Argumentative essay on: The Controversy of Censorship in Art

Maria Michaela Fiacan

University of Indianapolis

NGL 100-50X

Mrs Shelly Horvath

April 18, 2023

controversial topic that limits artistic freedom and expression. One side argues that it is

necessary to protect public morality and decency. The other side advocated for a total liberty

concerning art practice. Censorship in art is limiting because it reinforces cultural and social

biases, suppresses critical thinking, restrict social progress and creativity. All of these argument

violate fundamental human rights. By limiting what can be expressed through art, we are

restricting the possibilities for innovation and exploration. Therefore, it is important not to censor

art, as it serves as a reflection of society, encourages free thought, and promote a diverse and

inclusive culture.

One of the main reasons why censorship in art is widely opposed is because it strongly

reduces the freedom and expression of artists, hindering their creative process. According to

Anifowose (2019), censorship can block the creative process and prevent artists from expressing

their ideas and opinions freely. Censorship can also lead to a form of self-censuration, where

artists restrict themselves and their craft to avoid potential censorship or backlash. Resulting in a

lack of diversity in artistic expression. In other words, censorship can prevent artists from

expressing themselves fully, and this has negative consequences for the development of art as a

medium of reflection. (Anifowose, 2019)

One example of censorship controlling the creative process of artists can be seen in the

case of Chinese artist and activist Ai Weiwei. In 2010, Ai Weiwei's exhibition at the Shanghai

Expo was closed down by the Chinese government, and he was put under house arrest for his

political activism. This censorship and government intervention greatly restricted his ability to

express his political views and continue his artistic work freely. In an interview with The
Guardian, Ai Weiwei stated, "I don't see it as an art exhibition, I see it as an expression of my

life…If they take that away from me, then I'm nothing" (Moss, 2011). Thisshows exactly how .

censorship can prevent an artist's capacity to fully express themselves and convey their message

to the world.

The next argument against censorship is that it reinforces cultural and societal biases.

According to Gómez-Barris (2016), censorship is often used to uphold dominant cultural values,

limiting the expression of marginalized groups. Censorship can also perpetuate stereotypes and

prejudice, preventing the exploration of alternative perspectives and it can limit the educational

and cultural value of art. Art has the potential to educate and inspire audiences, challenging them

to question their assumptions and engage with complex social and political problems.

Censorship, however, can limit this potential by restricting access to controversial or challenging

artworks. It also depends on the time period that the art piece was created. Many artists were

ahead of their time and rejected because of it For example The National Gallery of Art in

Washington, D.C. is home to one of the most famous examples of Renaissance art, Sandro

Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus." The painting, which depicts the goddess Venus rising from the

sea, has been celebrated for its beauty and technical skill, but also initiated controversy in its

time for its controversial depiction of nudity and sensuality. Today, it is greatly recognized as a

masterpiece of Renaissance art and an important part of art history.If Botticelli's "The Birth of

Venus" had been censored in its time due to its controversial depiction of nudity, it would not

have had the potential to challenge the already in-place societal norms.

Another argument against censorship is that it can be subjective and can be abused for

political or ideological reasons. What one person or group would find offensive or harmful is not

always seen as such by others, making it difficult to establish objective limitation standards for
censorship. . In recent years, the rise of social media has led to a new form of censorship which

consists in the removal of artwork deemed inappropriate or offensive, further restricting artistic

expression and access to diverse perspectives. According to an article in The Art Newspaper

(2022),social media platforms such as Facebook and Instagram are increasingly censoring art

that contains nudity, political messages, or other controversial content. An example to illustrate

this is Instagram's removal of posts and disabling of accounts sharing Black Lives Matter

artwork was criticized for silencing and erasing important social and political messages.

This has led to an ongoing debate about the role of tech companies in determining what art is

acceptable for public consumption. Some argue that social media platforms have a responsibility

to protect users from offensive or harmful content, while others believe that these companies

should not have the power to censor artists or control the flow of information.

In essence, censorship can be a tool for oppressing people, and it is not conducive to the

development of an inclusive and diverse society.Critics of censorship argue that it can lead to a

lack of critical thinking and hinder intellectual inquiry. Even if one accepts the premise that

censorship is necessary to protect public morality and decency, it is not clear if that censorship is

an effective way of achieving these objectives. According to an article in the Journal of Law and

Society by Cohen-Almagor (2007), censorship often has unintended consequences, such as

increasing the appeal of the restricted material or driving it underground where it can be more

difficult to regulate. In other words, censorship can have the opposite effect of what is intended,

and it can be counterproductive. The goals would be to protect people from art that use explicit

sexually or violent content and opts for age restrictions or warnings on certain forms of art to

protect vulnerable members of society. Those who support censorship in art argue that it is

necessary to protect public morality and decency. However, this argument is flawed because it
assumes that there is a universal standard of these principles that can be applied to all art. In

reality, what is considered moral or decent varies depending on cultural and societal norms.

While there may be legitimate concerns about the impact of certain types of art on public

morality and decency, censorship is not an effective solution.Thus, censorship can reinforce

dominant cultural values and prevent the exploration of alternative perspectives, hindering social

progress. This can ultimately lead to a lack of diversity in artistic expression, and prevent the

development of new forms of art.

In conclusion, it is essential for us to recognize the importance of free expression and to

reject any attempts to silence or censor artists. Only by doing so can we create a more inclusive

and just society that values the diversity of voices and experiences that make us human.Instead, a

more productive approach would be to promote education, dialogue, and critical thinking, so that

individuals can make informed decisions about the art they choose to consume. At its core,

censorship in art is not only about protecting the public, but also about who gets to decide what

is considered acceptable or objectionable in art. As the world becomes more diverse and

interconnected, it is crucial for us to create a society that fosters free expression and respects the

diverse perspectives and experiences of all individuals.If we fail to address the issue of

censorship in art, we risk limiting our cultural and intellectual growth, reinforcing dominant

power structures, and perpetuating inequality and prejudice. On the other hand, if we embrace

the value of artistic freedom and expression, we can foster a society that celebrates diversity,

encourages critical thinking, and supports social progress.

Experience. International Journal of Humanities and Social Science Invention.

Gómez-Barris, M. (2016). The Problem With Censorship Isn't Just What We Miss, It's

Also What We See. Huffington Post. Retrieved from

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/the-problem-with-censorship-isnt-just-what-we-miss_b_57b9bb

dee4b0b51733a561c2

The Art Newspaper. (2022, April 18). Censorship on social media not only limits artists’

online reach—it can prevent future opportunities too. The Art Newspaper. Retrieved from

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/2022/04/18/censorship-on-social-media-not-only-limits-artists

-online-reach-it-can-prevent-future-opportunities-too

The Guardian. (2011, April 3). Ai Weiwei: 'If they take my life, at least it will have

meaning'. The Guardian.

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2011/apr/03/ai-weiwei-china-art-politics-exhibition