Christian group's poetry protest
Around 250 Christian activists have protested outside the Welsh assembly building about a poetry reading.
Patrick Jones was invited by two assembly members to read from his collection Darkness Is Where The Stars Are, which has already led to claims it is "obscene and blasphemous".
Stephen Green, director of Christian Voice, said: "This turnout shows the strength of feeling of people."
Mr Jones was "shocked" by the numbers but said it was good for free speech.
Protesters sang hymns and some held placards before the ticket-only event inside the Senedd building.
Mr Green added: We're seeing the Christian faith attacked on all sides."
"Now it's under attack in a seat of government in the UK."
Nick Bourne, leader of the Welsh Conservatives was at the demonstration, and was asked if he was showing his support.
He replied: "Yes, essentially."
"Our group opposed this {reading] at the home of Welsh democracy, promoting something which is anti-Christian and we would say that if it was any recognised religion."
Mr Jones was asked by Labour AM Lorraine Barrett and Liberal Democrat AM Peter Black, who said he wanted to make sure the poet was not "gagged".
"I think this is a good day for democracy. We've head both sides - Patrick has had his poetry reading and it's also important for people to be able to make their views known."
One of the poems that has offended Christians, called Hymn, includes a reference to Mary Magdalene having sex with Jesus. It was read by an actress Stacey Daley, from Newport.
Mr Jones is the brother of Nicky Wire, of the Manic Street Preachers.
A books-signing launch event was cancelled at a Cardiff branch of Waterstone's last month after an earlier protest was planned.
He signed copies of the collection of 30 to 40 poems in the street instead.
Mr Jones, who has said he is "really proud" of the book said after the protest: "I was really shocked at the turnout and I think that's healthy for democracy but I don't think many of them have read the poem.
"A bit of a moral panic has been created but what happened at Waterstone's set a dangerous precedent."
He insisted he had not singled out Christianity in his poems, but was questioning beliefs in society.
Mr Green said: "I didn't want to get party political about this, but I've had a number of letters of support from members of the assembly.
"The Conservative group has come out against this locally and many Plaid Cymru members have too.
"I am not taking sides, I'm just telling it how it is."
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7777157.stm
Published: 2008/12/11 13:02:30 GMT
© BBC MMVIII
Print Sponsor
http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/7777157.stm?ad=1
2008/12/19
Darkness Is Where The Stars Are-Blasphemy
Poetry launch cancelled after Christian protest
13 Nov 08, 10:04 AM
The launch of a new book of poems in the Waterstone's bookstore in Cardiff has been cancelled because a conservative Christian campaign group called on the chain to removes copies of the book from its stores. Darkness Is Where The Stars Are by Patrick Jones was to be launched at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, but Patrick Jones says the event was cancelled because of a 'threats of disruption' to the store.
Christian Voice's leader Stephen Green led an e-mail campaign against the book, and encouraged Waterstones to cancel the launch, because he regards some of the poems within the collection as 'obscene and blasphemous'.
Even though the event had been cancelled, Patrick Jones went to the Waterstones bookstore at The Hayes in Cardiff and signed copies of his book in the street. Mr Jones is plainly a poet who addresses political and religious themes in his work. In this collection, some poems explore the portrayal of women and some deal with the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. He uses language that is, at times, raw. He would not be the first poet to address these themes or to use raw language.
As one might expect, Christian Voice have now given Patrick Jones a much larger audience than he might previously have expected for his book. We'll see how this story pans out over the next few days, but I expect that the controversy provoked by the cancellation of this book launch will increase sales and name recognition for this poet.
