OUT OF THE CONFESSIONAL BOX

For MY WALK we had to present our project in a out of the box fashion.

I chose to do mine a a wee speech in a confessional box as it really fit in with my ideas. I hope you enjoy

My piece of writting to go with my projects is a quote from Vincent Price (my favourite actor) which sums up about the idea of being good to get into heaven:

"Doing a religious picture is a boring thing because everybody is on their best behavior - hoping for the keys to the kingdom, I guess"

COLLECTION

In MY WALK project we have to use complete primary research so only photos or pieces of writing or drawing that are complete our own. I decided to take some photos of religious items.

My idea was to take photos of items like the crucifix and rosary beads and how they have become a total fashion statement. Shops like Urban Outfitters and Topshop are selling t shirts with crosses on them, and rosary bead to "complete" your outfit and with the rise of Lady GaGa more and more young people are jumping on the "Blasphemous" BANDWAGON!
I have collected religious items and imagery for years....pretty much since i was 10 (I even still have my Holy Communion rosary) and it frustrates me in one way as I hate "hipster" kids thinking it is all "cool" and "unique" but on the other hand I can add to my collection haha!

My friend Ruby on a night out with a cross tattoo on her wrist

Lighting fixture in Paramount bar, Aberdeen

Becky with old school wooden crucifix necklace

My favourite band My Ruin's sticker

Novelty soap

BGD Necklace that was custom made for me

A band necklace with crosses on

My Holy Communion rosary

Rosary with broken crucifix

Fashion jewellery with skulls and crosses

Jesus Plasters....BEST THING IN THE WORLD!

Mary and Jesus glittery money boxes

My nun porcelain doll

MY WALK

During the series of lectures with Charlie we have been asked to record a walk. This doesnt have to be a actual walk but has to be a journey.

I have decided to do my journey of religion...specifically Christianity and Catholic. 

My story is basically this:

I was born Emma Ann McMahon, in to a Roman Catholic Irish family in 1987.

I went to a Roman Catholic primary school called Saint Anne's then left there when I moved to another Roman Catholic school called Saint Clare's. It is here where I questioned beliefs at a very early age.

I was always keen to make an impression in church and be a good two shoes, sitting with my knees together, hands together with thumbs crossed over, always making sure my thumbs were against my chest, as I always thought my prayers would only count if my hands were against my chest, close to my heart. 

During school you have to do your Conformation then your Holy Communion. 

Conformation is where you get a blessing and can then go up to the alter during mass to get blessed (I felt grown up walking with the adults) this happens before you get your Communion (which is where you can finally be "grown up" and get the bread and wine) BUT.......

The week after my Conformation I was at the weekly mass and I wasn't paying attention to the teacher and we were told to lined up and walk down the aisle to the alter but because I wasn't listening i didn't cross my arms over to get blessed and I kept my hands in praying position, which resulted in me getting the bread and wine...................

Lets just say when the teacher found out, she marched my back to the school called my mother and repeatedly told me I was "going to Hell", I was "the worst human being ever" and "Satan would get you"

I WAS 8 YEARS OLD!!!!

This just made me think, is this what I want to be told for the the rest of my life if I did bad things?

I completed my primary education in Saint Claire's and went on to a normal secondary school.

Even though I basically renounced my faith I still love religious imagery. I even have a a sacred heart tattoo on my arm which reads "Mi Ruina" My Ruin

It reminds me that religion is my ruin but it can't bring me down.