I think that controversy in any form benefits society because it stirs a reaction good or bad in someone causing them to think rather than just blankly stare at something. Controversy is a mismatch of beliefs, and when it is about art some people get offended that the artist can even think this way or ruin an image in such a manner and they judge and get offended. It takes open minded thoughts and beliefs in order to not get offended and I understand that not everyone can keep an open mind. This is also an explanation of why controversy arises. Every person has different beliefs and I think through art medium it is healthy for there to be arguments and disagreements about the art's context. For example this picture of Bush is among several displayed in New York's public library of top White House officials. To a select few (I am hoping this is the case) Bush may be a hero of some sorts, but to many he is....too many adjectives to describe. Already there is controversy in this piece because it stirs those emotions and makes people critically think and that is what we need more of in America, because if we could think about things and analyze them at different levels than maybe so many ignorant people would not be walking around not knowing even why Bush led us to Iraq. For this and many other reasons the artists Nora Ligorano and Marshall Reese's created the 'Lineup.'Art like any other form of expression should never be standardized or monitored by any institutional hierarchy like the government. Then something like 1984 would take place....Art is in someways like a novel, an idea is expressed, now in art it is through visual media, in books it is through the written language. Either way there is that freedom that makes each work unique and allows the creator to express their idea in which ever way they choose. If governments were to abolish that freedom then we would be living in a controlled hell, so watch out for such things as the Patriot Act....We should be free to look, read, write, and do whatever we like without someone having to know it or monitor it!
I enjoyed this weeks content the most because of the controversy and all the various emotions it created in people. I didn't know that so many people would find the Vietnam Memorial so unpatriotic or what not, and I didn't think some people would act so crazy about a portrayal of a religious figure because she is black and made of non-traditional material. For this reason I believe controversial art should always be afloat because it will make people think, and we need people to think rather than just watch and absorb TV but to actually do somethings with their brains whether they feel the art is appropriate or not.
1 comment:
A photo realistic picture of Bush as a criminal, or as a suspected criminal, gives a stronger jolt to someone who can only see him as a hero or as an authority figure beyond reproach. A political cartoon on the editorial page of the local newspaper might offend his supporters who are regular editorial page readers, but this photo retouch job is designed to reach a wider audience via the Internet. The image may be a lie, but it reminds me how easy it is to doctor a picture and sway public opinion. The truth is illusive, but it is out there.
It is a good thing when an artist stirs things up. It reminds us that society is diverse. Things aren't just black and white. The world is diverse and artists need to be perverse. (See dictionary for definition of perverse.)
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