Now if Bibles had been illustrated like the latest incarnation of the book of Genesis by Robert Crumb then even I may be tempted to take a peek now and again. The book which is released this month carries a warning about graphic illustrations depicting naked men and women as well as sexual intercourse and gratuitous acts of violence (sounds like the right book at least!). Crumb is famous for Fritz the cat, an underground comic strip that he conceived in the sixties and was later turned into a cartoon movie (the first to be given an X rating)
No doubt this rendition of the Genesis stories will cause outrage in certain quarters, I think the reaction is probably more interesting than the book itself; clearly the stories are about people doing what people do so disapproving would seem like shooting the messenger somewhat? Who knows, some illustrations might even improve comprehension, they would certainly make it more memorable!
4 comments:
I think of all the books of the Pentateuch (5, in case you couldn't guess), Genesis is the most memorable. Between the murder, incest, rape, conquest, mass drownings and ill-fated building projects there's always something going on. Grief, there's even a talking snake - something not many people may know about....
Hi G, yes a talking snake even I remember that bit! I shudder to think what that particular strip focuses on in Crumbs version, although it's probably not going to usurp the KJV any time soon!
Matt Wardman has some interesting thoughts on this
http://www.mattwardman.com/blog/2009/10/20/reporting-religion-controversy-for-the-sake-of-publicity/
Predicted 'outrage' has become a story in itself, and no doubt the media will ring round every Christian organisation they can find until they find someone who doesn't like it, just to back up the headlines.
Look forward to getting a copy for Christmas! Maybe.
dmk, LOL, more heat than light definitely! Still, things like this give (infantile) commentators like me something to giggle about behind the bike sheds I suppose :)
PS thanks for the link, true!
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