Speaking of which, here's his bio:
Patrick is a poet, playwright, human rights activist and filmmaker. His work includes the poetry collections The Guerilla tapestry and Fuse, the CD of spoken word and music Commemoration and Amnesia and the plays Everything Must Go, Unprotected Sex, The War is Dead long live the war and Sing to Me. He has also directed short films and videos for the bands The Manic Street Preachers and Lethargy. Patrick is also committed to taking words to the whole of the community and has developed writing groups for young people in Wales and beyond, developed and co-ordinated writing and drama workshops for people of all ages and from a mixed background, attended many different organisations from community groups to universities to speak about writing and give readings of work. Set-up various writing projects for people with specific needs, for example hospice patients, school non-attendees, mental health patients and most recently the young homeless.He has worked with various communty based projects with NCH, The Welsh National Opera, St. David's Foundation Hospice Care and The Dyn Project (advocacy for men who have experienced domestic violence) and The Prison Service.
William Crawley
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2008/11/poetry_launch_cancelled_after.html
13 Nov 08, 10:04 AM
The launch of a new book of poems in the Waterstone's bookstore in Cardiff has been cancelled because a conservative Christian campaign group called on the chain to removes copies of the book from its stores. Darkness Is Where The Stars Are by Patrick Jones was to be launched at 7.30 p.m. yesterday, but Patrick Jones says the event was cancelled because of a 'threats of disruption' to the store.
Christian Voice's leader Stephen Green led an e-mail campaign against the book, and encouraged Waterstones to cancel the launch, because he regards some of the poems within the collection as 'obscene and blasphemous'.
Even though the event had been cancelled, Patrick Jones went to the Waterstones bookstore at The Hayes in Cardiff and signed copies of his book in the street. Mr Jones is plainly a poet who addresses political and religious themes in his work. In this collection, some poems explore the portrayal of women and some deal with the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. He uses language that is, at times, raw. He would not be the first poet to address these themes or to use raw language.
As one might expect, Christian Voice have now given Patrick Jones a much larger audience than he might previously have expected for his book. We'll see how this story pans out over the next few days, but I expect that the controversy provoked by the cancellation of this book launch will increase sales and name recognition for this poet.
Speaking of which, here's his bio:
Patrick is a poet, playwright, human rights activist and filmmaker. His work includes the poetry collections The Guerilla tapestry and Fuse, the CD of spoken word and music Commemoration and Amnesia and the plays Everything Must Go, Unprotected Sex, The War is Dead long live the war and Sing to Me. He has also directed short films and videos for the bands The Manic Street Preachers and Lethargy. Patrick is also committed to taking words to the whole of the community and has developed writing groups for young people in Wales and beyond, developed and co-ordinated writing and drama workshops for people of all ages and from a mixed background, attended many different organisations from community groups to universities to speak about writing and give readings of work. Set-up various writing projects for people with specific needs, for example hospice patients, school non-attendees, mental health patients and most recently the young homeless.He has worked with various communty based projects with NCH, The Welsh National Opera, St. David's Foundation Hospice Care and The Dyn Project (advocacy for men who have experienced domestic violence) and The Prison Service.
William Crawley
http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/ni/2008/11/poetry_launch_cancelled_after.html
2008/12/17
THE BLASPHEMOUS JACK BLACK AS JESUS
Jack Black as Jesus
09/12/08 | Posted by MattPage
School of Rock star Jack Black has appeared playing Jesus in an internet film. Prop 8 - The Musical was written by Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) as a protest against a new piece of Californian legislation limiting gay rights. Black appears to a bunch of evangelical Christians (played by John C. Reilly and West Wing's Allison Janney) and points out that they seem to pick and choose which parts of the Bible they follow. Jesus goes on to suggest that they should pick the bits that talk about love and not those that are about hate.The film gained an incredible 1.2 million hits in its first day, and reached the 2.5 million mark within just 5 days.
