You have a point, that was poor wording on my part about the fluids. Let me be more specific. Of course, blood has a very central role in Catholic services an

You have a point, that was poor wording on my part about the fluids. Let me be more specific. Of course, blood has a very central role in Catholic services and doctrine. Milk is also heavily used symbolically in the bible (Hence I have said to you, "You are to possess their land, and I Myself will give it to you to possess it, a land flowing with milk and honey." I am the LORD your God, who has separated you from the peoples.) -- but is probably not specifically Catholic. Semen and that type of "seed" are indeed used a lot in Christian symbolism. I don't know about urine. So...the significance of these fluids is considerable. People may and do recoil at the notion, but there it is. Have you seen the full series of Serrano's work from that time period? That's what I'd invite you to do, rather than judging His intentions from small photos on the Internet. To see if there's anything in it for you. Yes, I remember Madonna's work from that era that engaged those kinds of symbols. It was just designed to shock, as you say, just pushing buttons. (She has done better work, "Vogue" still stands up.). But Serrano is really, as I said, more aesthetic and philosophical than just a shock artist. That's why I counterposed Gilbert and George. That's what trying to shock looks like. (Those photos are life size, e.g. http://www.candidmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/installation-view.jpg http://www.candidmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/ins..., so they make quite an impression.)