Normal Bob Smith

Infobox Artist
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name = Normal Bob Smith


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caption = Normal Bob Smith at work
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nationality = flagicon|United States American (United States)
field = Graphic arts
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works = Jesus Dress Up
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Normal Bob Smith is the alias of an American freelance graphic artist, writer, opponent and satirist of Christianity best known for creating the "Jesus Dress Up" game and variations.

Work

Normal Bob Smith's artwork includes several websites that satirize Christianity. The most well-known is "Jesus Dress Up" [ [http://www.jesusdressup.com Jesus Dressup] ] , a game in which users can dress a crucified Jesus in clothing like a traditional dress up doll. As a result of the controversy surrounding this site, Normal Bob Smith created a companion refrigerator-magnet set, as well as other game editions, including "Revenge Dress Up", featuring his likeness, and "Muhammad Dress Up".

The official website for Normal Bob Smith [ [http://www.normalbobsmith.com/ Homepage] ] showcases some more art: "Creatures of Neptune" depicts unusual beings, and "The Sheeples" are caricatures of actual people who have sent hate mail. These caricatures are accompanied by verbatim quotes from the subjects’ letters. So far, Normal Bob has responded to over one thousand complaint letters which he publishes alongside his satirical replies in the Hate Mail section. At over 300 pages, Hate Mail accounts for the bulk of his site. Another feature is "Satan's Salvation", a comic strip chronicling a humorous ongoing struggle between Jesus and Satan who interact with each other and the artist as he’s drawing them.

Normal Bob Smith was chosen to speak at the 29th American Atheists convention in 2003 [ [http://www.americanatheist.org/conv29 29th atheist convention, speakers list] ] and was a subject of Neil Abramson's documentary film "Bob Smith USA". [ [http://www.bobsmithmovie.com Bob Smith USA] ] . He has also been an invited guest speaker for Arizona State University’s Secular Freethought Society [ [http://www.asu.edu/clubs/secular/issuesBob.html ASU’s Secular Freethought Society] .]

During October 2006, in response to the Mel Gibson DUI incident, Heavy.com hired Normal Bob to produce a Mel Gibson Dress Up page [ [http://www.heavy.com/dressup/mel/ Dressup Mel] ] . This led to more media coverage of the incident in the press, furthering reactions to the controversy [ [http://www.myheavy.com/video.php?video_id=2747 Heavy on Fox News... Dress Up Mel Gibson] ] .

Reactions

The "Jesus Dress Up" refrigerator-magnet set was carried by Urban Outfitters, a store chain operating more than 140 shops, then pulled from most stores after much protestation from the Christian communitycite news
url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-114517964.html
publisher=The Washington Times
title=Kits seen as affront to Jesus
date=March 23, 2004
author=Chris Baker] . Clayton D. Harriger, a pastor of the United Methodist Church, even gave a sermon on the topic of Jesus Dress Up [ [http://www.crrange.com/wall206.html Sermon by Clayton D. Harriger] ] .

References

External links

* [http://www.normalbobsmith.com Artist’s homepage]
* [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/TheNormalBobSmithGroup Yahoo-group]
* [http://www.internetviewmagazine.com/2005-08NormalBobSmith.html Interview with Normal Bob Smith]
* [http://blogcritics.org/archives/2004/04/02/174857.php Comment on the shut down compelled by Laptoplobbyists]
* [http://obnoxiousbitch.com/ob/weblog/2004/03/ Article on LaptopLobbyist shutdown of Normal Bob & Jesus Dress Up]
* [http://www.washtimes.com/business/20040322-092410-2758r.htm "Kits seen as affront to Jesus"] , by Chris Baker, "The Washington Times", March 22 2004
* [http://washingtontimes.com/business/20040331-085944-8277r.htm "Web users no longer can dress up Jesus"] , by Chris Baker, "The Washington Times", April 01,2004
* [http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/08/nyregion/08coffee.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin "With a Cafe’s Evolution, a City With a Little Less Grit"] , by Colin Moynihan, "The New York Times", April 8, 2007

Critical Weblinks
* [http://www.tfp.org/what_we_do/index/blasphemy_dress_up_jesus.htm Press release by the TFP]
* [http://www.cst-phl.com/040408/sixth.html Article in the Catholic Standard&Times]
* [http://www.nbc10.com/news/2922892/detail.html NBC10: Dressup-Jesus creator (Normal Bob Smith) reacts to story & says he's doing nothing wrong!]