Yale Student Turns (Maybe) Abortions Into Art Project
Reader Comments
Art Ethics
Hell. that was a short conversation... I guess Death performances have moved to a higher plane...
Art Ethics is Inevitable...
Ethics is the means towards achieving Humanity…
It is essential to understanding the Creative Process and the limits to human creativity. What you fail to see is that, without ethic, Art cannot exist (the words we share in this would not exist), to say that I am "becoming part of the “piece" is to censor the intent of my participation in this conversation, and imposes the conclusion that "the piece" is appreciated simply because I addressing the controversy she is attempting to “provoke”. One might consider this reverse-censorship, but a censor none the less.
Scott, I see that you hole a degree in Fine Arts, as do I; however, though we share an academic understanding of the fundamental logic behind Aliza’s application of the Arts, it is wrong to conclude that I recognize the same in her conclusions. I am not so easily “provoked”. Her inability to express her POV with sincerity, commitment and integrity only leads me to conclude that she has no real POV in this matter and nothing tangible to share (on this occasion) with humanity,
It is not my intent to address her “work” as that of “art”, it is my intent to participate in the “Art” of conversation to promote a POV that her behavior is a true example of the destructive nature of human creativity, and is not conducive to that which is understood to be Art.
As for censorship in this forum; “all comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.” Ethics are as inevitable as the Art we choose to embrace. I challenge the precept that “Art” has no definition simply because the Human POV is in a constant state of flux; and surely, failing to discover or define does not prove that something doesn’t exist, failure is a measure of our willingness to continue in the pursuit of that thing… in this case that thing is “The Ethics of Art”.
In conclusion, my commitment to discovering Art is relentless; I am an Artist. Anything short of that dishonors the lives of the countless Artists who paved the road in search of enlightenment in the pursuit of Art and Humanity. The first question we must answer in this pursuit of Art is; what is “Art”?
Mark A Gallegos, B. F. A
Marc34me@live.com
mark, you may not like this...
but i think you're becoming part of the piece.
i'm not sure how i feel about ms shvarts' work, but i do know setting "limitations" and creating an "art ethic" is not the answer. once you censor something, you open the door to more things being censored.
do you like the ability to state your opinions on this site? would you be opposed to there being a "comment ethic" here that perhaps might hinder your from stating your opinions in full?
one of the many purposes of art is to stimulate debate and that is exactly what is happening.
scott hammond, b.f.a.
Well, there is a solution...
“This piece of performance art as reported in the press bears no relation to what I consider appropriate for an undergraduate senior project.”’
"In the normal course of events, Ms. Shvarts’s project would be installed at the School of Art for critique and discussion with a committee of faculty. In this case, we will not permit her to install the project unless she submits a clear and unambiguous written statement that her installation is a work of fiction: that she did not try to inseminate herself and induce miscarriages, and that no human blood will be physically displayed in her installation."
(Dean of the School of Art, Robert Storr,April 21, 2008)
Well, there is a solution... admits that you are a liar and change your medium and we will forgive you for the entire emotional trauma you caused to the public and the disgrace you placed on this art institution... what the hell, its only art, right. Its not like Art has a real purpose anyhow...
I like this story!
" Artists need to have an aesthetic morality that is at least strong enough that they can express themselves without provoking the lynching of the institution."
Art and Gender
As a woman and an art student, I feel it is important to express issues key to my gender and the associate issues. Sexual assault, for instance, is a touchy subject with me, and I am doing my best to portray and raise awareness about society's objectifying of women. I am not a sex object, nor am I just a baby-machine. I expect my rights to freedom of speech and expression to be protected no matter my outlet.
However, this does not mean that it is suitable to endanger the health or safety of yourself or others in pursuit of "art". Did you know that an artist named Guillermo Vargas Habacuc caught a stray dog and tethered it to a studio wall-- then allowing it to die of starvation? Sure, Habacuc had intension, but such behavior hardly reads as (dare I say it?) 'ethical'. It shows a blatant disregard for the life of another fully-viable being.
Ah, yes, you noticed I said "fully-viable". It is common knowledge that a human fetus isn't viable until very near the end of the pregnancy. If Shivarts did induce miscarriage, the likelihood of her 'murdering' a viable being is unlikely. HOWEVER. While I am vehemently pro-choice (that I can assure you) and I feel there is a need for art that addresses the female quandary of pregnancy, this project has no more validity than Guillermo Vargas Habacuc's poor dog. There is no skill here. Biological processes are interesting fascinating things, but rarely does the featuring of the process itself make art. Fecal matter on a canvas is not art. It is disgusting. And this "work" (I loathe to call it so) likewise is an outrageous bit of rubbish.
And yet I will support the right to make/perform any nonsense that does not cause physical harm to anyone else. Why?
The argument on art has been raging since the "Poetics" and will continue to. So forget about trying to set out clear guidelines for 'what is art'. This approach has been attempted and has failed every time. Our boundaries and definitions are continually changing, our social standards under constant evolution. If we limit, we risk becoming that totalitarian desert of bland and gray expression. I'm not saying we should abandon the study of art and its movements (heavens no, I'd have nothing to do then), I am simply pointing out the difficulty in defining art in terms of media and technique. There are movements, there are styles, there are 'types' of art. But there can never be a concrete definition of art. Even on a purely ontological basis, there is dispute. Doubt me? Check out Richard Wollheim's "Art and Its Objects". There is no one 'debate' that can decide what millennia have not and there are no laws that could be made to restrict art that would be truly just.
It's not art
What this woman conceived in her mind, or actually carried out is not art. What she thought to do is the conception of a feeble mind. You don't conceive a child, abort that child, and continue that process in tha name of anything; including art. There's no debate here, what she did/considered is morally wrong.
9 Inevitable Properties of Art
There are 9 inevitable properties that transcend the perceptual planes of ALL ART FORMS;
The Origin
The Framework
The Subject
The Foreground
The Background
The Core shadow
The Cast Shadow
The High light
The Reflective Light
When we attempt to conceal Art's properties to suit our conclusions we dilute the intent of our work towards achieving the purpose Art, denying Art a reasonable definition is failing to recognize its properties, its process and its potential…
Without definition, there is no "Art"; just a bunch of stupid things we do to amuse ourselves.
M. A. Gallegos, B. F. A.
"Art"is Definitive, and its purpose must be recognized...
WHAT IS ART?
“The Definition of Art”
“Art” is a declaration of recognition that we apply to things that are sustained within the boundaries of a creative environment, it is achieved through constructive and destructive means and realized along perceptual planes; in essence, it is something, anything and everything, however, it is nothing until it is realized through the conscious effort of humans. — “Art” is a manifestation of Human Creativity and serves as a measure of our Humanity, yet it is “nothing” until we show it, speak it and make a part of our lives.
Mark A Gallegos, B. F. A.
Only psychos abort in order to "express themselves"....
I want to start by saying I am 100% pro-choice. I have empathy for women who find themselves in a situation they were not prepared to deal with and have to make the difficult choice of having an abortion. That being said, I think there should be a "three strikes and you're out" rule. After the 3rd abortion = mandatory hysterectomy. Not because of any religious or moral reasons. Simply because you have proven yourself to be too stupid to figure out birth control and shouldn't be allowed to further pollute the human gene pool with your inferior DNA. But what this woman is doing is so much more disgusting than that! She PURPOSEFULLY tried to conceive! It's her intent that sickens me.
