The SLEDGE-A-TORIAL - Debate Ensues Over "Crap" Painting

DEBATE ENSUES over 'Sensation' Exhibit.
Mainly over the "Crap" Painting

(Something other than wrestling this time.)
Written for this timeframe... 10-04-1999.

I find it funny how a painting made of elephant dung in an exhibition among other things vile, gross, ad generally not accepted in our society can raise quite the political stench.  Yet, something as worthless as, quite literally, shit can possibly have a profound effect on our freedom in the United States. The government is deciding if they should take funding away from the National Endowment for the Arts.  Just because one guy wanted to spew his shit."The exhibit, which opened to capacity crowds, includes a dissected cow and pig, castrated male dummies and a painting of "The Holy Virgin Mary" painted with elephant dung." - CNN.com

Also, it is adorned with several cutout images of asses, most likely from porno mags.

Presidential hopefull Elizabeth Dole had this to say:
"I think that the funding should be phased down," Dole said. "No question there should be very strong guidelines. There's supposed to be guidelines now. But certainly we need to enforce strong guidelines, and phase down that funding for the NEA."

Guidelines? For art? Don't get me wrong・ I HATE THE PAINTING. I think it's disgusting and I really can't see the artist's point. But it's the artist's choice into what goes into his work・not the government's.  When asked if she believed that funding for the agency should be eliminated, Dole said, "Yes, yes, phase down and out."


It has also come under fire from Catholics, saying that it is wrong to deface something religious. I would believe that they would care less if it were of Buddha eating until his guts exploded, or Mohammed, being crushed by a mountain. Granted, you'd draw fire from it's own religious groups like Buddhists and Muslims・ but would the Catholic church really have anything to do with it's removal? Not bloody likely. So I'm left with this to say:
Wow.

(Associated Press Photo) The Holy Virgin Mary creates quite a stink.

 Just because you offend a few people, just because they don't agree with you, you all of a sudden have the rug ripped from under your feet.  That rug is our freedom of speech. America should be supporting radical thinking. It's what created this country, made it great. You take that away, what's next?

In art, there's no such thing as "immoral". It's just what the artist feels, period.
Whether you agree or not.


Catch ya.

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