Crummy Crumb

In my opinion, Crumb’s illustrations do change the stories in Genesis, whether he intended to or not. Just the simple fact that the illustrations exist will change a reader’s perception of the story. A person reading Genesis straight out of the Bible will naturally create different images in his or her mind than Crumb’s. By giving the reader a set image to view the story through, Crumb can either be adding or detracting from the story. One person who has read Genesis and Crumb’s version may say they preferred the original story and their own interpretation to Crumb’s, whereas maybe having the scenes illustrated made the story much more interesting and readable to another. It may simply be that the reader likes or dislikes Crumb’s art style that determines if it adds or detracts from the story. For me his art detracts from the story because it is exceptionally ugly.

                Crumb did have to take liberties with the illustrations. How do you decide how God, who most believe cannot be given an image, should be depicted? He had to take liberties depicting the characters’ appearances, emotions, and actions. By doing these things he has changed the way readers view the stories of Genesis.

                Crumb’s illustrations would’ve been considered heresy in the past, and probably still are considered that way by some. I think there are many reasons it’s more acceptable now than it was back then. The Bible itself is not taken quite as seriously, every rule stated not necessarily having to be followed. Then there are all the freedoms we have now-a-days, like freedom of speech and expression. He is legally allowed to create a work like this so it’s obviously acceptable in that way. I think it also makes the stories easier to understand and more interesting for people in modern times to have pictures.

                I believe that Crumb tried to make an unbiased translation of Genesis through his work. It seems that he didn’t try to put in any of his own beliefs or feelings into the art. I think that he found it interesting and so wanted to create a direct translation of the work.