Mateo el Feo Posted November 2, 2004 Posted November 2, 2004 Random fun question/debate: Our Lord appears in art (at least in the past 5 centuries or so...) as someone with long hair. From Renaissance paintings to recent movies (e.g. "The Passion") to emoticons (:jesus:), his depiction invariably is a man with long hair. In Saint Paul's letter to the Corinthians, he seems a bit negative on men with "long-hair" [url="http://www.usccb.org/nab/bible/1corinthians/1corinthians11.htm#v14"](link)[/url]: [quote name='1 Cor 11:14-15']Does not nature itself teach you that if a man wears his hair long it is a disgrace to him, whereas if a woman has long hair it is her glory, because long hair has been given (her) for a covering?[/quote] Just wondering what other people thought.
Socrates Posted November 2, 2004 Posted November 2, 2004 The Shroud of Turin depicts a man with long hair, and this has been the basis of much art. (Some have actually used the Corinthians quote to "prove" that the Shroud is fake.) However, it has been said that Christ, like John the Baptist, was a Nazarite (did I get the right name?) who made vows to not cut their hair among other things. Long and short hair is a relative thing. I have read that St. Paul was referring to extremely long hair (down over the back) which was how women wore their hair at the time) which would have been considered effeminate on a man. Hair over the shoulders would not be considered effeminate. I think St. Paul was speaking of effeminate fashions rather than a specific length of hair. (There's been huge debates over St. Paul and women's hair and dress with "Trads" on this site, who take a very literalist approach. It would be interesting to see how they approach this, as Trads always use long-haired Jesus pictures in the "Holy Card" style art they favor.) Anyway, I'm really not an expert on 1st Century Jewish hairstyles - maybe someone else can be more enlightening - I know this is a subject of debate among people, though.
Guest T-Bone Posted November 2, 2004 Posted November 2, 2004 The truth is that He had a mohawk, dyed orange, red, purple, blue and green.
Mateo el Feo Posted November 2, 2004 Author Posted November 2, 2004 Continuing my search... ? No... :headbang:? No... :afro:? I don't think so... :freak:? Definitely not! :clown:? No... :infant:? Well, yes...but not what I'm looking for... :elvis:? Wrong King! :king:? Kind of... ? Yes. :globe:? Yes.
rachael Posted November 2, 2004 Posted November 2, 2004 [quote name='Mateo el Feo' date='Nov 2 2004, 01:13 PM'] :afro:? I don't think so... [/quote] i think so.....
mulls Posted November 3, 2004 Posted November 3, 2004 the worst is the blond hair, blue eyed, aryan Jesus. .
Socrates Posted November 3, 2004 Posted November 3, 2004 [quote name='mulls' date='Nov 3 2004, 01:10 PM'] the worst is the blond hair, blue eyed, aryan Jesus. . [/quote] Religious art in different cultures tends to portray Christ as "one of them." The blue-eyed blond-haired Jesus is no better or worse than a Black Jesus (though neither one would be historically acurate.) When Mary appears to people in different parts of the world, she usually takes the racial appearance of those she is appearing to. The truth is that Christ came for all men of all races, not just the Jews, so there is nothing wrong with portraying Christ with a variety of ethnic features (as long as it is not done with exclusionary or racist overtones)
mulls Posted November 3, 2004 Posted November 3, 2004 yea, but i've never heard of anybody turned off to Christianity because "Jesus is for black people." Louis Farrakhan uses these images to propagate the myth that Jesus is for whites, and therefore Islam is the true religion of black people. white supremacist groups also use these images as justification for racism, especially against the Jews.
Jedi_StClaire Posted November 4, 2004 Posted November 4, 2004 I thought it was common for Jewish men to wear their hair long? I remember this argument came up in Religion class once at my high school when one of my classmates, a Lutheran was arguing with the teacher (a Priest) about having facial hair.....saying that Jesus had a beard......... Don't rabbis wear their hair longer usually? or is this sterotypical viewpoint?
Guest T-Bone Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 [quote]Don't rabbis wear their hair longer usually? or is this sterotypical viewpoint?[/quote] I think that you're thinking of Hessitic (sp?) Jews. Or I may be off kilter.
D0RK4JP2 Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 As if there were the old barber to visit back then anyways. I doubt our Blessed Lord had His hair combed neatly to the side JMJ.
Theoketos Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 [quote name='mulls' date='Nov 3 2004, 01:10 PM'] the worst is the blond hair, blue eyed, aryan Jesus. . [/quote] yes
Balthazor Posted November 5, 2004 Posted November 5, 2004 You know. I have done lot of thinking about this. Jesus is depicted in all colors, hair styles, clothing styles and I think it is wonderful. People tend to see him as their own ethnicity, I think it is very important that all ethnicities be able to see Jesus as God in their image because then you know that they really took to heart being made in God's image and really being one of His children. I really think that God works with this notion, to help draw people to him. I mean look at Mary, my Avatar is an example....the Black Madonna. Mary apears in all sorts of different depictions, all etnicities, all hair colors....even in the apparitions of Mary she tended to look like a very beautiful local. Our Lady of Guadalupe is a wonderful example of this...she looks like a native indian princess, compare this with the dipiction of the apparition at Lourdes. Pretty different. But all very very beautiful. God bless, Balthazor
Socrates Posted November 6, 2004 Posted November 6, 2004 (edited) [quote name='Balthazor' date='Nov 5 2004, 06:52 PM'] Mary, my Avatar is an example....the Black Madonna. [/quote] This isn't intended to detract from anything said, or start an argument, just make a small correction/clarification - The "Black Madonna" isn't intended to depict a "Black" or African woman. It is dark from accumulated smoke on the image where it was enshrined, and thus acquired its nickname. The Black Madonna, or Our Lady of Czestochowa, is a Polish icon, and the Polish people are definitely white, often blond. Edited November 6, 2004 by Socrates
Socrates Posted November 6, 2004 Posted November 6, 2004 [quote name='D0RK4JP2' date='Nov 5 2004, 06:40 PM'] As if there were the old barber to visit back then anyways. I doubt our Blessed Lord had His hair combed neatly to the side JMJ. [/quote] The Romans of the time generally kept their hair cropped close. I'm not sure about the Jews.
StColette Posted November 6, 2004 Posted November 6, 2004 Yep you're right Socrates, I was about to say something about that comment. A better example of Mary appearing to the likeness of a different culture, is when she appeared in Akita, Japan. The portraits and statues that I have seen, which portray her as Our Lady of Akita, make her into the likeness of a Japanese woman.
Jedi_StClaire Posted November 6, 2004 Posted November 6, 2004 My favorite "international" depiction of Our Lady is the Our Lady of Guadaloupe picture. I like it because she was portrayed holding a cloth in her hands, that if I remember right, had something to do with symbolizing pregnancy....... can anyone confirm that?
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