FROM SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA

(WARNING: Some images may be offensive to some people; click on thumbnails to enlarge)

Exhibitionism Posing as "Art" in Ancient Mexican Plaza

Normally Modest Mexicans Bare Themselves for an American "Artist"

SCOTTSDALE, May 11, 2007 - A friend of mine who lives in Mexico City sent me the photos that follow.  He said 18,000 residents of Mexico's capital bared themselves on Sunday morning (May 6), just before Mass, at the historic Zócalo Plaza in the city center.

Why would so many people do such a foolish thing in a culture that is known for its modesty and piousness?  "After all, this is a city where even shorts are frowned upon and where a landmark statue of Diana the Huntress was once considered so scandalous that the sculptor was forced to weld bronze underwear onto her," the Arizona Republic wrote about the event.

To please an American pervert, it turns out.  "Artist" Spencer Tunick told the Republic he was hoping to best his mark of 7,000 volunteer models, set in 2003 in Barcelona.  "We picked the site because it was the only place that could handle all the people who were signing up," he said.

The shoot has sparked much debate in this usually modest capital of 20 million people.  Callers on Mexico City's radio talk shows fretted about the shoot's location, smack in front of the Metropolitan Cathedral. Tunick said his artwork was not a commentary on the church or religion. His assistant, Jonathan Porcelli, said the cathedral would probably not appear in the photographs.

It did, as you could see from above pictures.

"Panem et Circences," the American Way

I am anything but prudish, as those of my friends and family who know me well, also know well.  But this kind of perverted exhibitionism, posing as "art," reminded me of the Roman Empire's moral decay prior to its eventual demise.  That's when pornography, homosexualism, grotesque violence flourished, while real art suffered, as seems to be the case again today in our society.

Some 10 years ago, I wrote several articles on that topic, including one for the Washington Times titled "When Will the Wall Strret Bubble Burst?" (Aug 1998).  That particular piece dealt more with some modern stock market perversions.  But it also noted the following:

"It has all happened before. Many times, in fact, in the history of Homo Sapiens, who rarely seems to learn from history or from his past mistakes. Corrupt rulers try to govern by corrupting the hearts and minds of their subjects. For a while…

Remember the ancient Sodom and Gomorrah story, for example?  Or "panem et cirsenses" ("give us bread and games") - the way the last Roman emperors ruled their morally corrupt citizens. Until eventually the bread ran out, and the games turned into rebellions which destroyed their pot-bellied empire."

Karen and I also talked last night about other similarities in our modern culture, such as that exhibited through violent or  grotesque films that become box office blockbusters ("300," "Borat," "Hot Fuzz"...), while real artistic gems ("Avenue Montagne," "The Painted Veil," "Kolya"...) languish in nearly empty theaters.  Unless a film has sex and violence, it is shunned, it seems.

I did not tell Karen this, but I am so glad I won't be around in 40-50 years, when the "American Empire" really gets unglued (see "When Cultures Collide...," Washington Times, Aug 1996).  As you can see, I actually quite optimistic... to be living now rather than then.  And grateful... to have lived in "America the Beautiful" once.

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