Portrait of a president : Pharyngula

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PZ Myers is a biologist and associate professor at the University of Minnesota, Morris.
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In a footnote to the Supreme Court's 1961 Torcaso v. Watkins decisions, Justice Hugo Black wrote, 'Among religions in this country which do not teach what would generally be considered a belief in the existence of God is Buddhism, Taoism, Ethical Culture, Secular Humanism, and others.' The Torcaso case dealt with religious tests for public office; it has nothing to do with public schools. The justice's comment is far from a finding that humanism is being taught in the schools.

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« Friday Cephalopod: All glory to the hypno-'pod | Main | The things you learn in the newspaper… »

Portrait of a president

Category: Art
Posted on: April 18, 2008 8:55 AM, by PZ Myers

I never thought I could actually like a portrait of George W. Bush, but this one isn't bad. Go ahead and click on the link — the overall portrait is fine, and you may not notice anything at all disturbing (well, except for the fact that it is George W. Bush) on seeing it. You might not want to click on the links to details in the image, though; this picture is a collage made from pictures of anuses snipped out of porn magazines.

It ain't pretty, but it's art that speaks the truth.

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Comments

Posted by: extatyzoma | April 18, 2008 9:07 AM

flesh made primate right??

Posted by: Dana Hunter | April 18, 2008 9:10 AM

What an appropriate use of porn! When's he doing Cheney?

Posted by: Zeno | April 18, 2008 9:13 AM

George W. Bush is an irresistible subject for portraiture. Here he is depicted as a mosaic of portraits of American dead from the Iraq war. Remember that? [Link]

Posted by: merkin j. pus-tart | April 18, 2008 9:15 AM

Dick-head!

Posted by: Carlie | April 18, 2008 9:16 AM

What an appropriate use of porn! When's he doing Cheney?

Given that the word "Cheney" has become a synonym for another porn act, that statement could get quite interesting. :)

Posted by: J | April 18, 2008 9:23 AM

You see? You see? Darwinism leads to pornography-collage portraits!

Posted by: AllanW | April 18, 2008 9:29 AM

The only problem I have with this picture is that for ultimate veracity equine not human anuses should have been used.

Posted by: Ropty | April 18, 2008 9:29 AM

It is not just anuses. It is various naughty parts, and at least one naughty act that I found.

Posted by: Todd | April 18, 2008 9:29 AM

I guess you can recognize pornography when you see it.

#10

Posted by: Enzyme | April 18, 2008 9:39 AM

*Psssst. They're not all anuses.*

Naughty. And to think that the artist is the son of a Tory MP and ex-Cabinet minister, too.

#11

Posted by: Kadin | April 18, 2008 9:48 AM

Have you seen this review of Expelled, PZ? Apparently, you and the other scientists were all chosen to be filmed because of your "eccentric" appearances! That has to be a boost to your self-esteem!

#12

Posted by: Amanda | April 18, 2008 10:10 AM

Anyone seen the NY Times review of Expelled? It's fantastic! I have it posted on my blog.

#13

Posted by: True Bob | April 18, 2008 10:11 AM

It would be True Pron if it were a collage picture of an anus made from pics of shrubco.

#14

Posted by: True Bob | April 18, 2008 10:13 AM

Pron?? I meant porn, of course. Damn new brain.

#15

Posted by: Ray C. | April 18, 2008 10:25 AM

#14 True Bob: I could have sworn you meant pr0n.

#16

Posted by: Tim Fuller | April 18, 2008 10:29 AM

Almost his entire right ear is a picture of Monica in the oval office! Like others have noted, your description of the artwork was not exactly accurate, but still tempting enough for further review. Since this is a science based blog, many of us felt the need to study the topic more intimately.

Enjoy.

#17

Posted by: Derek | April 18, 2008 10:31 AM

That's not Bush. It's Bizarro Bush.

#18

Posted by: alex | April 18, 2008 10:36 AM

Lazarides gallery show some great stuff.

#19

Posted by: Tosser | April 18, 2008 10:40 AM

How do you get to the full pictures? I'm clicking, but nothing's happening.

#20

Posted by: angrynight | April 18, 2008 10:49 AM

Well, I suppose mentioning porn is a way of increasing your already high hit count. ;-)

#21

Posted by: Ray C. | April 18, 2008 11:00 AM

#15 me: OK, I wrote Papa Romeo Zero November. I try to be funny and some rassafraggin' filter makes me look like an idiot.

#22

Posted by: cognitive dissident | April 18, 2008 11:10 AM

Yes, it ain't pretty...but it is pretty appropriate!