Jack Black
Black’s not the first, seemingly unlikely, comedian to play Jesus. Back in 1999 Will Ferrell had a brief cameo as Jesus in Superstar, and Steve Coogan also starred as school teacher playing Jesus in Hamlet 2 due for release in the UK in February next year (it was released in the US back in August). All of which got me thinking about various actors who would make a really good, or a really bad Jesus. Who do you think would portray a really good/bad film Jesus and why?
http://www.rejesus.co.uk/blog/post/jack_black_as_jesus/
09/12/08 | Posted by MattPage
School of Rock star Jack Black has appeared playing Jesus in an internet film. Prop 8 - The Musical was written by Marc Shaiman (Hairspray) as a protest against a new piece of Californian legislation limiting gay rights. Black appears to a bunch of evangelical Christians (played by John C. Reilly and West Wing's Allison Janney) and points out that they seem to pick and choose which parts of the Bible they follow. Jesus goes on to suggest that they should pick the bits that talk about love and not those that are about hate.The film gained an incredible 1.2 million hits in its first day, and reached the 2.5 million mark within just 5 days.
Jack Black
Black’s not the first, seemingly unlikely, comedian to play Jesus. Back in 1999 Will Ferrell had a brief cameo as Jesus in Superstar, and Steve Coogan also starred as school teacher playing Jesus in Hamlet 2 due for release in the UK in February next year (it was released in the US back in August). All of which got me thinking about various actors who would make a really good, or a really bad Jesus. Who do you think would portray a really good/bad film Jesus and why?
http://www.rejesus.co.uk/blog/post/jack_black_as_jesus/
THE BLASPHEMOUS PROP 8
Prop 8: The Musical, created by award-winning Hairspray composer Marc Shaiman, features stars such as Jack Black and John C Reilly lampooning backers of the constitutional amendment, which limits marriage to a union between a man and a woman.
The ban was passed by voters during the November election, five months after gay weddings were legalised in the nation’s most populous state.
A number of legal challenges are seeking to overturn the amendment, which was opposed by Hollywood heavyweights including Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg as well as President-Elect Barack Obama and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Its passage sparked protests nationwide.
Prop 8: The Musical, directed and staged by Hairspray director Adam Shankman, features well-known stage and screen actors taking part in a Sacramento community college threatre group production.
It opens with the colourfully-dressed “California Gays and The People That Love Them” dancing and celebrating a “brand new bright Obama day” and “happy days for the gays”.
Then a black-clad crowd led by John C Reilly and Allison Janney describes how they will “spread some hate and put it in the constitution” via Proposition 8.
They claim the Bible says gay love is a sin. But Jesus Christ, played by Jack Black, intervenes to point out the Bible “says a lot of things”, including that shellfish is an abomination and it is acceptable to stone your wife or sell your daughter into slavery.
He urges them to “choose love instead of hate”.
The musical finishes with Neil Patrick Harris telling the Proposition 8 crowd about the “money to be made” from gay marriage before the entire cast unites in opposition to the ban, declaring that “gay marriages will save the economy”.
Mr Shaiman says in a note introducing the video that he is releasing the musical “six weeks later than he shoulda”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3546924/Jack-Black-is-Jesus-in-Hollywoods-Prop-8-The-Musical-gay-marriage-ban-satire.html
The ban was passed by voters during the November election, five months after gay weddings were legalised in the nation’s most populous state.
A number of legal challenges are seeking to overturn the amendment, which was opposed by Hollywood heavyweights including Brad Pitt and Steven Spielberg as well as President-Elect Barack Obama and California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Its passage sparked protests nationwide.
Prop 8: The Musical, directed and staged by Hairspray director Adam Shankman, features well-known stage and screen actors taking part in a Sacramento community college threatre group production.
It opens with the colourfully-dressed “California Gays and The People That Love Them” dancing and celebrating a “brand new bright Obama day” and “happy days for the gays”.
Then a black-clad crowd led by John C Reilly and Allison Janney describes how they will “spread some hate and put it in the constitution” via Proposition 8.
They claim the Bible says gay love is a sin. But Jesus Christ, played by Jack Black, intervenes to point out the Bible “says a lot of things”, including that shellfish is an abomination and it is acceptable to stone your wife or sell your daughter into slavery.
He urges them to “choose love instead of hate”.
