Joan of Arc, sexy martyr
Published May 30, 2003
On this day in history, May 30, 1431 Joan of Arc was burned as a witch by the English at Rouen at age 19. She's since become the greatest modern symbol of martyrdom in western society. I guess she's got some kind of virgin sacrifice thing going on there.
I become more skeptical of most martyrs, and especially people who seek martyrdom. There is some major inherently unhealthy, dysfunctional psychology going on in people who seek death when there is any other reasonable option.
Nonetheless, religious passion, suffering and martyrs make great stories. You can build books and movies about them. They work beautifully as subjects for drama. They lend meaning to suffering- a desperate need in the human psyche.
In addition, did you ever want to make it with Joan of Arc? Note that I ask this after seeing the Leelee Sobieski performance in the role- and about the same time as her noteworthy performance in Eyes Wide Shut.
Martyrs are just plain sexy. So passionate, so crazy. They're liable to do anything. I bet Jesus had the poontang thrown at him left and right.
- Joan of Arc, sexy martyr
- Published: May 30, 2003
- Type:
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Books: History, Books: Spirituality, Books: Women, Video: Action, Video: Drama
- Writer: Al Barger
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Comments on this articleComments
There shouldn't be martyrs that young.
But isn't that kind of the point? If a matryr is already 80 years old you could argue: Well, he would have died anyway... So, the death of a young person will always make the stronger impression.
I'm running off now, don't wanna be around when the lighting bolts start striking on you guys.
My advice:
Skip the Leelee Sobieski's "Joan of Arc" and see the Carl Dryer's silent film "Passion of Joan of Arc."
The younger and hotter the martyr, the greater the sacrifice. They did manage to milk Socrates martyrdom pretty good, but usually old dudes make the least appealing martyrs.
I think your are plain sick. To mock martyrs is the pinnacle of human indifference, prejudice, lack of respect for people's religious inklings. To even try to poke fun at Jesus Christ is blasphemous .. and again shows lack of sensitivity if not downright stupidity.
"The younger and hotter the martyr, the greater the sacrifice."
The original hardcover of this book has short entries on the deaths of the famous and notorious. Apparently, Jeanne d'Arc was a hot martyr, because when she shied back and recanted at the sight of the pyre, the townspeople rioted because they had been revved up to see Jeanne's naked body when her clothing burned away.
Y'can't top that for sickness.
Mr Green, in what way was I saying anything bad about Jesus? Not that I am against blasphemy or anything, as I don't see the benefit of tip-toeing around people's religious superstitions.
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right after i'm done laughing, lightning bolts are gonna strike us both
:)