A Painter's Use In Contrast
A couple attending an art exhibition at the National Gallery
were staring at a portrait that had them completely confused.
The painting depicted three very black and totally naked men
sitting on a park bench. Two of the figures had black penises,
but the one in the middle had a pink penis.
The curator of the gallery quickly realized they were having
trouble interpreting the painting, so he offered his assessment.
He went on for nearly half an hour explaining how it depicted
the sexual emasculation of African-Americans in a predominately
white, patriarchal society.
"In fact," he pointed out, "some serious critics
believe that the pink penis also reflects the cultural and sociological
oppression experienced by gay men in contemporary society."
After the curator left, a Scottish man approached the couple
and said, "Would you like to know what the painting is
really about?"
"Now why would you claim to be more of an expert than
the curator of the gallery?"
asked the man.
"Because I'm the guy who painted it," he replied.
"In fact, there are no African-Americans depicted at all.
They're just three Scottish coal-miners. The only difference
is that the guy in the middle went home for lunch. '
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