Visual Arts, Architecture, Music, Theatre or Dance

THE LAMENTATIONS OF ART

A famous artist once wrote that Art is a way of expression that has to be understood by everyone , everywhere . It is indeed an outlet of man 's nature . It is through art where he expresses his sense of being his ideas , his temperaments and his persona . There are instances however , when creations of art are often suppressed and stifled by others . Such is the case of Robert Mapplethorpe

Mapplethorpe is one of the most famous artists in the field of photography during his times . He became immensely

popular because of his sophisticated and voguish manner of capturing portraits of people His signature characteristic is the impressively portrayed black and white chromed photographs . His works were highly applauded by many art aficionados worldwide but some loathe him for his vulgar and pandering ' works

This art genius from Queens , New York has faced the ups and downs of his career . Much has been said and done regarding the banning of his works to the general public . His most controversial galleries include the X-Portfolio and The Perfect Moments- wherein seven sadomasochistic images were exhibited and publicly funded . Conservative communities in America , however , castigated this act of exhibiting these pornographic works of Mapplethorpe . Moreover , they argued that the act of the public particularly the National Endowment for the Arts or NEA , in funding and supporting these sexually-explicit materials are unreasonable . No doubt Mapplethorpe really stirred up not only the public but even the congress , with his works . Debates went on inside the congress and it has been decided that the artworks of Mapplethorpe be banned . As a result many enthusiasts , fanatics , and supporters outraged in the entire Washington , thus making the situation even worse . Congressman Dick Armey of Texas- the one who exposed the Mapplethorpe funding , retaliated by stating in his letter that there is a very thin and unambiguous line that exists between what MUST be called as an art and what MUST be called morally reprehensible trash

Let us ponder , however , that in art , there is no MUST . It is free and it should flow naturally from the hands of the artists . Otherwise , it can not be called an art . The public must also contemplate that there is actually no line that separates art and trash because the image of what an art is solely depends upon the perception of man , the beholder of the art

It is fully understood , on the other hand , that these conservative citizens only aim to protect the welfare of the public most especially the children . But what are their parents for ? Isn 't it part of their role to guide their children and open their minds in such things ? If the Child Pornography Prevention Act is their ground in arguing it , then isn 't it possible that certain segments of this law violate the right of man to free-speech

His books were confiscated because allegations about child pornography were asserted , yet , after deliberations no charges were pressed in favor of banning...