Comments on: I Don’t Understand Art http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256 Supporting the Separation of Church and State Thu, 25 Feb 2010 22:40:56 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: bob http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256/comment-page-1#comment-974 bob Wed, 14 May 2008 14:00:56 +0000 http://wwjv4.com/?p=256#comment-974 To say that this is not for shock value is blatantly false. This is the problem with conceptual art. I came to school to be classically trained yet my professor, a product and advocate of modern art and abstract expressionism, gives me terrible grades because i refuse to contribute to nonsensical abstract garbage. Yale is a college that teaches art from a conceptual perspective as well, so their students are constantly trying to be original or edgy or controversial. In reality, content is inherent in art. When a viewer looks at a piece, they are going to make assumptions and translate the piece however it effects them on a personal level, and everyone perceives things differently. As an artist, it is your job to create imagery that not only provokes thought, but also speaks a language that can be translated. For this girl to think that making art out of abortion, especially during a time when there is such a clear division between pro-choicers and pro-lifers, is clearly a way to spark controversy. If she wanted to provoke conversation about the relationship between the body and art, she has obviously failed miserably. To even think that making art out of abortion would provoke conversation about anything other than women's rights is just silly and indicitive of just the kind of education that Yale is providing its students with. To say that this is not for shock value is blatantly false. This is the problem with conceptual art. I came to school to be classically trained yet my professor, a product and advocate of modern art and abstract expressionism, gives me terrible grades because i refuse to contribute to nonsensical abstract garbage. Yale is a college that teaches art from a conceptual perspective as well, so their students are constantly trying to be original or edgy or controversial.
In reality, content is inherent in art. When a viewer looks at a piece, they are going to make assumptions and translate the piece however it effects them on a personal level, and everyone perceives things differently. As an artist, it is your job to create imagery that not only provokes thought, but also speaks a language that can be translated. For this girl to think that making art out of abortion, especially during a time when there is such a clear division between pro-choicers and pro-lifers, is clearly a way to spark controversy. If she wanted to provoke conversation about the relationship between the body and art, she has obviously failed miserably. To even think that making art out of abortion would provoke conversation about anything other than women’s rights is just silly and indicitive of just the kind of education that Yale is providing its students with.

]]> By: Update on Abortion Art | WWJV4 http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256/comment-page-1#comment-875 Update on Abortion Art | WWJV4 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 17:34:50 +0000 http://wwjv4.com/?p=256#comment-875 [...] wanted to post a quick update on the story of Aliza Schvarts’ Abortion Art Project I wrote about yesterday just to let you all know how the story is playing out. In such a short time [...] [...] wanted to post a quick update on the story of Aliza Schvarts’ Abortion Art Project I wrote about yesterday just to let you all know how the story is playing out. In such a short time [...]

]]> By: William http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256/comment-page-1#comment-868 William Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:54:27 +0000 http://wwjv4.com/?p=256#comment-868 I absolutely understand that reaction. In fact that was my initial reaction as well. However I feel that there is value in forcing people to ponder whether their support of womens rights and reproductive freedom is absolute or if its just theoretical. To my knowledge the only way to force people to confront that is by pushing beyond what is comfortable. This is well beyond comfortable for most people thankfully. I absolutely understand that reaction. In fact that was my initial reaction as well. However I feel that there is value in forcing people to ponder whether their support of womens rights and reproductive freedom is absolute or if its just theoretical. To my knowledge the only way to force people to confront that is by pushing beyond what is comfortable. This is well beyond comfortable for most people thankfully.

]]> By: no thanks http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256/comment-page-1#comment-866 no thanks Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:45:08 +0000 http://wwjv4.com/?p=256#comment-866 As a pro-choice person, I am personally horrified by this. While theoretically I support Aliza's rights to do this, but given our political reality, where reproductive rights are under constant attack, her "art" is totally irresponsible. All this is going to do is give anti-choice people ammunition to further infringe upon abortion rights. She plays completely into the unfair stereotype of pro-choice people as rabid callous baby killers. While I never would question women who get an abortion due to circumstances beyond their control, its a completely different thing to impregnate yourself with the intention of inducing miscarriage. As a pro-choice person, I am personally horrified by this. While theoretically I support Aliza’s rights to do this, but given our political reality, where reproductive rights are under constant attack, her “art” is totally irresponsible. All this is going to do is give anti-choice people ammunition to further infringe upon abortion rights. She plays completely into the unfair stereotype of pro-choice people as rabid callous baby killers. While I never would question women who get an abortion due to circumstances beyond their control, its a completely different thing to impregnate yourself with the intention of inducing miscarriage.

]]> By: Summer http://wwjv4.com/activism/i-dont-understand-art-256/comment-page-1#comment-865 Summer Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:08:04 +0000 http://wwjv4.com/?p=256#comment-865 This is one of those times in which I will support a person's rights but cannot understand or personally agree with what they have done/are doing. Perhaps after more thought and the initial "shock" wears off I will be able to see validity in her "art" but I don't really expect to at this point. This is one of those times in which I will support a person’s rights but cannot understand or personally agree with what they have done/are doing.

Perhaps after more thought and the initial “shock” wears off I will be able to see validity in her “art” but I don’t really expect to at this point.

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