2024 Paris Olympics General (non-Basketball/Track & Field) Discussion Thread

[Buckets22]

https://www.cafe.se/21-storsta-svenska-medaljhoppen-i-os-i-paris-2024/

I don't speak Swedish but i liked how your team was prepared with rain jackets as part of the official uniform
Also...golf it at the Olympics, cool!

[WarriorGM]

How can we know that the piece of art of one faith over another wasn't a consideration given one is a safer choice?

Of course the art was recreated. But it's a looking away from a central aspect of the choice that the choice of one art, or of one depicting a crucial scene in a faith's tenet, or religious oeuvre, if you will, isn't a factor.

After all, it's not da Vinci that is considered as being blasphemed, my earlier quip about it notwithstanding.

How many pieces of religious art are as iconic to a Western and, especially, French audience as the Last Supper? Are there any non-Christian pieces of religious art that are instantly recognizable to Western (and, again, French) audiences?

Would the recreation/homage/lampooning (If someone wants to view it in a hostile light) work if the piece of art chosen wasn't as widely known as the Last Supper? Would the general audience understand what it is?

The Last Supper was indeed the safer choice but what made it safe wasn't what you're implying. What made it the safer choice is that everyone in the West can recognize it. Religious or not. It's one of those works of art that is considered universal because of how famous it is. That's why it was chosen.

Besides, when any artist tries to recreate/pay homage or lampoon something, it's natural to draw from their own experiences and the culture that they were brought up in. France is a Christian-majority country so it's only natural that the religious art recreated was Christian. It would actually be pretty weird if it wasn't.

Remember the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics? Did they reference Christian religious art at any point? No, of course not. Because it wouldn't make any sense of them. It wouldn't be part of the country's culture (which is something that they're supposed to showcase). But it did heavily reference video games, noh theatre, kabuki and Japanese game shows. Because, you know, all that is part of the culture that they were supposed to showcase.

That is exactly what this opening ceremony did. It showcased the culture of France and Paris. That's the goal and, imo, they absolutely nailed that. Because, yeah, beheading royalty, lampooning religious institutions and generally mocking authority are all parts of French and Parisian culture.

Are there no other famous works of art, non-religious, from which to choose? Are there sensitivities around other religious works that, had they been recreated/lampooned instead, would have been as safe to do so - in today's France? That's a lot of good points that work a big circle around the hub, which is that is IS a centrally religious symbolic piece of art. As you acknowledge. But there's also a reason France has banned all religious exterior symbols in schools (paraphrasing) and only one religion was lampooned, despite it being a country of many faiths, of course. Something is being ignored-to-minimized here, even as I support the right to blaspheme in general.

I was recently watching a British comedy variety show from the 70s. It had some skits gently lampooning Catholicism. I ask myself now what shows in the US would do that today? Despite the vociferous political divide in the US I'm not sure you'd see that. Americans are more polite. Usually I find that is better. There are times though the ruder sharper asperity of Europeans might be useful. France sees itself as a defender of liberal secular values. At this time when Roe was overturned in the US, the separation from this French perspective may be worth contemplating.

[a-French-Fan]

And what about our remix of Avatar with Philippe Catherine ?

[G R E Y]

How many pieces of religious art are as iconic to a Western and, especially, French audience as the Last Supper? Are there any non-Christian pieces of religious art that are instantly recognizable to Western (and, again, French) audiences?

Would the recreation/homage/lampooning (If someone wants to view it in a hostile light) work if the piece of art chosen wasn't as widely known as the Last Supper? Would the general audience understand what it is?

The Last Supper was indeed the safer choice but what made it safe wasn't what you're implying. What made it the safer choice is that everyone in the West can recognize it. Religious or not. It's one of those works of art that is considered universal because of how famous it is. That's why it was chosen.

Besides, when any artist tries to recreate/pay homage or lampoon something, it's natural to draw from their own experiences and the culture that they were brought up in. France is a Christian-majority country so it's only natural that the religious art recreated was Christian. It would actually be pretty weird if it wasn't.