#23

Posted by: Quiet Desperation | April 18, 2008 11:20 AM

I think the effectiveness of the statement is lessened somewhat if it needs to be explained. The artist should have maybe made it a little more visually obvious. Ah, but everyone's an art critics, yes?

Heh heh... Bizarro Bush... Actually, Derek, I think *our* Bush is the Bizarro Bush.

"Me fight terrorists! Now me go attack country without terrorists! Me helping!"

Or maybe he's Mr. Mxyzptlk here to cause problems.

#24

Posted by: Ted D | April 18, 2008 11:35 AM

I don't know much about art, but I know what I like.

#25

Posted by: Starbix | April 18, 2008 11:40 AM

@#19
Go to the bottom of the page and underneath the last image is a download link. That'll take you to where you can download the portrait. Hope that helps. BTW: I've gotta say it:
Dark Helmet: "I'm surrounded by @$$holes!"

Starbix
"Don't Panic." -Douglas Adams

#26

Posted by: wÒÓ† | April 18, 2008 11:40 AM

(.)(.)

#27

Posted by: Tim Fuller | April 18, 2008 11:45 AM

On my Imac I can just hold control and roll the middle button to zoom on anything. Also, there are a few detail view buttons you can click on to get zoom. To the guy who said he thought that 'it ought to be more obvious', I think it would be if you were actually standing in front of it.

Enjoy.

#28

Posted by: mjfgates | April 18, 2008 11:48 AM

It needs more asshole!

#29

Posted by: Kazim | April 18, 2008 11:50 AM

For Derek:

"Goodbye, me am Bizarro Bush! 9/11 happen and me am attacking Saudi Arabia where hijackers come from! Me introduce department of reason-based initiatives! This am such crazy world! Hello."

#30

Posted by: CalGeorge | April 18, 2008 11:53 AM

Blow up to poster size.

Frame.

Write fancy gift letter on fancy stationary offering limited edition print to Bush "Library".

Send to "Library" shills, er, adminstrators.

Hope against hope that they will cluelessly mount on "Library" wall somewhere.

#31

Posted by: Joe | April 18, 2008 12:25 PM

Nice portrait. I see it's been exhibited on Greek Street:
"Exhibited:
Lazarides gallery, 8 Greek Street, London W1, August 2007"

#32

Posted by: Sigmund | April 18, 2008 12:32 PM

Portrait of the arsehole as a dumb ham.

#33

Posted by: negentropyeater | April 18, 2008 12:36 PM

The left ear is made with a blowjob, but I don't think it's Monica giving it.

#34

Posted by: Ferrous Patella | April 18, 2008 12:51 PM

That is almost as funny as fart noises.

#35

Posted by: Michelle | April 18, 2008 1:03 PM

HA!!! Now THAT'S what I call art. :P

#36

Posted by: D | April 18, 2008 1:22 PM

Bush asshole mosaic NSFW:
http://aor.macinbytes.com/

Different from the one PZ links to

#37

Posted by: J. K. | April 18, 2008 1:42 PM

One has to feel sorry for a self-described "godless liberal" like PZ Myers; give him a stage and an audience and he can't help showing everyone how base and filthy his thoughts are. To make matters worse, he actually seems to be saying "Come join me down here in the gutter! Its great fun playing in the muck!"

Fortunately for our society, most of us say "No thanks!" We prefer to follow those who exhort us to be better, to help our fellow man.

Of course, today is a very important day in the history of "godless liberalism". A very effective expose of the dogma of Darwinism opens in theaters nationwide (1,000 screens, I understand). It will be very interesting to see the effect of a strong dose of sanitizing light on the man-made theory of evolution.

I see that the indignant howling has already started! What are you afraid of? Is it the fact that there is a God and you may have to give up your immoral lifestyle?

Well, there is good news for you. It is never too late to repent and turn back to God. Just look at the example of the thief who was crucified with Jesus: certainly his repentance came at the last minute, but God still accepted him (according to Jesus).

I speak with some authority here: I was once a "godless liberal". The priests of Darwinism had led me astray when I was young and impressionable. Thankfully for me, God placed many good people in my life, who constantly exhorted me to look at both sides of issues so that I would discover the truth.

To all "God deniers": don't be afraid of the search for truth! See the movie "Expelled: No Intelligence Allowed" and decide for yourself.

God be with you!

#38

Posted by: octopod | April 18, 2008 2:03 PM

LOL! (points @#37)
(Nope, nothing to add here.)

