Piss Christ

One of the most controversial works in modern art is Andres Serrano's "Piss Christ".  This work was released in 1987 and it has been debated whether this is art at all.  It is a photograph of a cheap white crucifix submerged in Serrano's urine.  Many people found this extremely offensive.  A senator from New York said, "this so-called piece of art is a despicable, deplorable display of vulgarity."  Another Senator from North Carolina said, " I do not now Mr. Serrano and I hope I never meet him because he is not an artist, he is a jerk...let him be a jerk on his own time and with his own sources.  Do not dishonor the Lord!"  In response to these statements Serrano said, "You cannot have the sacred without the profane."- "People ask why I use fluids [blood, milk, semen, urine, etc..]  First of all I feel like I'm painting with light, and the fluids, besides being a symbol of life's vital fluids, loaded with meaning- also give me beautiful light."  This brings up many interesting questions about creativity.  Many people would not consider this creative because it is so offensive to them, but at the same time it seems that Serrano is only using urine to symbolize life and intensify the heaven-like light shining on Christ.  To me this suggests that whether or not something is creative not only has to do with whether it is useful or novel, but also how people interpret it.  If something is misunderstood it is easy to write it off as indecent and discredit it as art.  I believe that one factor or creativity is how something is interpreted so one cannot simply mark something as creative or non-creative, it varies with each individual's interpretation. 

Andres Serrano "Piss Christ" 1987