33 meters of sacrum. The analysis of discourses surrounding the statue of Christ the King of the Universe in Świebodzin

Abstract

In this paper address the phenomenon of the monument of Jesus Christ, the King of the Universe, which was built, located and consecrated in Świebodzin. The very size of this monument – in contrast with its rather peripheral location – was enough to elicit lots of response from both the Polish and foreign media. Frequently, highly emotional opinions could be found on community portals on the Internet as well as the official websites of Catholic Church allowing for visitor’s input. In an attempt to capture the dynamics of this discourse, I shall employ the anthropological theory of art by Alfred Gell. The subjects of the analysis shall be statements by the monument’s designer, its originator as well as the various opinions listed in the parish guestbook and on the monument’s Facebook profile.