Saturday, May 21, 2011

The John Paul II Memorial 'Pissoir'.


People are pissed.
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Evidently no one likes the new sculpture of JPII across from the train station in Rome.  Some say it looks like a refrigerator with a head, but I got it right away - the pope is opening his cloak to welcome pilgrims to Rome, giving them shelter.  Works for me - though the head looks like Mussolini's.  It's expensive whimsy.  Someone had to approve it, and it had to cost some money - so I say leave it alone.  The Japanese can take photos of themselves in it.
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On second thought - it looks a bit like an oversized pissoir or public urinal.  I loved those when I was in Europe - though a friend told me just last weekend they've been removed in Paris.
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If you stare at the statue long enough all sorts of things come to mind.  Critics of the late pope can say the nothingness beneath the cloak represents _______?  More seriously however, I myself wouldn't mind seeing a circular staircase and a slide within the structure - it would be fun for kids.
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I have to admit I like it just because it annoys so many people.  I wonder what Benedict XVI thinks?

9 comments:

  1. I like it too..

    I LOVE the impression of embracing pilgrims and welcoming them to Rome...

    Unfortunately if you attempt to protray that kind gesture with any type of realism you get either a flasher or allusion of child molestation...at least that is what the press/media would jump on..

    So instead you get the impression of a refrigerator or a public urinal..

    Sara

    PS it is SUNNY here today!! I actually might dry a load of sheets in the sun!! Two of my hostas also survived the winter and the mad gardner here who pulls up everything that doesn't look like a marigold. Got to put out my little popsicle sticks that says Do Not Remove.

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  2. +JMJ+

    I think Sara is onto something. The pissoir does look like a flasher. (So it's probably a good thing that the head looks more like Mussolini's. . . And we should probably scratch your slide idea now, Terry. A darn shame.)

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  3. Dear Mr.Terry, I missed Chaka Khan
    in the exact same spot as myself by three days (out of 50 years), THREE DAYS!

    I love her! I would'a mentioned you and your blog but I missed her!

    She got a star on the Hollywood walk of fame on Thursday, May 19, 2011 at 11:30 a.m.
    (6623 Hollywood Blvd, near Cherokee)

    Maybe she even sung a little somethin'. Darn!

    hahahaha my word verification is stripper. hahahaha, yep, that word pretty much sums up Hollywood, where people will compromise their faith, and their very selves to get where they want to be and they also have makeshift urinals.

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  4. Anonymous8:01 PM

    for some reason, I think JPII would've like it heh heh...

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  5. I'm still here...anyone else??

    I'll go feed the pets...

    Sara

    P.s. supposed to get rain and possibly snow next week...the snowmobile avatar will remain...

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  6. Belinda! I can't believe you just missed her!

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  7. LOL.

    The cloak image would make sense if there were arms or even hands appropriately placed. Without hands, you don't get the image of a cloak but rather a big fatso with a head too small for his body and no neck.

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  8. In England we have an expression.

    Is someone taking the pissoir?

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