Trans Martyr
Happy Good Friday!
Subscribe to Unwoke Art to receive an email when new designs are posted. All proceeds from subscriptions to this site and the merch store support my unwoke activism. If you’re looking for my unwoke news and commentary, head over to Actively Unwoke.
I’m not putting this design on merchandise because I find it personally distasteful to do so, but I wanted to share this piece to discuss why I made it and what ideas it provokes for me.
Because art isn’t supposed to be about selling merch, it’s supposed to be about provoking thought, emotions, and questions. The merch is just a bonus.
I’m fairly certain this piece does that.
Both political tribes will think this is about them, and both political tribes will feel offended by it. Call me crazy, but I call that a job well done.
I’m starting this practice of creating AI art to accompany my work on the Actively Unwoke substack, both as a way to provoke ideas but also to promote Unwoke Art.
I made this piece in conjunction with an article I just published called the conservative right is going to create a trans martyr.
I started with the idea of Drag Floyd, an event that James Lindsay has warned against involving the woke left exploiting the murder of a trans person or drag queen to make them a martyr.
I wasn’t really sure how to make an image for this, so I typed “drag queen martyr” into the AI. It spit back a few images that looked like normal drag queens.
I tried again…and I got a drag queen that looked like Jesus.
And then it hit me: The image I needed to create was Jesus Christ as a trans person on the cross. It hits every note.
Last year, a dean at the University of Cambridge posited that Jesus could, in fact, be trans. The Huffington Post has been saying it since 2016.
And then there’s this:
On the political right, the mere thought of Jesus being trans is inflammatory.
Personally, I believe the thought of conservative influencers inflaming their audience with so much anti-trans outrage porn that it leads to a Drag Floyd incident is far worse.
My hope is that the image will force the smart conservatives to stop and think about what their side is doing, and the logical end result of their actions.
I didn’t want it to be vulger or garish - putting boobs on Jesus would be too easy and I don’t want to go for the cheap troll.
This is more subtle, but powerful.
It’s shocking, but beautiful.
It’s going to make people angry…but hopefully it will also make people think.
And I promise, it was just a nice coincidence that it was released on Good Friday. They say everything happens for a reason.
What do you think of this design?
Leave a comment and let me know!
As a Catholic I was shocked at this image and honestly my first thought was that if you were going to use it I might not longer subscribe. After reading the article I am glad you won't stoop to that level. I think you're right that people will use the poor person in Nashville as a martyr and it's so wrong on many levels.
My first reaction was anger. My second was sadness, recalling Jesus’ words while being crucified, “Father, forgive them, for they do not not know what they do.” (Luke 23:34). He was and is the ultimate martyr for all mankind in my belief, with the perfect forgiveness even for those who mock Him.
I don’t see this rendition of Jesus as a “drag queen.” I see the tears of blood He shed while looking toward the Heavens.
I know you don’t have the same ideology of Christianity as I do, Karlyn. I’m not one of the perfect ones, nor am I one who believes people must believe the same, or have the same religion, or views. In my opinion, and from what I’ve heard you explain, in your experience, too many who claim the religion of Christianity approach others with condemnation and judgement, as opposed to openness of understanding to the individual person, or sometimes the feelings or motivations of a group. I can’t stand the ‘holier than thou’ attitude.
I’m not a church goer, not a Bible thumper. My first paragraph may have led one to think so. However, I have chosen to be a Christ follower, a struggling, imperfect Christian, as well as a Constitutionalist. I enjoy sharing the love of Christ.
Thank you for sharing this provocative piece of artwork.