Remember the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Olympics? Did they reference Christian religious art at any point? No, of course not. Because it wouldn't make any sense of them. It wouldn't be part of the country's culture (which is something that they're supposed to showcase). But it did heavily reference video games, noh theatre, kabuki and Japanese game shows. Because, you know, all that is part of the culture that they were supposed to showcase.

That is exactly what this opening ceremony did. It showcased the culture of France and Paris. That's the goal and, imo, they absolutely nailed that. Because, yeah, beheading royalty, lampooning religious institutions and generally mocking authority are all parts of French and Parisian culture.

Are there no other famous works of art, non-religious, from which to choose? Are there sensitivities around other religious works that, had they been recreated/lampooned instead, would have been as safe to do so - in today's France? That's a lot of good points that work a big circle around the hub, which is that is IS a centrally religious symbolic piece of art. As you acknowledge. But there's also a reason France has banned all religious exterior symbols in schools (paraphrasing) and only one religion was lampooned, despite it being a country of many faiths, of course. Something is being ignored-to-minimized here, even as I support the right to blaspheme in general.

I was recently watching a British comedy variety show from the 70s. It had some skits gently lampooning Catholicism. I ask myself now what shows in the US would do that today? Despite the vociferous political divide in the US I'm not sure you'd see that. Americans are more polite. Usually I find that is better. There are times though the ruder sharper asperity of Europeans might be useful. France sees itself as a defender of liberal secular values. At this time when Roe was overturned in the US, the separation from this French perspective may be worth contemplating.

South Park and Simpsons were lampooning aspects of Catholicism/Christianity at times rightly for exposing issues and then more broadly because they can, which again, I generally support, including France's defense of liberal secular values. That's a slightly different conversational path than arguing that a specific religion's famous artistic depiction is less about the religion and why only that religion was depicted. Ignoring the faith aspect is a bit off the path of defending secularism in the first place.

[Black Jack]

very normal stuff today

[KG Leonard]

https://www.cafe.se/21-storsta-svenska-medaljhoppen-i-os-i-paris-2024/

I don't speak Swedish but i liked how your team was prepared with rain jackets as part of the official uniform
Also...golf it at the Olympics, cool!

I always bring rain jacket for visiting friends in Stockholm despite the local weather is crazy hot 25° Celsius, sunny. Being pessimistic about the chances of rain ruining your summer is like our national pastime aka our Baseball.

We aren't the biggest nations like China/USA/Russia with 100s of top level athletes. We will take even golf, hoping for glory heh.
Of the new Olympic sports my favourite by far is breakdancing. That's awesome culture that is like sport these days with all uber acrobatic moves in it. Hip Hop made it from Bronx to the ancient tradition of Olympics, very cool!

[Pablo Escobar]

As someone who holds Jesus Christ in high regard as a Prophet and Messenger. That recreation of the last supper was absolute bs and disrespectful.

[Sofia]

Opening ceremony sucks.

Why are Rafa and Serena involved in such a significant part of the torch relay? Did they not have enough French people?

[Sofia]

Only way to save the ceremonies is a Daft Punk reunion at the closing ceremony.

[Jellybeans]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

[Sofia]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

what part?

[TFJava]

Track and field should provide some excitement and drama.

[durden_tyler]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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[UcanUwill]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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Even realgm cant escape "woke fearers", sad...

[baldur]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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World has more important issues than the prevalence of gender free toilets.

[durden_tyler]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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World has more important issues than the prevalence of gender free toilets.

Yes, the dumb ones simplify it like that. LOL


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[benhillboy]

I tuned in to the opening ceremony for a second. They seduced me with the aerial shots of the city which were stunning. Then they started talking about all the celebrities, showing Musk and what’s become of Serena’s face, then some red carpet nonsense. I violently rushed for my remote.

[baldur]

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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World has more important issues than the prevalence of gender free toilets.

Yes, the dumb ones simplify it like that. LOL


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First things first my man.

[Jellybeans]

Even Olympics cant escape this woke BS

They did? Good on them for being on the right side of the social issues. LOL


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Social isues my ass.
Inmates running the asylum

[durden_tyler]

Back to topic i guess. i forgot there’s no use arguing about these things on the internetz. LOL.

China still the favorites for total gold medals and total medals i presume? Or does USA have a shot this year?


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