Comments on: Is it Art or Animal Cruelty? http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/ On art, culture and collaboration Wed, 07 Jan 2009 05:57:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Carrie Lee http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-164 Carrie Lee Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:39:38 +0000 http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-164 It is not fine art. It is not craft. It is killing. It is immoral and illegal and or should be. To call it art is to imply that free expression justifies killing. The people who publish and promote the "killing" as art are the worst offenders- by giving the work visibilty and validity as art. Last I looked they don't teach killing in art school. Someone who kills and tortures animals is part of a mass murderer profile as well. The biennale wants publicity like any other buisness. Shock art has been big since the 70's- since Chris Burden had himself shot with a rifle. he unfortunately has encouraged others- see this blog for morehttp://ishotchrisburden.blogspot.com/2005/02/real-guns-killing-real-artists.html It is not fine art.
It is not craft.
It is killing.
It is immoral and illegal and or should be.
To call it art is to imply that free expression justifies killing.
The people who publish and promote the “killing” as art are the worst offenders- by giving the work visibilty and validity as art.
Last I looked they don’t teach killing in art school.
Someone who kills and tortures animals is part of a mass murderer profile as well.
The biennale wants publicity like any other buisness.
Shock art has been big since the 70’s- since Chris Burden had himself shot with a rifle.
he unfortunately has encouraged others- see this blog for morehttp://ishotchrisburden.blogspot.com/2005/02/real-guns-killing-real-artists.html

]]> By: Terry Bishop http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-163 Terry Bishop Tue, 29 Jul 2008 14:57:20 +0000 http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-163 I never realized this type of art existed until I read this post, Lyn. I cannot understand why someone would kill a living creature for the sake of art. It definitely has been pointed out over and over that people who kill animals often become killers of people...what can be said of those voyeurs who "enjoy" looking at this form of art. Have we all become so insensitve to levels of violence that people do not see this as a form of violence. Is this the result of the media "fight" to become numero uno? Violence can be depicted in art...but violence should not make art. I never realized this type of art existed until I read this post, Lyn. I cannot understand why someone would kill a living creature for the sake of art. It definitely has been pointed out over and over that people who kill animals often become killers of people…what can be said of those voyeurs who “enjoy” looking at this form of art. Have we all become so insensitve to levels of violence that people do not see this as a form of violence. Is this the result of the media “fight” to become numero uno?
Violence can be depicted in art…but violence should not make art.

]]> By: Lyn Bishop http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-61 Lyn Bishop Wed, 04 Jun 2008 19:03:33 +0000 http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-61 I appreciate all the thoughtful comments I've received on this topic, both here and in email. I still can't understand why a biennale event as important for cultural relations as well as for the arts would invite an artist to do such a thing. It sure is beyond me. I appreciate all the thoughtful comments I’ve received on this topic, both here and in email.
I still can’t understand why a biennale event as important for cultural relations as well as for the arts would invite an artist to do such a thing. It sure is beyond me.

]]> By: Karen Scharer http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-60 Karen Scharer Wed, 04 Jun 2008 18:31:46 +0000 http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-60 I have to agree with what appears to be a consensus in the comments thus far, though I would go a step further and say that the discussion of whether these stunts represent art is moot. First and foremost, this is animal cruelty, both immoral and illegal in most jurisdictions. I don't feel compelled to grace it with a discussion of whether it is art. There is much too small a step from this repulsive behavior to slaughtering humans for some purported "aesthetic" effect. I have to agree with what appears to be a consensus in the comments thus far, though I would go a step further and say that the discussion of whether these stunts represent art is moot. First and foremost, this is animal cruelty, both immoral and illegal in most jurisdictions. I don’t feel compelled to grace it with a discussion of whether it is art. There is much too small a step from this repulsive behavior to slaughtering humans for some purported “aesthetic” effect.

]]> By: Nancy Barry-Jansson http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-52 Nancy Barry-Jansson Mon, 26 May 2008 20:25:41 +0000 http://lynbishop.com/blog/2008/05/23/is-it-art-or-animal-cruelty/#comment-52 I find there in no acceptable answer to the age old question (is it ART?). You can always debate art vs. censorship (when something is not considered art, removing it is censorship) till you are blue in the face. When you try to fight something you believe is wrong, you actual give more (negative) energy to that cause. Today, we vote with our money, our art purchases and by supporting galleries. After all, galleries are business-driven and follow the money. Far better to say...I choose not to spend my money at a gallery that carries or supports such behavior...and educate people who are spending money there. Do they realize what they are supporting with their money? Chances are, some do, but most don't. Seems like the Humane Society would have a say on the commercialization of such behavior, as well. I find there in no acceptable answer to the age old question (is it ART?). You can always debate art vs. censorship (when something is not considered art, removing it is censorship) till you are blue in the face. When you try to fight something you believe is wrong, you actual give more (negative) energy to that cause.

Today, we vote with our money, our art purchases and by supporting galleries. After all, galleries are business-driven and follow the money. Far better to say…I choose not to spend my money at a gallery that carries or supports such behavior…and educate people who are spending money there. Do they realize what they are supporting with their money? Chances are, some do, but most don’t.

Seems like the Humane Society would have a say on the commercialization of such behavior, as well.

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