Why is the respected Tempo apologizing over a misguided complaint?Catholics apparently took umbrage with Tempo’s latest cover, which depicted Suharto and his children in a scene reminiscent of The last Supper by Da Vinci.
“The painting has a deep meaning for Catholics as it’s about the holy journey of Jesus and his disciples, but Tempo has disrespected it by replacing the holy persons with the corrupt Soeharto’s family,” Catholic Students Alumni Forum head Hermawi Taslim told The Jakarta Post.
Consider the irony of the statement: An Indonesian Catholic protesting over the mistreatment of a painting by an Italian artist. If history is correct at all the painting has not factual resemblence at all to Christ and his disciples. Christ and Co. were Middle Eastern chaps, swarthy of skin, curly of hair and looks nothing like the Caucasions of Da Vinci’s depiction which would be culturally insensitive if painted today.
Besides so what if Tempo satirized the holy persons? Would this make them any less holy? Would God, if she exists, give a toss? Does this incident speak more of Tempo’s insensitivity (and subsequent lack of spine to apologize so readily) or the faith of the protesters?
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‘Tempo’ apologizes for controversial Da Vinci cover
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
Leading weekly magazine Tempo has apologized to the Catholic community for its cover depicting a satirical version of The Last Supper by Leonardo Da Vinci.
Tempo chief editor Thoriq Hadad said the magazine would publish the apology in Wednesday’s issue of Koran Tempo newspaper, online newsportal Tempointeraktif and the magazine’s next issue.
“We also decided to change the cover of our magazine’s English-language edition,” he said.
The apology came after representatives of eight Catholic organizations went to the magazine’s office Tuesday to protest over the cover, which they said had offended them.
The cover portrays the late former president Soeharto having dinner with his six children, following the same composition as Da Vinci’s masterpiece. |
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Unspun 
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