Art is dying #II
“Sexually exploited children 2022 according to Facebook #1”
Community guidelines at Meta (FB & IG) says “I sexually exploited children” and I was subsequently banned for 30 days. The 3 photos seen here are the pictures accused. After digging in with them and of course appealing the accusation, I am to know that anyone under the age of 18 with their shirt off (male or female) is seen as sexually exploited children. This is information.
From the last post, so not to lose context…
Is social media, cancel culture and a heightened social offensive killing artistic expression? Perhaps it is simply challenging the status quo. Well, there is nothing simple about it.
As an artist, I find it very easy to think that I am on thin ice when creating art that is socially charged or any art for that matter. What is socially accepted today may be “out of date” tomorrow. This “thin ice” feeling is driven by the invisible hurdle of not knowing what is charged or deemed “offensive” from one day to the next. Social media and a public platforms seem to dictate this change.
So the question arrises, should I care? Should I care that my work may offend someone. My answer is no. It’s not my responsibility once art is made and put into the world. I can not control how the work is viewed and received. That is the very definition of art.
From Andres Serrano, Georgia O'keeffe , Robert Mapplethorpe, Dave Chappelle and SO many others pushed against what was socially accepted and inspired change. Throughout history artist have used their work to promote and inspire change. Change may come dressed in disguise with its sole purpose to get something out of the dark and start a conversation.
Statistically, 65% of Americans say “people that are too easily offended” is a major problem, while 53% say “people saying offensive things to others” is a major problem. (PEW research center) I don’t even know what this means but statistics never was something I could sign up for. Who know who funds who in these statistics. All I know is that I have “offended” many more people over the last 5 years than I have in my entire life. (that I am aware of) Maybe that is a good thing…
Sparking change can light a fire, a fire that may be needed, a fire that may reveal the truth in the ashes. You can quote me there…
“Sexually exploited children according to Facebook 2022 #2”
“Sexually exploited children according to Facebook 2022 #3”
“June 4, 2020 Death portrait”
“June 4, 2020 The first born, last one”
“Constraint #9”
“Constraint #1”
“Constraint #14 The weight”
“My first experience with they/them 2016”
“Ryan 2016”
“New Years guilt”