Nicole Reardon
Some find it tacky, some find it tasteful. Whatever your opinion, it’s hard to avoid it. Nicole Reardon celebrates the best (and worst) of Christian kitsch.
Unpack the issues...
On a recent trip to one of Australia’s largest Christian stores, in search of a new Bible, I decided to browse the aisles of children’s toys.
Next to the Noah’s ark animals, I came across a small plastic set of what appeared to be a knight’s dress-up armour. On the box: “Wrap your child in the armour of God — just like King David would have worn". It was cheesy, it was tacky, and it was definitely Christian kitsch. I have no doubt that King David would have had something to say about his supposed choice of armour, too!
Despite its inherent tackiness, Christian kitsch, if nothing else, draws attention to Christianity and very often to the figure of Jesus Christ. Although this may cheapen the image and/or the message, I wonder if it is nonetheless a means of spreading the Christian story.
“I once saw a painting of a ‘surfie Jesus’ that has always stuck in my mind,” says 22 year old Crystal.
“For me, it’s always the witty messages or images on t-shirts that stick in my mind,” says 23 year old Tom. “I own a t-shirt with a picture of the Pope on the front dancing around to the music of his ipod, under a slogan that says ‘iPope’."
Christian kitsch doesn’t just mean physical objects. I visited a blog written by a pastor who unleashed a tirade on people who send emails containing images of what he regards as tasteless Christian kitsch — his frustration centering around the image of Jesus looking down at his disciples from the cross.... encased in a snow globe!
The glittery flecks surrounding Jesus as he stares out from the snow globe may exasperate many a believer.
However this may not be the worst of it…
Many examples of Christian kitsch can be found at the Ship of Fools website. Although this website dismisses the Christian message, it is frequented by Christians and non-Christians alike to view its wide array of extreme kitsch — everything from cross-shaped ipods, Jesus-shaped cake pans, jumping castle churches and Holy Trinity lego.
While sites like Ship of Fools, are used to promote the humour and absurdity around many forms of Christian kitsch, JustAct is promoting the ‘Just Holy Hardware’ campaign, including a website which offers information on the production of Christian devotional items. The campaign is designed to inform people about — and stop — the production of Christian devotional items made under gross exploitation.
The Just Holy Hardware campaign also provides a catalogue from which you can purchase Christian kitsch responsibly. There is a range of crosses, Christmas ornaments, biblical cards and many other items available to be purchased, with the knowledge the creators were not exploited in the process of their manufacture.
So next time you consider buying some Christian kitsch, make sure you ask yourself, “What would Jesus buy?”
Unpack the issues...
- Do you find Christian kitsch tacky or tasteful - why?
- Do you think it has its place in spreading the Christian message? Or does it cheapen it?
- What piece of Christian kitsch sticks most readily in your mind?
- View images of Christian kitsch
TrackBack URI for this entry
Subscribe to this comment's feed
written by Paul Turley , July 08, 2009
Quote - "Although this website dismisses the Christian message"
Have another look and you'll find that far from dismissing the Christian message Simon and the crew have a far more subversive agenda; they want change!
written by Dave Robinson , July 08, 2009
The web site Ship of Fools is run by the Methodist Church in the UK and it is unfair to say that it "dismisses the Christian message". What it highlights is the crass nature of some aspects of Christianity. The "Mystery Worshipper" segment is always worth reading
Show/Hide comment form
