedom to express themselves and create any art they want. On the other hand some people will always find some of the art offensive in one way or another; I’m sure some will find some of my oil paintings offensive as well.
Here is the dilemma: A public commercial site has ability to reject or accept any artwork at will, so do galleries and so on. Thus, if an artist creates art that doesn’t appeal to people, or even makes them angry, the artist will have hard time displaying their work so the people that do like can see it. In other words to be displayed on a commercial public website an artist have to have a general public acceptance, or in most cases acceptance of the bunch of people that go out of their way to send negative remarks.
On the flip side of that I can understand that any business would like to stay away from any controversial materials, since I think there are more lawyers in USA then artists, and it is just simply ‘bad business’ since they are going for public appeal not against it to drive more customers to their site.
Thus, artists that were not banned and stayed with DA probably benefited from this decision.
This really pulls me apart – one part says Artist should have and must have rights to display their artwork in public on the other hand a business should have and must have right to do what is right for the business.
I do not think there is a right or wrong answer to all this. It is kind of sad however.
http://nines-and-fours.deviantart.com/art/DUMB-mASSES-121518149
Hi! You may remember me, I was LetItWillBe on DA. I now use a different account. I'm a big fan of your work, so when I found out you were banned, I was very pissed.
The above link is a piece of art I deditcated to you.
@ nines & fours: thank you for your creation dedicated to me! Looks great!
Thank u all for your support!
Fantastic article covering some points I really enjoyed. Thanks
my friends must read this story.
Great article. Very interesting.
its so interesting!
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