The Last Supper by Paul Elie, this book is about those who used religion as a backdrop or theme in books movies art etc from David Bowie to Madonna and even Martin Scorsese or mentioned in the book but these are just a few of many well-known names that colored my life as I grew up. I found a lot of of this book very interesting especially the connection between Martin Scorsese the last temptation of Christ and Michael Jackson’s bad video it seems Mr. Eli left nothing out. He even talked about the Wall Street collapse in the 80s black Monday and so much more. there was a lot I thought he would mention that didn’t get talked about as it’s mainly the 80s he sticks to but if you were alive and conscious of the guys then you will definitely enjoy reading this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #PaulEli, #TheLastSupper, The Last Supper by Paul Eli, this book is about those who used religion as a backdrop or theme in books movies art etc from David Bowie to Madonna and even Martin Scorsese or mentioned in the book but these are just a few of many well-known names that colored my life as I grew up. I found a lot of of this book very interesting especially the connection between Martin Scorsese the last temptation of Christ and Michael Jackson’s bad video it seems Mr. Elie left nothing out. He even talked about the Wall Street collapse in the 80s black Monday and so much more. there was a lot I thought he would mention that didn’t get talked about as it’s mainly the 80s he sticks to but if you were alive and conscious of the era’s Zeitgeist then you will definitely enjoy reading this book. #NetGalley, #TheBlindReviewer, #MyHonestReview, #PaulElie, #TheLastSupper,

Much of Paul Elie’s masterful Last Supper: Art, Faith, Sex, and Controversy in the 1980s speaks to the dichotomous and harmonious relationship between religion and artistry during the Reagan era, and focuses on the crypto-religious, which are religious words, images, and motifs added to artworks but “express something other than conventional belief.” Rather than calling them essays or chapters, Elie tells “tales” about Warhol, Basquiat, William Kennedy, Toni Morrison (Beloved), U2, The Smiths, Martin Scorsese, etc., and how these artists used crypto-religious tropes in a post-secular world to complicate and compliment their respective creative and controversial visions.

Review coming out in the June through ArtsFuse.

This is a particular angle I've always wanted to see on popular and art history forthe 80s (specifically the growing rebellion against religion, especially Christianity, as the dominant force in peoples' lives, and various examples of major figures of the times own personal believes and some of the art that was made during this time. Hell of a read, in the best kind of way.

Amazing read. Lots of history and pop culture references with smooth writing and accessible vocabulary. Might have a bit too much informations in too little pages sometimes but not a real problem since it’s what we signed up for.

*The Last Supper* dives into the 1980s culture clash where religion met pop art in unexpected ways. Paul Elie weaves an engaging tapestry of iconic figures—think Leonard Cohen’s "Hallelujah," Prince’s altar-inspired lyrics, and Scorsese’s *The Last Temptation of Christ*—all exploring spirituality outside the usual lines. It’s a fascinating look at how these "crypto-religious" artists shaped our postsecular world. Thoughtful and bold, this book brings a fresh perspective on the culture wars of yesterday and their lasting impact today.