The musical finishes with Neil Patrick Harris telling the Proposition 8 crowd about the “money to be made” from gay marriage before the entire cast unites in opposition to the ban, declaring that “gay marriages will save the economy”.
Mr Shaiman says in a note introducing the video that he is releasing the musical “six weeks later than he shoulda”.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/3546924/Jack-Black-is-Jesus-in-Hollywoods-Prop-8-The-Musical-gay-marriage-ban-satire.html
BLASPHEMY: Jack Black is Jesus in "Prop 8: The Musical"
12/04/2008
Jack Black is Jesus in "Prop 8: The Musical"
A new video on FunnyorDie.com has caused a stir not just for its controversial content, but also its star-studded cast. "Prop 8: The Musical" stars Jack Black as Jesus, Neil Patrick Harrs, John C. Reilly, Margaret Cho and many more.
The three-minute video is the brainchild of Marc Shaiman, the composer of "Hairspray" and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut." Shaiman pulled "Hairspray" from the California Musical Theatre after director Scott Eckern donated to "Yes on 8" campaign.
Shaiman said of "Prop 8: The Musical", "It was like, `Eureka! That's right, that's what I do! If I'm going to stand on the soap box, at least let me sing and dance."
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=75286
Jack Black is Jesus in "Prop 8: The Musical"
A new video on FunnyorDie.com has caused a stir not just for its controversial content, but also its star-studded cast. "Prop 8: The Musical" stars Jack Black as Jesus, Neil Patrick Harrs, John C. Reilly, Margaret Cho and many more.
The three-minute video is the brainchild of Marc Shaiman, the composer of "Hairspray" and South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut." Shaiman pulled "Hairspray" from the California Musical Theatre after director Scott Eckern donated to "Yes on 8" campaign.
Shaiman said of "Prop 8: The Musical", "It was like, `Eureka! That's right, that's what I do! If I'm going to stand on the soap box, at least let me sing and dance."
http://www.shortnews.com/start.cfm?id=75286
2008/11/29
THE BLASPHEMOUS JERRY SPRINGER SHOW
The Jerry Springer Show-Wikipedia
The Jerry Springer Show is a television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries.[1] It is videotaped at the NBC Tower studios of WMAQ-TV in Chicago and is distributed by NBC Universal, although it is not currently broadcast on any NBC-owned stations. It has been broadcasted in syndication during the high morning, afternoon, and late night hours of many TV stations since the early 1990s.
The show is ostensibly a talk show where troubled or dysfunctional families come to discuss their problems before a studio audience so that the audience or host can offer suggestions on what can be done to resolve their situations. In actuality, the show has come to epitomize the so-called "trash TV talk show"[1], as each episode of the show focuses on topics such as adultery, bestiality[2], divorce, homophobia, homosexuality, incest, infidelity, pedophilia, pornography, racism, strange fetishes, or transvestism, which frequently result in fighting between guests. At one point, the show proudly boasted that it was voted the "Worst TV Show Ever" by TV Guide magazine. Currently, the show's slogan is "an hour of your life you'll never get back". The Jerry Springer Show has received widespread criticism and caused many controversies for a variety of reasons including its elements of prurience, foul language and the exploitation of the vulnerable.[3]
On July 15, 2007, it was announced that Springer was picked up by NBC-Universal through the 2009-2010 season.[4
typical episode of Springer begins with a title card warning parents that the show may contain content inappropriate for children. The warning often has sound effects; for example, in Season 17, it can be either a crying clown or a toilet flushing. The warning is followed by the opening sequence, which since the fifteenth season has usually consisted of clips from past Springer episodes. After the opening sequence, the screen cuts to Springer entering the stage, usually being greeted by audience applause and the "Je-rry, Je-rry" chant. Once the audience settles down, he welcomes the viewer to the show, introduces a particular situation, and interviews a guest who is experiencing it. After finishing the interview, Springer announces the entrance of another guest whom the first guest would like to confront. The second guest enters the stage, and a confrontation between the two guests usually occurs, often breaking down into a brawl that is eventually broken up by on-set security personnel. Once the fight is broken up, Springer interviews the second guest about the situation faced by the first guest.
