Profound Weakness by Betty Spackman

From the Publisher

In this 'image journal' and textbook, the contemporary artist Betty Spackman takes us on a guided tour of her collection of the images and objects that represent the Christian faith in popular culture. Having set out to critique these poor relations of ecclesiastical art, she finds herself torn between being deeply moved and outraged by their sentimental appeal. Her gentle deconstructions and playful permutations elicit new life from them to illustrate her observations, and to surprise and at times unsettle the reader. A closing questionnaire prompts further reflection. This is a book that can help us greatly to make sense of the pictures that unwittingly may have shaped our faith or unfaith. In particular Spackman wonders why, if kitsch is 'easy, formulaic and a lie', the church is so quick to adopt it to 'tell the truth'! This beautifully produced, full-colour textbook is highly recommended for artists, teachers, preachers, youth leaders, parents and spiritual counsellors.

'Paradoxically, the simplistic nature of kitsch both conceals and reveals the vestiges of wonder, the underlying mysteries of faith, through the most garish of guises and a disturbing exhibitionism. In a way, kitsch represents a closet desire for spiritual reality, and the creative longing to manifest mystery. . .' [p17]

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