first of all let me say i, unlike some crabby fathers of the church, have nothing against jewelry. and although i'm tempted to say things that are critical of paris hilton personally, i won't (lest she comment on my blog pointing out the log in my eye). but since this line of jewelry jumped out at me when I was looking for a book on amazon, i thought i would react back, focusing especially on this item in her new jewelry line.
click on photo for a larger view:
the interesting thing to me is the way the glitter and excess of the whole image is subverted by two simple facts, if one has eyes to see. first, the simple fact that it is a cross. this can never, for me, escape either jesus' death on the cross or its meaning as redemptive solidarity with all those who suffer in the world. such a symbol mocks the excess of sterling and diamonds (crystals, actually, so as to be affordable to the masses). and then, lovely of lovelies, there are seven crosses. seven. the number of fullness. god created the world in seven. it is the image, therefore, of a wholly subverted commercial excess and self-referentiality. paris hilton compels us to look at her, and bids us desire to be looked at as we look at her, and yet in fixing our gaze on her, the product's depth becomes icon, pointing beyond. beyond to the fullness of one who looks upon us with a deeper love, a fuller grace, a measure that takes no account of such glitter but only the fullness of what dwells within us.
anon, and +peace
hello my nam is maxence i'm from France (frenche)you are good
Posted by: Maxence | February 25, 2006 at 09:58 AM