Mr Greenwood's Crucifixion

[poliphilo]

It was the last holiday we took en famille- my parents, my sister, myself. I forget exactly how old I was. Nineteen, twenty- something like that. I filmed proceedings on my dad's old 8mm camera because those were the days when I thought I was Jean Luc Godard. When I edited the film I left all the shots of myself on the cutting room floor except for a close-up at the end which I thought was a nice, auteurish touch. My mother thought it was wankerish (not language she'd have ever used) but then she never understood me...

I'm remembering all this because today is Good Friday and that was the holiday that took us to Colmar and I got to stand in front of Matthias Grunewald's Isenheimer altarpiece with it's central panel of the crucifixion- the most graphic image of a brutalised human body in all western art. 

(That is, until Mel Gibson came along)



Here's a close-up. Horrid, isn't it?

My mother didn't like it. I did. I liked it lots. 

But now?  But now I see it as manipulative.

Grunewald's trying to get to us.  He's pushing buttons. Sex. Transgression. Guilt.   Especially guilt.  You did this to Jesus, Jesus did this for you: don't you think you should be feeling really bad about yourself?

(And while you're in this mood, how about giving us some money?)

You see,  I've been a Christian preacher. I know how the system works. 

My German is rudimentary, but doesn't Grunewald translate as Greenwood?

Mr Greenwood's crucifixion.  Ha!

Comments

I've been a Christian preacher. I know how the system works

[baritonejeff.livejournal.com]

That's how THAT system works.

You've taught me something today. Something about myself.

At this stage in my life, I didn't think I was thin-skinned enough to find myself offended by a statement like this, but, apparently, I am.

And, BTW, "Greenwood" *is* a valid translation of the German.

[glitzfrau.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right, it's Greenwood. Sebald (him again!) writes about the painting and the painter in his giant long poem After Nature. It's a really touching and disturbing passage; you should read it.

[aellia.livejournal.com]

I don't think I ever felt guilt. I knew that it wasn't me who did it. Just as I don't feel guilty about the slave trade. It wasn't me who did it.
I used to feel incredibly sad for Mary.

[shullie.livejournal.com]

I find the picture/painting and Gibsons film... and the whoe homoertocism surround it fcinating, though it always makes me smile that admids that horrendous image of the broken beaten figure they still have to hide his humanity, his genitalia...

The guilt is a big factor.... which is what Gibson actually said, he wanted people to see what 'Christ' had to go through physically for them (I may have aparaphased here). heap it on!!!

As for being the other side... well I know exactly what you mean.. though I think the financial aspect of it all has wained, as Christmas is now the big deeper in pocket festival for retail and the church.

I could write loads even essays/papers on the image and Mary's reactions to it...lol.. hey I have!!!

I always prefered Easter to Christmas when I was a Christian, was more deeper and more meaningful...

[besideserato.livejournal.com]

It's so amazing to me how religious the US is in comparison to Peru. Catholic shame and repression has NOTHING on this country's Bible-thumping. It annoys the living hell out of me. If another person says he or she is going to pray for me, I will hang myself, I swear to GOD.

That was a bit off-topic, now, wasn't it? I really do like the altarpiece, however, it's a very dramatic portrayal. I like it most because it's silent and it doesn't tell you its prayed or died for you. It just sits there on the altar to be taken as you Will. As it should--free will, is, after all, the greatest gift from God.