Self Censorship & the Artist Misunderstood w/Eric Wong
A Facebook thread introduced by an anonymous friend on the topic of "self censorship and the artist." The following, are my comments on the subject.
Anonymous:
WHAT IS ON MY MIND, FACEBOOK ASKS ME EVERY DAY.
TODAY THE SUBJECT IS ARTIST SELF-CENSORSHIP.
THIS MAY BE THE MOST INSIDIOUS OF THE MANY VARIETIES OF CENSORSHIP.
THE QUESTIONS WE MIGHT RAISE IN OUR BRAINS BEFORE PURSUING A POSSIBLE CONTROVERSIAL IDEA OR IMAGE ARE INDEED COMPLICATED.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF SELF-CENSORSHIP, I SHALL SITE ONE CASE I HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT TODAY . . . . .WHETHER OR NOT TO USE A REPRODUCTION OF GUSTAVE COURBET'S "CROTCH" PAINTING TO MAKE THE POINT.
I ALMOST CENSORED MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE NEGATIVE REACTIONS PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL WHEN VIEWING THIS PARTICULAR FEMALE PRIVATE REPRESENTATION, EVEN BY A MASTER PAINTER WHO MAY HAVE HAD OTHER THOUGHTS ON HIS MIND.
BUT, HE DID NOT SELF-CENSOR HIMSELF WORKING WITH "That Obscure Object of Desire."
EW:
Very interesting subject of discourse. When you contemplated posting this you engaged in a process of self-editing. Followed by an explanation that provided context in consideration of your audience. If you had posted the image absent text the viewers responses would obviously be very different. I'm not sure this specific process is self censoring? But rather, a thoughtful reflection and more coherent function of communicating. Especially, in terms of the internet and social networking. I'm fascinated with how writing (with and w/out combined images and video) translate online. Writing in CAPS for example. Are you speaking loudly, boldly, about your subject? By simply posing that question, I can be perceived as criticizing, judgmental, or even condescending. I AM NOT!
Jerry Saltz, was suspended from Facebook because his postings offended people. I think this image is one of the offensive pieces. His response was to blast Facebook for censorship. As it turned out, it was some of his friends who made formal complaints to FB admin. He also made his posts public. So it may have also been outside viewers. I'm pretty confident that Jerry assumes his viewers already know the context behind his posts. That assumption is both naive and careless.
The responsibility of the artist is to understand their own intentions. To know why they made their work. What their work is and what it should do. As well as for whom the art is made. Beyond these considerations the artist really doesn't have complete control over the affects of their work. It would seem that self censorship is intertwined with whatever level of sincerity the artist aspires to commit.
AS AN EXAMPLE OF SELF-CENSORSHIP, I SHALL SITE ONE CASE I HAVE ALREADY THOUGHT ABOUT TODAY . . . . .WHETHER OR NOT TO USE A REPRODUCTION OF GUSTAVE COURBET'S "CROTCH" PAINTING TO MAKE THE POINT.
I ALMOST CENSORED MYSELF BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBLE NEGATIVE REACTIONS PEOPLE MIGHT FEEL WHEN VIEWING THIS PARTICULAR FEMALE PRIVATE REPRESENTATION, EVEN BY A MASTER PAINTER WHO MAY HAVE HAD OTHER THOUGHTS ON HIS MIND.
BUT, HE DID NOT SELF-CENSOR HIMSELF WORKING WITH "That Obscure Object of Desire."
EW:
Very interesting subject of discourse. When you contemplated posting this you engaged in a process of self-editing. Followed by an explanation that provided context in consideration of your audience. If you had posted the image absent text the viewers responses would obviously be very different. I'm not sure this specific process is self censoring? But rather, a thoughtful reflection and more coherent function of communicating. Especially, in terms of the internet and social networking. I'm fascinated with how writing (with and w/out combined images and video) translate online. Writing in CAPS for example. Are you speaking loudly, boldly, about your subject? By simply posing that question, I can be perceived as criticizing, judgmental, or even condescending. I AM NOT!
Jerry Saltz, was suspended from Facebook because his postings offended people. I think this image is one of the offensive pieces. His response was to blast Facebook for censorship. As it turned out, it was some of his friends who made formal complaints to FB admin. He also made his posts public. So it may have also been outside viewers. I'm pretty confident that Jerry assumes his viewers already know the context behind his posts. That assumption is both naive and careless.
The responsibility of the artist is to understand their own intentions. To know why they made their work. What their work is and what it should do. As well as for whom the art is made. Beyond these considerations the artist really doesn't have complete control over the affects of their work. It would seem that self censorship is intertwined with whatever level of sincerity the artist aspires to commit.
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