Talk about getting your panties in a bunch…
Madison, the contemporary clothing boutique on 3rd St. and Robertson Blvd. has caused quite a stir with a window nativity scene that a neighboring group of medical professionals are deeming “racy.”
The display features three faceless mannequins, or, “wise women,” bundled up in knits, hats and scarfs with Madison’s orange shopping bags in hand. Seated to their right is another faceless mannequin with a halo of gold glitter, aka “The Virgin Mary.” But what has the group (who kind of look old enough to have actually attended the first Christmas. But still.) up in arms is Mary’s outfit–a short, white, ruffle dress with a white furry vest belted on top. Oh and the group isn’t too pleased about the disco-gold baby “Jesus” chillin’ on Mary’s lap, either.
According to news footage on KTLA, one of the outspoken neighbors thinks that Mary is in a “very provocative position with a baby stuck in her crotch.” When the lady went inside the shop to complain, she says workers looked at her like she was “crazy.”
A fellow noisemaker thinks the display is “trashy.”
Call me a product of the liberal media elite (and also a Chanukah-celebrator, so perhaps this scene doesn’t carry the same weight for me as it may for others), but I find the
window to not only be non-offensive, but a bit boring, too. Without the voices of these very conservative ladies squawking on my local evening news, I don’t think I would have even looked twice at the display while walking down the street.
But the God-fearing neighbors are determined to get the scene removed from their ‘hood, and, according to KTLA, have even threatened to gather “as many people as they can” from local churches until Madison gives in.
I say, viva la freedom of expression. That and there are probably uh, more important things for medical professionals to be worrying about at the moment (I can’t help but wonder if mannequin Mary had a good prenatal plan when she popped out the gold glittered offspring sitting so “provocatively” on her lap).
Calls to Madison for comment were not immediately returned.
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sounds like these repressed biddies have lil too much time on their hands.
Who are those women to decide what is or isn’t appropriate??? The owner of this store has the right to put anything (non-illegal) in their store window. I say good for them for not taking it down. As to those who are offended….DON’T LOOK AT IT!!!!
As a former South Carolinian-now-Los Angeleno, I remember way back in 1987 when I first visited WeHo, Madison did a S&M themed Christmas display.
Santa herding, whip in hand, a team of headless women mannequins in skimpy, chained black bras, panties, and kinky garters, on all fours. Necks yanked in harnasses, ready to take off.
I thought that was the coolest sh*t I ever saw and still is.
The only contraversy should be that Madison has truly lost its “oomph” to startle and surprise in jaded, blase West Hollywood.
Even the kinky S&M Xmas seems like a tired cliche for the area.
This is a beautiful display, and oddly reverent — certainly more so than other tacky displays
While I understand people saying that this is tame compared to other displays seen in the past (such as the S&M themed Christmas display mentioned by Laura), especially in this modern era, however I feel this display must be put in context.
While the display may be ‘sexy’ and still aesthetically pleasing, we have to remember these symbols are somewhat sacred to many people. It would be like putting Buddah in a bikini – whilst bikinis are an accepted form of swimwear and nothing to bat an eyelid at now, putting a religious icon in one can easily be seen as disrespectful, perhaps even objectifying and commercializing the religious icon. While it is arguable that religious icons are commercialized already, having their own commercials and billboards, there is a world of difference in how they are marketed, as such, or how they are portrayed. As I understand it, sex appeal is about the last thing that Christians want associated with their religion.
Freedom of expression is important, of course, however just because we have a right to something, doesn’t mean we should necessarily say or do everything that pops into our head. I doubt the good people at Madison considered how offensive and confronting the display could be to Christians, which might be understandable, considering the shrinking importance God is having on our lives. However if they leave it up even after all this criticism, it may indicate a lack of understanding or respect for people who hold Mary in a higher position than a fictional character in a Christmas myth. They should understand that whilst this may garner attention, a lot of it won’t be positive.
What I’m wondering is why use a nativity scene in the first place when clearly Jesus was the last thing on their mind? Next time, do a Santa scene, or a family scene – then you can be as sexy as you want and you’ll have fewer Christians breathing down your neck about it.