Without appropriation, there is no art. All artists borrow, imitate, quote, mash-up, pastiche, parody, pay tribute. That’s how creation happens. Ex nihilo nihil fit: nothing comes from nothing. Still, the process brings risks and benefits.

Sometimes the risk is that the audience won’t get the reference — as occurred this week when pearl-clutching conservatives, looking for reasons to complain about the affirmation that LGBTQ+ fabulousness is central to Parisian festivity, took offence at what they wrongly perceived to be mockery of Christianity, at least as depicted by Leonardo da Vinci...

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