Modern art is constantly pushing the limits. