Whatever happened to Deuteronomy 8?
“You shall not make for yourself a graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.”
For centuries this was a normal and accepted part of Islamic Law. Basically it meant that graphic reprentation of anything was forbidden. There were to be no portraits, no landscapes, no illustrations for books, no still life painting, no photography, cinema or television. No blueprints for buildings or technology. Muslim artists and artezans were restricted to the use geometric designs to decorate their textiles, pottery and architechure.
I remember as recently as recently as 1994 the Muslim Taleban footsoldiers going door to door in Afghanistan to smash TV sets, burn newspapers, magazines, posters and artwork on the back of that commandment. Now they parade posters of their Imams in the street and show videos of themselves on the internet.
What changed?
It is still haram (forbidden) for muslims, according to numerous narrations from the prophet. Most of the pictures you see are in shia countries though sunni countries have some. Its just ignorance really but many Muslims still uphold it. Christianity strangely doesn’t since a particular roman emperor decided it would be ok. Previous to that it was forbidden in all Christian places too
Shepard Fairey, “OBEY” Street Artist and Designer
Tags: art, design, inspiration, smashing magazine posters, typography, webdesign