Picturing the Prophet
Click here (zombietime.com), and follow the links, for an outstanding collection of portraits depicting Muhammad, to greater or lesser extents...
What are your observations & thoughts regarding how Islam's greatest prophet has (or has not) been illustrated over the centuries? What does this suggest about changing notions of religious propriety regarding iconic depictions?
6 comments:
I thought these were great illustrations. I found the ones with the prophets face hidden kind of funny especially the one with the face of Buddha on the moon.
Bob
I did like some of the pictures. Some were highly offensive. The pictures do show who respects the religion and those who do not. I do not understand what is on some people's mind. I am glad I am not in charge of the universe because I would probably be very lonely.
Lisa
Interesting collection - I felt anxiety while browsing them, knowing that some of them triggered such controversy, and possibly violence. It seems to me that Muhammad hasn't received any more artistic mistreatment than other historically controversial figures. In fact, without being disrespectful, the artistic contempt Muhammad and Islam have received seems disproportionally small in comparison to the controversy and strife Islam has created for the Western world. What I mean is it could be worse, but I'm glad it isn't.
Statement above by John
These portraits can be divided into two groups. One, a group that was made to celebrate or respect Muhammad. The other, a set of portraits that mock or disrespect Muhammad, and at the same time the sacredness of Islam. The second group made me sad, because whether or not you believe in Islam, their beliefs deserve respect.
Even with the portrayal of Muhammad in the first group, I can see how they can become sacrilegious. For instance, what was probably thought of as prestigious and solemn (like the picture with Buddha in the moon) seems a little bit silly to me today, as my interpretation of "good art" is different than it was during that time.
-Valerie
I think this site does a fine job of illustrating how 'orthodoxy' standards for depicting Muhammad have shifted over the centuries, based upon the sensibilities and priorities of the cultures involved. We seem to be living amid a relatively conservative/reactionary phase.
pdk
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