usually the image description is tucked into the alt text but this shelf needs a guide. behold.
first shelf shows a smaller shelf full of books topped with a cross, being smashed by a hammer. text reads, as i deconstructed my faith, i had room to consider my gender. a billboard shows a figure with a hat and a shotgun next to the words “are you a trans-trender?”.
the second shelf begins with a book called “am i trans or feminist and confused?” a book showing a long-haired rock star and Sinead o’Connor with her shaved head is called “i want both”. robin rides a bicycle in front of a triangle pointing up under the words “the strongest shape signifies change”. a seven-volume book set titled “every shirt sucks? or it’s my breasts” is next to a two-set of books named “domination 101” and “call me ‘robin’”.
third shelf displays a big book of photography called “waffle house and trains: photos of father-daughter bonds”. “harry potter and why no one takes cross-gender polyjuice potion” is next to “feeling the spirit: a primer on the role of ecstasy in christian ritual”. a book is opened to a quote from real book SHE WHO BECAME THE SUN:
she wanted to keep that fierce empathy in the world. not because
she understood it, but because she didn’t, and for that reason it
seemed precious, something worth protecting.
the open page ends in a triangle pointing down. robin carries folding chairs next to the last book on the shelf, “shape-shifting gods”.
fourth shelf has a tome titled “david and jonathan: definitely hetero platonic friends”. i refer to ancient hebrew king david and his biblical lover i mean friend, jonathan, who embraced each others’ thighs. next, a panel shows a figure preaching “pedophilic christian nationalism” to a bible reader thinking “jesus the egalitarian sexually modest socialist”. An angel and a devil with their harp and trident flank a poster with a large quote from THE GOD WHO IS THERE:
francis schaeffer witnessed this … One guest from India, a Hindu,
asserted that there is no difference between cruelty and non-cruelty
[…] He [the host] picked up the steaming kettle of hot water and held
it over the Indian’s head who looked up and asked what he was doing.
With cold yet gentle finality, the host replied ‘there is no difference
between cruelty and non-cruelty’.”
the last shelf contains a box panel showing young robin making coffee for the church members in an industrial kitchen, next to a box panel of dad and the worship team practicing for worship service. plain text reads “i was raised to fight for my values and to embrace death.” the last box is labeled “spanking: this hurts me more than it hurts you”.