When Art Offends: Protecting Expression Without Encouraging Harm

Freedom of expression is our fundamental right. In a free society, there's no limitation to freedom of expression, and art has always been used to express human feelings, emotions and as a powerful way to communicate societal ills without fear. Murals and painting, just like music, have always been used to celebrate our culture, challenge power /authority, implement changes in our society and question authority and power. To some, it might be offensive, but to me, it's a harmless form of expression, it shouldn't be banned, because art is a harmless way to communicate our emotions, feelings and opinions peacefully, but this doesn't permit people to abuse this privilege given by art. If artwork is disrespectful to authority, doesn't pass meaningful messages, then there should be consequences.

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Art is harmless and should be kept. Art in our society has only communicated/ expressed ideas, emotions, criticism and our identity, it should only be considered harmful when it involves threat, violence, harassment and defamation.

Also, a particular art work might be acceptable to me, but offensive to another, offense is subjective. I might consider a job to be educative, beautiful, and to another, it's an insult or less educative. Also, an artwork can also have cultural significance to a particular society, but not acceptable or beautiful to other people. Everyone sees and appreciates an artwork differently. Banning artwork because the meaning doesn't make sense to one person limits creativity and creative thoughts.

The beauty of art is the ability it has to create and provoke thought. Art works should encourage and provoke meaningful conversations, regardless of our different opinions and thoughts about an art work.

Banning artwork because of an opinion held by majority of people, only suppresses and limits the minority group.

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Also, where an artwork is being displayed determines if it will be banned or restricted from displaying. An artwork, a mural, painting or sculpture kept on a private property gives the owner the sole right to determine if it should stay or be removed. But when it's displayed on public property, the government and the community have the right to remove or ban such work because it's a property owned by the government or the community, public spaces are shared, so exhibiting an artwork in a public space might require an engagement with the community and government. A proper explanation of the information your art work is passing to the world.

The government and community have the right to question a mural or painting displayed in a public space.

Freedom of expression doesn't rule away consequences, it doesn't prevent an artist who uses art to incite or portray threat, violence, insult and harassment to society or government from facing legal consequences. Also, an artist at work might have the right information but could be displayed on private property without permission, which can lead to legal consequences for the artist. These consequences may not be based on the artist's message but on the harm it has caused to others and the owner of such property. Art is beautiful, but every artist has to be more creative, respect other people culture/society and careful.

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Art is subjective and a society should be able to tolerate and respect what other people don't find offensive, if a particular art work isn't a threat or violating any rules, then everyone has the liberty to draw what's suitable and acceptable to them.

Art is beautiful and encourages creativity, diversity in opinions, thoughts and beliefs. Art is educative, informative and entertaining to our society. Instead of banning art because of the differences and offense it creates, there should just be dialogue and respectful criticism to art work, Society should evaluate and try to understand every artwork, the intent of the artists and the impact it has created to the society. A healthy society should be a society that respects differences and is in harmony regardless of our differences.