F News Question Compiled by Lamaretta
Simmons What role should the administration play in
decisions about displaying controversial or problematic student artwork
at SAIC public events?
I know this will never be published, but really, what kind of
fucking world is this where an art school embraces the idea of
"problematic" artwork? I've been stewing over this for about half an
hour now. It really, really pisses me off that this paper, which should
be impartial at the very least if not in favor of the display of all
students artwork no matter what the content, uses the term "problematic
art." what, exactly, makes a piece of art "problematic?" Any artist who
would embrace the idea of there being art that could cause a problem and
therefore could rightly be banned has stopped being a real artist and
become a museum whore. Any true artist who even acknowledges the idea of
problematic art should be busily making lots of it, and putting it up in
very public places. Now chances are this small rebuttal won't be
published; I've just called the editors, publishers, and, I suppose, one
of the writers ethical sell outs, but for Christ's sake, try to avoid
programming us with your questions in the future.
-doubleplusungood arpad, student
I believe the panel should open up to the student body at that point, if
there is a problem with displaying such work. At that time, the students
should be encouraged to review information/content of the work and vote
as to whether or not the work should be displayed.
--Alyssa Miserendino, photo student
I don't think that they should play any role. This is supposed to be an
art Institute; freedom of expression should not be prohibited unless it
brings harm to an unwilling person. The administration should be the
Last people to censor anything, sometimes the envelope needs to be
pushed and if this is not allowed to happen I think it would be a
detriment to the school and its students.
-Matt Strongin,
student(interdisciplinary)
The administration should play quite a substantial role in display of
student artwork when it is especially that "problematic." Depending on
the administration's definition of what type work can pose some sort of
problem, they are put in place to exercise some authority, otherwise the
"school" (thought of as an "Institute" of prestige and rich training)
would have no reason to exist.
Solution: Works that fall within such a category should maybe be sent
through an appeals process ... reviewed by a board that consists of
students/peers, faculty, and administration staff.
--Shayla N. Johnson MFA Visual Communications student
Just as baseball fans do not go to a game to see the umpire in action,
one does not go to an art exhibition at an art school to see an
administrative success. If spectators are going to get blood in their
mouths, if kittens or babies are going to be kicked, or if more than
three seeds of marijuana are going to be planted in mother earth, it
should be unabashedly halted. If people's feelings or sense of decency
are going to be stepped on, portrayed in underpants, or stripped naked
and seduced, it should be glorified and defended to the death.
--Ethan Roeder, Student Government Co-President
The first role of administration is to protect the interests of the
school within regard to the public relation perspective.
Some important questions need to be asked...Does the artwork represent
the best example of what SAIC students are creating? What exactly makes
it controversial or problematic? If the work falls under these
categories but does so in a way that it encourages thought and
discussion it should be considered. What is the relationship of the
work in regards to the contemporary art scene? Is similar work shown in
the galleries? Is similar work shown at the MCA? If it fits into the
contemporary scene it adds relevance to the work. In relations to
contemporary art and themes from the last few years there is a
heightened push for shock art. The real question is whether this 'shock
art' only shocks you once and then there is no more to it, or does the
act of shocking also transcend to other points of discussion. The issue
of inclusion of this type of work in a public SAIC session should be
based on the quality of the work and the success of its message. Even
the Brooklyn Museum enjoyed the attention from its
"Sensational" exhibition. There are other ways to deal with the work
besides excluding it. Curatorial decisions can be made to placement of
the work and whether didactic warnings should be included to warn those
that Mature Viewers are Advised. Administration is there to protect the
school and to protect the students. Often these decisions feel like
censorship, but the truth of the matter is that Administration has to
think of its image to the public. This comes first, but there are many
different ways that it can be handled so that students can explore,
express and share their ideas at a SAIC event.
--Heather Birkhead, Coordinator, Cooperative Education Department
Perhaps a better question would be: When will artists be savvy enough to
create work that pushes boundaries, but does not become easy targets for
right wing conservatives, or easy reasons for art supporting agencies to
pull their support? The term subversive is widely misused in this school
to refer to work that is oversive. To subvert is to sneak in under the
guise of normalness. I have never been surprised by art works that have
caused controversy, it is always very predictable. It is all about
recognizing how marginal the fine art audience is, and artists wishing
to engage in a dialogue with the larger society.
--Chris Sullivan, Film Video and New Media
I personally think the current attitude of Administration is the best
they could do for now. I know it's too much to ask for a 'home-like'
environment where a mistake can be forgiven and understood totally.
However, that is not to discourage any works that push the edge, in many
[instances]. Students and the school should admit their differences in
their goals: one is here to learn, and the other is here to keep the
institution growing, in other words, to make money.
--Taeyoon Choi, student BFA with emphasis on Art History, Theory and
Criticism/performance
I think that the administration should have the same role that they have
been content with since I have been at this school. They should be
hands-off until there is a crisis. When there becomes an outrage
jeopardy of some bad press, they should pretend like they are behind the
students. While doing this, they should remove the artwork and create
unwritten rules that prevent anything interesting or provoking from
being in the public eye.
The students should also continue the same role that they have been
choosing to have since I have been here. Instead of giving their work
serious thought, and instead of trying to research other artists and
learn some art history they should be lazy. The students only goal
should be what it has been in the past: get the most attention with the
least amount of effort. When someone calls them on it, they should whine
and complain about how the system prevents them from being creative and
innovative.
Basically, I am pro-status-quo. What I have learned while attending this
school is that the desire for change should be forgotten. Why should
anything change? The administration gets fat paychecks for running paper
trails and talking about the wonderful new dorm and all of our fancy
"new technology." It is all about the buzzword. The students don't want
to take any responsibility for their lives, much less their work. There
is basically no reason for any motivation for change. This what I have
learned while attending this school: be content with the way things are
and you will never be disappointed. The people I really sympathize with
are the teachers. They are the ones who get taken advantage of. They are
also the ones that the students constantly disappoint.
--Anonymous, Graduating Senior [email protected]
I believe the administration needs to support the instructors judgment
regarding work . The instructor however,needs to be able to evaluate a
students output and understand vapid sensationalism from an honest
forceful statement!!! If there is any doubt , the instructor should
feel free to get opinions from other instructors and/or the
administration if still troubled by the decision.
Administrators get paid to make the difficult decisions, but should do
so by invitation of the instructor. The best case scenario is that the
work would be given the effort of discussion and reasoning before a
mutual decision ,between the instructor and the administration is
arrived at! This way everyone concerned is treated fairly. However, In
the real world the administration still has the responsibility.
--Marlene Short, alumni / student / former teacher
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