Censorship.
That’s bad, right?
Everyone should have their say.
Or at least the right to.
Yes. Its what makes America
great. We have the FREEDOM to say or
print everything and anything we want to.
Everyone wants to be heard.
We've heard the adage: “Everyone is entitled to my opinion.” But… does everyone want to hear it?
If it’s in the paper, and they don’t like that opinion, people
have the RIGHT to turn the page, or not pick up that paper at all. If it’s on the TV, and you find it offensive
you can turn the channel. If it’s art,
it’s up for interpretation. With large
pieces of art, I suppose, they don’t have to look at it. Locally this has come to a head this week.
I AM entitled to my opinion. Here it is.
A little background: Our county is a fairly conservative county. We have always
had ARTISTS around, but for the most part, it’s been a dry-art county. Until the last 10 years, you had to mail
order art supplies or travel a ways to just get art materials. There are no art museums and no way to really
express your art here. That, thank
goodness, is changing. People seem
surprised that there is all this wonderful talent in our county. Their eyes are finally opening. The talent has been here all along. Now we finally getting a venue to showcase it. This
county is finally giving our art efforts a little room.
The County Seat has been trying to be a little more
artsy. We now have monthly and yearly
art showings and the artists are coming out of the walls and
collaborating! They even have sculptures
downtown on display all year.
One of the new sculptures was there just a few days before
there were complaints and the city blue-tarped it over until it could be
removed.
Which brings me to my opinion, already:
I like to think I am like most artists that have a
more open mind than most. Regardless of what I think of this statue, (and my first
thought, I admit, was sexual) there is a lot, AND I MEAN A LOT of art that
centers around sexuality. So be it. One of the most wonderful things about art is
it means different things to different people.
It’s up to interpretation. It is
something different to everyone.
Once I read what the artists mindset was, I gave it the
benefit of the doubt, as I can look at it from that angle with a little more
open mind. He felt that it shows that
everyone leans on someone at one point or another. OK, I'll give him that. But unless someone can get that explanation
to anyone who may walk by it, its up to the interpretation of the looker.
In a bigger town, this would hardly be a blip in the news. Around here, its BIG NEWS. It’s been in every
newspaper and TV station around. The conservative people in this
county are jumping all over this. They may not quite be ready
for ‘those artists’ to push the envelope of what is acceptable to closed
minds. I’m not sure the ratio of close
minds to open minds is even equal yet.
People are calling names and belittling the responses of this piece. " If you think its sexual you have a dirty mind." "Turn your head if you don't want to see it."
So, I wonder how they would mind if something offensive was put in their front yards, and someone saying, "walk around it. Don't look at it. Its going to stay right there!"
Art evokes things in people. Good and bad.
So, because I am an artist, and I display at our regularly
scheduled monthly art event, I am being asked to wear a blue tarp during my
display. I am not going to abide. And I’ll tell you why.
First.
I am not PRO - Censorship, nor am I ANTI- Censorship, but I try to have some common sense. I believe everyone has a right to construct
any art they want. TV has a right to
air any program they want to. However, call me old-fashioned but x
rated programming would do better in a NON Prime time spot. (Have you seen primetime TV lately? Yep, so
have your kids!)
Yep, the rules of this great land of ours says you can SAY anything you want but we have learned that what you say CAN and DOES
affect other people, right? So YES, you
have freedom of speech, but a wise person knows if you want a peaceful life,
you just try not to offend. So yes, say
what you want, paint what you want, but you should pick the right audience.
Second.
I have been an elected official. A good elected official tries to do what is
in the best interest of his territory.
THAT should always be the deciding factor. As a taxpayer myself, I use my opinion to
let my elected officials know what I think.
It’s my taxpayers RIGHT to let them know! Municipal officers are always getting
feedback on the feelings of their constituents.
If a number of the residents have an opinion about something, a good one
will sit and listen. After all, I would
want them to listen to me and my concerns.
SO, when maybe we have put something out there that didn’t mean to be
offensive, but the walkers-by thinks it is, it would be my duty to not only
listen, but to do something about it.
Does that mean that the piece shouldn’t have been
constructed by that artist? Hell no.
Does that mean that the piece is offensive? Not necessarily.
Does it mean that the governmental entity should have it destroyed? NO, THAT WOULD BE CENSORSHIP.
Does that mean that putting it across the street of one of
the biggest churches in town might be a
bad idea?
This piece was between the Police Station, the Public
Library, and two doors down from City Hall.
It’s also across the street from the Church where right
after you have services, you walk out the doors and see it. That just doesn’t float with the church ladies.
If it’s at first perceived as being crude, whether it was
meant to be or not, is it what you want dignitaries seeing first as they
visit?
Location.
Location. Location.
(Makes me wonder if they would have put it in a different location to begin with, if we would even be having this discussion.)
Third.
As a mother of two, I am very grateful that my kids are now
adults with opinions of their own, and I don’t have to walk by on the way to
the library and have to answer the question of what the people in the statue
were doing. (Pre artist
explanation) These days, with primetime
as it is, and so much out there for kids to see, there has been innocence
lost. They learn way too early and I
hate that the kids these days have to fight for the sweetness of just being a
kid.
This county has simple values. We are more Rural than Metro, more
traditional than edgy. More wait and see
than cutting edge. Maybe the fact that we are a county of small towns the people tend to take more ownership of their towns. There are good things about that too. Are we ever going to
be able to display a piece like this? I
hope so. Is the time now? I’m thinking not.
I don’t see this as governmental censorship, and neither do I see it as a
tarp-wearing sign-carrying reason to protest.
Move the piece to a more appropriate place, or better yet, to a place
where its appreciated. Personally, as an artist, I would much rather have my art displayed
somewhere that there are people who love it than somewhere it isn’t wanted.
Ok, so I am not INTO shock and awe. I also don’t watch Reality TV. I try not to make a issue where there isn’t
necessarily an issue. I don’t think the Bill of Rights has been
infracted upon here, but taking away peoples opinion is also censorship of another
kind and another power push of its own.
My opinion is my opinion, and I am not going to fight about
it. I don’t want it to become at odds
with anyone.
I may be at the age where I’ll pick my battles. I don’t think this is one.
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