Comments on: Dirty underwear http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/ Following Art Wherever It Goes | Sama-sama Ikut Seni Tue, 27 Dec 2011 05:46:49 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: JK http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1451 JK Mon, 06 Jul 2009 09:58:29 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1451 In hindsight, I find the whole hoo-ha regarding the removal of Fahmi Reza's work rather comic, if not totally disturbing. I see the whole thing as a sequence of removals. A hypothetical reconstruction of events that led to the work: Najib's face (and what he symbolises) obviously offended the artist, which prompted him to perform the first removal of the object. One can argue that this was an act of censorship. But since Fahmi is an artist, and the defacement staged for and within the context of an art exhibition, it was not named so. Instead, it became "art". And then the authorities came and demanded the second removal of it, to strip the object of its new context. Hence, the removal of a removal of an object of political significance. So what's the point of this comment? "It seems to me that the only way to approach censorship is to constantly uncover the psychological reasons for it. The goal is not so much about combating censorship as it is about keeping an eye on our very natural propensity for it." I agree completely with your statement, Sharon. With one addition: not only psychological reasons, but political also. It's very clear what Fahmi's intentions were (though he's more than entitled to his exercise his prerogative keep mum). But perhaps, unintentionally or cursorily, could Fahmi have possibly proposed that censorship may be an artistic act? In hindsight, I find the whole hoo-ha regarding the removal of Fahmi Reza’s work rather comic, if not totally disturbing. I see the whole thing as a sequence of removals.

A hypothetical reconstruction of events that led to the work: Najib’s face (and what he symbolises) obviously offended the artist, which prompted him to perform the first removal of the object. One can argue that this was an act of censorship. But since Fahmi is an artist, and the defacement staged for and within the context of an art exhibition, it was not named so. Instead, it became “art”.

And then the authorities came and demanded the second removal of it, to strip the object of its new context. Hence, the removal of a removal of an object of political significance.

So what’s the point of this comment?

“It seems to me that the only way to approach censorship is to constantly uncover the psychological reasons for it. The goal is not so much about combating censorship as it is about keeping an eye on our very natural propensity for it.”

I agree completely with your statement, Sharon. With one addition: not only psychological reasons, but political also. It’s very clear what Fahmi’s intentions were (though he’s more than entitled to his exercise his prerogative keep mum).

But perhaps, unintentionally or cursorily, could Fahmi have possibly proposed that censorship may be an artistic act?

]]> By: Zedeck http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1353 Zedeck Sun, 28 Jun 2009 14:45:49 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1353 i wish it was ... i wish it was …

]]> By: not Zedeck http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1350 not Zedeck Sun, 28 Jun 2009 13:41:41 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1350 hey is that Zedeck's butt? hey is that Zedeck’s butt?

]]> By: not munkao http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1297 not munkao Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:12:17 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1297 Censorship might also be a passe problem since digital kids are dealing with information overload. By distracting people enough (entertainment,terror,economy,diseases etc), authorities won't need to resort to censorship so much. Censorship might also be a passe problem since digital kids are dealing with information overload.

By distracting people enough (entertainment,terror,economy,diseases etc), authorities won’t need to resort to censorship so much.

]]> By: Donkey Kong http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1273 Donkey Kong Mon, 22 Jun 2009 17:06:14 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1273 I think the chat boxes also have automatic censorship programming to detect dirty words...yerrrr I think the chat boxes also have automatic censorship programming to detect dirty words…yerrrr

]]> By: Eaglebird Humpadink http://www.arterimalaysia.com/2009/06/22/dirty-underwear-arteri-the-art-of-censorship-the-censorship-of-art/#comment-1270 Eaglebird Humpadink Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:37:08 +0000 http://www.arterimalaysia.com/?p=2997#comment-1270 Its sickeningly amazing how humans can hold so many contradictions inside them. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCVu25wQ5s "On June 13, 2009, Robert Sapolsky, world renowned professor of neurology, neurological sciences, neurosurgery and biological sciences gave the class day lecture in association with commencement weekend 2009. Having been selected to talk by the Stanford University graduating class, Sapolsky spoke about the uniqueness of humans in relation to the rest of the animal world. A few of the topics he spoke on include aggression, theory of mind, the golden rule and pleasure." - Standford University Youtube Channel ***** Remember to un HD it for faster loading. If you are watching from Japan..F*** YOU. There are several slides where art is highlighted as humanity's uniquekeyness. YAY ART! Note the bit about TITs-for-tat strategy. Might explain how comment dynamics or even artist networks function as well. ******* Its sickeningly amazing how humans can hold so many contradictions inside them.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrCVu25wQ5s

“On June 13, 2009, Robert Sapolsky, world renowned professor of neurology, neurological sciences, neurosurgery and biological sciences gave the class day lecture in association with commencement weekend 2009. Having been selected to talk by the Stanford University graduating class, Sapolsky spoke about the uniqueness of humans in relation to the rest of the animal world. A few of the topics he spoke on include aggression, theory of mind, the golden rule and pleasure.” – Standford University Youtube Channel

*****
Remember to un HD it for faster loading. If you are watching from Japan..F*** YOU.

There are several slides where art is highlighted as humanity’s uniquekeyness. YAY ART!

Note the bit about TITs-for-tat strategy. Might explain how comment dynamics or even artist networks function as well.
*******

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