Paris Olympics Blasphemy Controversy: Catholic Censorship of Queer Tableau
The 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony sparked accusations of blasphemy from Catholic groups over a tableau vivant featuring queer and trans performers. Critics claimed the scene parodied Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper,' but the author argues it actually referenced Jan van Bijlert's 'The Feast of the Gods,' a 17th-century painting of Greek gods. The controversy highlights a long history of Catholic censorship of images, from Jacopo Bassano's inclusion of a dog in the Last Supper to Paolo Veronese's Black figures and Caravaggio's poor fishermen. The author, Alfonso Leto, writing for Artribune, criticizes the 'censorious Catholic media' for failing to recognize pagan iconography and for demanding that all imagery conform to Christian ethics. He calls for a secular, imaginative approach to visual culture, citing Matthew 6:19-24: 'If your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out.'
Key facts
- 2024 Paris Olympics opening ceremony featured a tableau vivant with queer and trans performers.
- Catholic groups accused the scene of blasphemy, claiming it parodied Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper'.
- The scene actually referenced Jan van Bijlert's 'The Feast of the Gods' (c. 1635-1640), depicting a banquet of Greek gods.
- Historical precedents include Jacopo Bassano's Last Supper with a dog, Paolo Veronese's with Black figures, and Caravaggio's with poor fishermen.
- Alfonso Leto authored the opinion piece for Artribune on August 2024.
- The article criticizes Catholic censorship and calls for secular interpretation of images.
- The controversy reflects ongoing tensions between religious sensibilities and contemporary art.
- The author cites Matthew 6:19-24 to argue against censorship.
Entities
Artists
- Alfonso Leto
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Jan van Bijlert
- Jacopo Bassano
- Paolo Veronese
- Caravaggio
- Pier Paolo Pasolini
- Ciprì e Maresco
Institutions
- Artribune
Locations
- Paris
- France