Some pictures really are worth a thousand words, but there are times when just the right caption can add something essential to the end result.
This "Motivational Poster" style commentary on school prayer has been making the rounds on teh interwebs. It started as part of a "Student Witch" series by photographer Marcus J. Ranum. You can see the whole series at Ranum's DeviantArt gallery here.
(Ranum's wikipedia entry tells us that he is a computer security expert of some note and that "his hobbies include photography and firearms.")
I would like to find out whose idea it was to add the eleven words to Ranum's already quite magnificent photo, thus taking it to the next level of brilliance!
The book she is holding is Aleister Crowley's "Magic in Theory and Practice", which you can make out if you look at the full size image of the original. The book on the ground is something by Anton LeVay.
Ranum, who is an atheist and a supporter of Richard Dawkin's "Out Campaign", has this to say about inclusion of the LeVay book as a prop in the original photograph:
Someone mentioned (rightly and courteously) that I might have given offense by mixing the word "witch" with LaVey's goofy satanic bible. It's just a prop. I was tempted to fix the title but then I realized that would be inconsistent. As an equal opportunity disrespector of all religion, it would be unfair of me to show wicca more respect than I show any of the other goofy superstitions of the world. So, with all due respect, if this image bothers you - "get over it."
[Since first posting this I have received direct confirmation from Laura Unbound that it is her. She also left a comment below.]
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7 comments:
Someone should educate Ranum on "LaVey's goofy satanic bible" which in fact. along with the Church Of Satan, is based in Atheism.
Anonymous makes a legitimate point.
Personally I would go even further. In fact, all of those who really believe that religion=religion=religion should move to Saudi Arabia.
But that does not in any way detract from the end product, which is a very effective statement on the whole "school prayer" issue, in my opinion.
Hello are you for real? Do you not know that Crowley regarded women as sex objects? Oh I guess you do? Wow and here I thought you were enlightened. My bad.
Uncle Al was one of the midwives of Wicca and modern Goddess worship generally. Other than that, though, I will not engage in a defense of the Master Therion against ideological attacks.
"Every man and woman is a star."
Liber AL vel Legis
Rhondda,
While your comment has nothing to do with the photo or the message being portrayed in the photo...
Im totally okay with being a sex object.
me likey. This badboy is going right on my facebook status.
Facebook is where I first saw it myself. Several of my Wiccan friends posted it along with comments that basically amounted to "wow -- check this out!!".
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