This cycle is repeated about twice for other sets of guests on the show. Once all guests have told their stories, there is a "question and answer" segment where audience members ask guests questions relevant to their situations, although usually their questions come to insult a guest. Finally, Springer ends the show with a segment titled "Final Thought"[5], in which he shares his feelings about the stories he has heard for the day's show. He ends the segment with the concluding statement, "Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other".
Generally, Springer tends to present his program standing up in the stands rather than the main stage. (This is probably to protect himself from the potential violent fights occurring)[5]
Sometimes the show will have a look back at an early episode. These have been rebranded as Classic Springer. These shows are interspersed with commentary from Springer, usually before and after commercial breaks.
The program is taped at the NBC Tower operated by NBC television station WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois. The set for the show has changed twice since its current layout. When the show first started in 1991, it was very bland with white walls and bright colored shapes. Jerry himself also looked like a banker. In 1993 when everything changed (including the format of the show) the studio received a makeover to make it look a bit warmer and more inviting. The stage walls were given projected outward into the audience, making room for a catwalk. In late 2000, the whole set changed again, to its current "industrial" look.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jerry_Springer_Show
The Jerry Springer Show is a television tabloid talk show hosted by Jerry Springer, a former politician, broadcast in the United States and other countries.[1] It is videotaped at the NBC Tower studios of WMAQ-TV in Chicago and is distributed by NBC Universal, although it is not currently broadcast on any NBC-owned stations. It has been broadcasted in syndication during the high morning, afternoon, and late night hours of many TV stations since the early 1990s.
The show is ostensibly a talk show where troubled or dysfunctional families come to discuss their problems before a studio audience so that the audience or host can offer suggestions on what can be done to resolve their situations. In actuality, the show has come to epitomize the so-called "trash TV talk show"[1], as each episode of the show focuses on topics such as adultery, bestiality[2], divorce, homophobia, homosexuality, incest, infidelity, pedophilia, pornography, racism, strange fetishes, or transvestism, which frequently result in fighting between guests. At one point, the show proudly boasted that it was voted the "Worst TV Show Ever" by TV Guide magazine. Currently, the show's slogan is "an hour of your life you'll never get back". The Jerry Springer Show has received widespread criticism and caused many controversies for a variety of reasons including its elements of prurience, foul language and the exploitation of the vulnerable.[3]
On July 15, 2007, it was announced that Springer was picked up by NBC-Universal through the 2009-2010 season.[4
typical episode of Springer begins with a title card warning parents that the show may contain content inappropriate for children. The warning often has sound effects; for example, in Season 17, it can be either a crying clown or a toilet flushing. The warning is followed by the opening sequence, which since the fifteenth season has usually consisted of clips from past Springer episodes. After the opening sequence, the screen cuts to Springer entering the stage, usually being greeted by audience applause and the "Je-rry, Je-rry" chant. Once the audience settles down, he welcomes the viewer to the show, introduces a particular situation, and interviews a guest who is experiencing it. After finishing the interview, Springer announces the entrance of another guest whom the first guest would like to confront. The second guest enters the stage, and a confrontation between the two guests usually occurs, often breaking down into a brawl that is eventually broken up by on-set security personnel. Once the fight is broken up, Springer interviews the second guest about the situation faced by the first guest.
This cycle is repeated about twice for other sets of guests on the show. Once all guests have told their stories, there is a "question and answer" segment where audience members ask guests questions relevant to their situations, although usually their questions come to insult a guest. Finally, Springer ends the show with a segment titled "Final Thought"[5], in which he shares his feelings about the stories he has heard for the day's show. He ends the segment with the concluding statement, "Until next time, take care of yourselves and each other".
Generally, Springer tends to present his program standing up in the stands rather than the main stage. (This is probably to protect himself from the potential violent fights occurring)[5]
Sometimes the show will have a look back at an early episode. These have been rebranded as Classic Springer. These shows are interspersed with commentary from Springer, usually before and after commercial breaks.
