In reading the letters by Jesse Helms and Andres Serrano, it brings to mind the ignorance of speaking out about something without bothering to learn more about it.
Jesse Helms' letter exudes typical self-righteous rantings. Amazingly, more outrage is aimed at what has been done to a religious symbol than something serious like pedophile priests. Somehow, I think God would take less offense with Serrano's piece than say, the injustices done against so many civilizations in the name of Christianity.
Serrano's letter is more lucid and level-headed. He brings up valid points, especially when he states "in a free society, ideas, even difficult ones, are not dangerous. The only danger lies in oppressing them."
I have more of a problem with his work in the creative sense than a moral or religious one. Somehow fifteen grand for a glass, a crucifix, and urine, seems a bit excessive.
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1 comment:
Anna-
Nicely written. I would add that the cost of Serrano's work is completely religated via the marketplace. It's not the materials, nor time, nor image quality that is being sold, rather it's the name of the artist.
Ironically through this battle, Serrano became a household name and absolutely written into Art History!
oh, and please tie together in your sumamry the overarching theme. What does the piece on Serrano have to do with the communist manifesto?
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