Project #3 - Obscenity

1.Looking at the photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe, Ken Moody and Robert Sherman, I do not agree with the author of the article that if the photograph had been of a man and a woman or a woman and a woman it would have not been controversial. This photograph like many things draws out your inner perceptions, morals and biases. You can not control someone's perception or biases, it is something that has been taught to them and drilled in them since birth. If this photograph was of a woman and a woman it would have been simply viewed the same because same sex anything is considered to be immoral and obscene. If it were to be a man and a women it would be seen as too vulgar. This photograph also draws out the issue of racism. Everyone may not feel this way or see it this way but perception is key. The photograph leaves your mind to fill in the blanks because you can not see shoulder down, you do not know if they are fully nude. You can not tell if this photograph is of two homosexual men or two hetersexual men. People perceive it as what they want it to be.

2.This photograph is a workout and can be seen that way. Most of the greatest art works have negative backlash. Damien Hirst's statue Verity is one of the most controversial art works of the 20th century, but is an artwork.Just like the photograph by Robert Mapplethorpe.

3.The NEA Putting a restriction on how Artist create their work undermines the idea of art. Art is an expression, whether you decide to express your political standpoint or religious standpoint it is completely up to the person making the art. If an Artist would like to show appreciation to the male body like it has been done for centuries it is acceptable but to do so with the female body it is seen with so much negativity. Art is about expression. People should not be controlled by another person's perception or biases. What one person may see as unclean, misguided, obscene,vulgar and even sacrilegious another person might find as inspiration. The NEA putting limitations on Artist is limiting the people they reach and their imagination.

4.In my opinion it is more dangerous to censor artistic freedom than it is to offend people. People can be offended by the way you chew your food or how you wear your hair. Art is about expression. You should not be limited to how you express yourself based on other people's happiness. If they disagree with the art, they are entitled to their opinion but that does not make their opinion fact. Controlling the art world is another way to control people. It is telling their way of thinking is wrong. That one person's emotions are more important than theirs. It is going against what art is all about.