The program is taped at the NBC Tower operated by NBC television station WMAQ in Chicago, Illinois. The set for the show has changed twice since its current layout. When the show first started in 1991, it was very bland with white walls and bright colored shapes. Jerry himself also looked like a banker. In 1993 when everything changed (including the format of the show) the studio received a makeover to make it look a bit warmer and more inviting. The stage walls were given projected outward into the audience, making room for a catwalk. In late 2000, the whole set changed again, to its current "industrial" look.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Jerry_Springer_Show
2008/09/03
BLASPHEMY-STATUE OF JESUS WITH AN ERECTION
Christian sues gallery for featuring statue of Jesus with an erection
Representatives for a gallery in Gateshead appeared in court yesterday charged with outraging public decency, after featuring a statue of Jesus with an erection.
The artwork was part of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art's September 2007-January 2008 exhibition Gone, Yet Still, by the controversial Chinese artist Terence Koh, which featured dozens of plaster figures including Mickey Mouse and ET - all in some state of arousal.
Lawyers for Emily Mapfuwa, a 40-year-old Christian who was offended by the artwork, launched a private prosecution against the gallery for outraging public decency and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the public. Mapfuwa, of Brentwood, Essex, argues the Baltic would not have dared depict the prophet Muhammad in such a way.
She complained in writing to Northumbria police earlier this year, asking for an investigation, and was informed in May that there was no case to answer.
But the Christian Legal Centre - an organisation that aims to "promote and protect the biblical freedoms of Christian believers in the United Kingdom" - agreed to pay her legal costs. The CLC also funded the case brought by Stephen Green against the BBC over Jerry Springer - The Opera. A CLC spokesman said Mapfuwa believed in freedom of expression, but "this statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ".
At Gateshead magistrates court yesterday, a solicitor for The Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust, the charitable body which runs the Baltic, indicated a plea of not guilty. The case was adjourned until September 23. Mapfuwa intends to cite a case from 1990 in which an artist and shop owhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/03/religion.art?gusrc=rss&feed=artanddesignner in London were convicted of outraging public decency over showing a sculpture made of foetuses.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/03/religion.art?gusrc=rss&feed=artanddesign
Representatives for a gallery in Gateshead appeared in court yesterday charged with outraging public decency, after featuring a statue of Jesus with an erection.
The artwork was part of the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art's September 2007-January 2008 exhibition Gone, Yet Still, by the controversial Chinese artist Terence Koh, which featured dozens of plaster figures including Mickey Mouse and ET - all in some state of arousal.
Lawyers for Emily Mapfuwa, a 40-year-old Christian who was offended by the artwork, launched a private prosecution against the gallery for outraging public decency and causing harassment, alarm and distress to the public. Mapfuwa, of Brentwood, Essex, argues the Baltic would not have dared depict the prophet Muhammad in such a way.
She complained in writing to Northumbria police earlier this year, asking for an investigation, and was informed in May that there was no case to answer.
But the Christian Legal Centre - an organisation that aims to "promote and protect the biblical freedoms of Christian believers in the United Kingdom" - agreed to pay her legal costs. The CLC also funded the case brought by Stephen Green against the BBC over Jerry Springer - The Opera. A CLC spokesman said Mapfuwa believed in freedom of expression, but "this statue served no other purpose than to offend Christians and to denigrate Christ".
At Gateshead magistrates court yesterday, a solicitor for The Baltic Flour Mills Visual Arts Trust, the charitable body which runs the Baltic, indicated a plea of not guilty. The case was adjourned until September 23. Mapfuwa intends to cite a case from 1990 in which an artist and shop owhttp://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/03/religion.art?gusrc=rss&feed=artanddesignner in London were convicted of outraging public decency over showing a sculpture made of foetuses.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/sep/03/religion.art?gusrc=rss&feed=artanddesign
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)