there was a man who once published a book called “Seduction of the Innocent” who said that comic books would destroy kiddies minds and turn them into evil zombies and malchickiwicks. this lead the to the “Comic Code” which forced comic book artists and writers to limit their content and thus setting back the industry as a form of art for almost fifty years. you asked who could have the authority to ban art. the government obviously. the amendments including the first are written in such ambiguous writing that if a lawyer is paid to oppose it, he can still win the case. such was the case with comic books.
Willhelm Reich’s (a psychologist that found interesting things about human sexuality) books were burned in incinorators all around the US.
it’s not a matter if we could ban art, for we have hundreds of thousands of times in this country alone. it’s a matter of should we as you asked.
of course! thus in rebellion and oppression artists will find inspiration to paint or draw or whatever beautiful pieces that only those in turmoil can. the reason nothing good has come out in a long while is because we have nothing to speak out against. if all the taboos dissapear then what will we shout about?
- Iris Murdoch
Do you think the government should have such an authority? I don’t think anyone should; art is so subjective, it could in the end just boil down to one person’s taboo or even taste over another.
But if it’s banned from society, who’ll experience it?
What do you mean? When, in your opinion, was the last good thing? I don’t think that’s the case, particularly with music. Perhaps we’re not aware of it because it’s not mainstream
I love using quotations
tee hee 
Karolina
As you say, what is defined as art is subjective, and could well be down to personal opinion and taboo, but does this necessarily mean that no art should be banned. Surely this would mean that nothing that anyone terms art should be banned. For example, for issues such as child pornography, general opinion would obviously suggest that this is wrong and should be banned, but some people may make the case that it has artistic merit. They could then say that the only reason that you do not understand the artistic value of the piece is that your taboos are keeping you from seeing past the initial shock of the images.
I do, however agree wholeheartedly that it is wrong to say that nothing good is coming out, and i also believe that there is a huge amount of things that people should currently be speaking out against.
I see your point. The only thing I can say about child pornography is that it exploits vulnerable individuals and should thus be banned. It’s not so much about whether I consider it to be art or not, or whether it appeals to me, but rather that it involves manipulating and abusing a third unrelated party.
Rv. Xen. Is malchickiwick an example of nadsat? (the language used in a clockwork orange)
Nadsat is basically Russian slang.
Russian and American slang, with some other words. Did you see the horrow show groodies on that young devotchka?
SORRY I DID NOT ELABORATE SOONER.
A few shorts.
I look at defining art like defining love:
Either the definition remains personal and it doesn’t matter what others think
or
It is an extreme of expression that requires the participation of everyone, that is defined by a constantly evolving understanding.
Someone made a comment about complex squeaky toyz. Nice…
Unintentional art: The globe in the common area at the World Trade Center was an intentional piece of art that was subsequently mangled in the 9/11 attacks. The globe now stands at Battery Park down the street as a monument to the event…
Ani di Franco sang: Art is why I get up in the morning, but my definition ends there. It doesn’t seem fair that I’m living for something I can’t even define, and there you are right there in the meantime.
She can’t define it either, but what she does is friggin’ ART. Art isn’t defined, it’s shown. The inexplicable extreme. Love, Art, God…
Ban these things? Nice drill for a seminar, but they happen whether we want them to or not…