Bullying and Censorship

[groovedaddy]

Editorial
Bullying and CensorshipPublished: December 6, 2010
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LinkedinDiggMixxMySpaceYahoo! BuzzPermalink. In an appalling act of political cowardice, the Smithsonian Institution last week removed “A Fire in My Belly,” a four-minute video clip, from an exhibit called “Hide/Seek” at the National Portrait Gallery. The privately financed show explores identity, gender and homosexuality in American portraiture.

The video, by David Wojnarowicz, is a moving, anguished reflection on the artist’s impending death from AIDS. It shows very quick glimpses of challenging and, at times, disturbing images, including masks, a meatpacking plant, various objects on fire and the artist undressing himself.

One of those images, 11 seconds of ants crawling on a crucifix, drew an outraged denunciation from the Catholic League, a lay civil rights organization that receives no church financing. It called the video “hate speech” and said it was designed to “assault the sensibilities of Christians.” A spokesman for Representative John Boehner, the incoming House speaker, called for the Smithsonian to shut down the exhibition or “be prepared to face tough scrutiny” under the new Republican majority.

Secretary G. Wayne Clough of the Smithsonian immediately yielded, removing the video from the exhibit. His excuse was that the video “was detracting from the entirety of the exhibition.” That is absurd. The exhibition is supposed to deal with culturally challenging images. Indeed, some of the most important roles of art and of museums are to challenge, disturb and enlighten.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/07/opinion/07tue4.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a211

[Dogtown]

1. K&R n/t

[ZombieHorde]

2. Catholics are upset about hate speech?! Fucking Christ, buy a mirror. nt

[AlecBGreen]

3. methinks

the Catholic League needs to get their head out of their a$$ and the Smithsonian needs to show a little backbone.

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Jim__]

5. The article calls it an act of political cowardice, I think it's more an act of political bullying.

The show was privately financed. It's none of boner's businees - not as a congressman. But, the Smithsonian receives a large portion of its funding from the federal government, so, its directors are subject to political bullying - standing up to funding threats is not a courageous act on the part of the director; it's an act that puts the institution at risk.

boner's supporters will only applaud his act. This type of censorship deprives the American people of an opportunity to view serious criticism of our life and culture. Americans should be enraged at boner. That they won't be, says we are getting what we deserve.

My bet is that this will not deter David Wojnarowicz from creating more art.

[cleanhippie]

6. Well said.

Agreed.

[humblebum]

7. Well, so much for "culturally challenging" ideas that

"challenge, disturb and enlighten."

[groovedaddy]

8. More blowback on this artist's work

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/11/arts/design/11ants.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=a28