Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Giant Homer Simpson Angers English Pagans


Crass commercialism in the English countryside is upsetting to more than just pagans:
The publicity team behind "The Simpsons" movie, which premieres in the United Kingdom next week, has taken its marketing campaign to a whole new level — one that has enraged members of the British public.

A 180-foot-tall drawing of Homer Simpson has appeared on a hill in the English countryside, right next to the famed Cerne Abbas Giant, a well-known British landmark.

The Cerne Abbas Giant, a chalk outline of an aroused, club-wielding man dating to at least the 17th century, is a revered symbol of fertility among pagans. It is Britain's largest chalk drawing, carved into the natural chalk rock beneath the turf.

Its new neighbor is Homer Simpson, proudly wielding a doughnut and clad more modestly in an enormous pair of Y-front briefs in the adjacent lush, green field.

The artist of the Homer Simpson giant is Peter Stuart, who was commissioned to create it using biodegradable paint, which will eventually wash away.

Ann Bryn-Evans, joint Wessex district manager for the Pagan Federation, told ABC News that Cerne Abbas "is a place people have a lot of affection for. Young girls used to pray at the feet of the figure so they wouldn't become old maids." Now, she said, "they've carved this darn great eyesore."

Today, the site is protected by the National Trust. Because of the site's historical significance, visitors must observe Cerne Abbas from the bottom of the hill.


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My Comments:
On the other hand, that one pagan dude in the photo looks pretty happy to see Homer.

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5 Comments:

At 7/18/2007 9:27 AM, Blogger PB said...

Jay, you set the stage for this one:

Makes you wonder what Homer is going to do with the donut!

 
At 7/18/2007 9:51 AM, Blogger DP said...

Eat the doughnut, of course. You don't remember the Treehouse of Horror episode where Homer went to Hell and exhausted the "Ironic Punishment Department" donut force-feeders?

Plus, while Homer is flattered, and maybe even a little curious, he doesn't swing that way...

Oh, for the days when the Simpsons were consistently hilarious (Seasons 3-8).

 
At 7/18/2007 9:53 AM, Blogger DP said...

Plus, I don't see why the limey pagans' boxers are in a bunch about this.

It's a 17th Century drawing, not Stonehenge.

Stonehenge/
Where the demons dwell/
Where the banshees live/
And they do live well


Stop me before I subreference again.....

 
At 7/18/2007 12:05 PM, Blogger Christine the Soccer Mom said...

Yeah, I seem to have little sympathy for the pagans. I mean, how many of them stand outside our parishes and have vulgar protests? How many think it's funny when gays dress up as nuns? How many of them think it's just fine if an abortuary opens up just down the street from (or across the street from!) a Catholic church? How many are fighting to keep Muslims from using cathedrals for their prayer times?

I haven't watched the Simpsons on a regular basis ever, but I do appreciate the humor here. And the preview looked kind of funny.

It's probably not another Rattatouie, but what could be?? ;)

 
At 7/23/2007 12:37 PM, Anonymous Anonymous said...

The old ways have spoken.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/6911226.stm

 

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