I’m not sure if I should be amused that pagans can be as huffy and humorless as Christians when their sacred oxen are gored, or irked about disrespectful movie publicists, or what — but I think the reaction is funnier than the stunt itself.
PAGANS have pledged to perform “rain magic” to wash away cartoon character Homer Simpson who was painted next to their famous fertility symbol – the Cerne Abbas giant.
The 17th century chalk outline of the naked, sexually aroused, club-wielding giant is believed by many to be a symbol of ancient spirituality. Many couples also believe the 180ft giant, which is carved in the hillside above Cerne Abbas, Dorset, is an aid to fertility.
A giant 180ft Homer Simpson brandishing a doughnut was painted next to the well-endowed figure today in a publicity stunt to promote The Simpsons Movie released later this month. It has been painted with water-based biodegradable paint which will wash away as soon as it rains.
Ann Bryn-Evans, joint Wessex district manager for The Pagan Federation, said: “It’s very disrespectful and not at all aesthetically pleasing.”
Well, there’s no accounting for taste …
(I suppose if that’s disrespectful, this is right out.)
I don’t think it’s all that distasteful, but maybe it’s because I am Homer-biased. I think it would definitely be wrong if they wrote over the original drawing. But the animated GIF is just brilliant!
Oh, I would never approve (as an antiquities sort of guy) of actually doing anything to the original. The next field over, though? Biodegradable paint on grass? Go for it.