#39

Posted by: Tyler | April 18, 2008 2:03 PM

One has to feel sorry for a self-described "godless liberal" like PZ Myers

Yes, it is definitely the "godless liberals" that deserve our pity.

#40

Posted by: L.K. | April 18, 2008 2:38 PM

This is degrading to women.

If it were Andrea Dworkin, now, it could be real satire - but I imagine all of those porn models suddenly rubbing their bums and thinking, 'what the hell was that!?'

#41

Posted by: Rey Fox | April 18, 2008 2:51 PM

"give him a stage and an audience and he can't help showing everyone how base and filthy his thoughts are."

Sex is icky!

"Is it the fact that there is a God and you may have to give up your immoral lifestyle?"

What immoral lifestyle? What supposed immoral deeds can you pin on any of us? I mean, just out of curiosity, if you happen to not be a hit-and-run troll.

----

Seriously, I think the portrait of Bush made up of dead soldiers made much more of a point. This is just shock material. And I'm not very shocked by anuses anymore.

#42

Posted by: another | April 18, 2008 2:52 PM

You know, I don't follow the commenters here closely enough to know if J.K. of #37 is joking or not.

So, if it is a joke: LOL.

If it was meant to be serious: ROFLMAO!

#43

Posted by: Kris | April 18, 2008 2:55 PM

Rey, he's not a troll--check out his name. J.K., as in Just Kidding.

#44

Posted by: Warren | April 18, 2008 3:26 PM

It needs more asshole!
Posted by: mjfgates

Any more asshole than that and the whole damned thing will collapse into a black hole.

All I can say about that image is I always knew he was a fuckhead. It's interesting to see it so beautifully portrayed.

#45

Posted by: junk science | April 18, 2008 3:32 PM

J.K., as in Just Kidding.

That's a little too subtle for me. The speech itself is indistinguishable from the average miserable creotard rant. I can't find the slightest hint of irony in the entire thing.

#46

Posted by: Furly | April 18, 2008 3:34 PM

I find it offensive that someone has debased perfectly good pornography in this way

#47

Posted by: Rey Fox | April 18, 2008 3:38 PM

"J.K., as in Just Kidding."

Or J.K. as in J.K. Rowling. No, any satirist is going to have tip their hand a lot more obviously than that.

#48

Posted by: brokenSoldier | April 18, 2008 3:39 PM

That's a little too subtle for me. The speech itself is indistinguishable from the average miserable creotard rant. I can't find the slightest hint of irony in the entire thing.
Posted by: junk science | April 18, 2008 3:32 PM

Ah, but this is where the greatest irony lies. When someone has to come up with a law (Poe's, to be exact) in order to explain how a world-view is undistinguishable in any and every sense from pure, unadulterated - and, might I say, hilarious - satire, then methinks there might be something wrong with that world-view.

But, of course, my above statement is merely the infantile attempt of a godless liberal to discredit a worthy set of beliefs, right?

#49

Posted by: brokenSoldier | April 18, 2008 3:43 PM

See, this picture is proof positive that Bush is definitely not an a**hole... He's actually a stunning multitude of them rolled into one!

#50

Posted by: Hap | April 18, 2008 4:30 PM

I sort of figured the picture was simply redundant as rendered. While the picture of W made of smaller pictures of soldiers killed in Iraq is probably more poignant, I wonder if his adherents don't take it as a complement and endorsement - "Look, I am standing on the shoulders of thousands of dead soldiers to bring you Freedom(TM) - if these men and women were willing to die for my lies and untruths, the least you could do is sacrifice your intelligence and your children for them."

#51

Posted by: MikeM | April 18, 2008 5:41 PM

I'd like to have one of me, but I have a full, thick beard.

Um... Ew?

#52

Posted by: jsn | April 18, 2008 7:46 PM

/...this picture is a collage made from pictures of anuses .../

OMG, I can't resist: PZ, you obviously don't know dick.

(I keeeeed, I keeeeeeed)

#37,JK: can you say "repressed"?

#53

Posted by: Tim Fuller | April 18, 2008 10:04 PM

Just a last thought on this photo. I assume you've seen the one done with all the pictures of the dead soldiers? It's actually a whole lot more appropriate, but not quite as much fun.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=105&topic_id=1252954&mesg_id=1252990

Enjoy.

#54

Posted by: jasper | April 19, 2008 12:02 AM

wow, you people really are intolerant, immature children.

get a life.

#55

Posted by: another | April 19, 2008 12:21 AM

Oh hush, jasper.

Get a shift key.

#56

Posted by: Quiet Desperation | April 19, 2008 1:08 AM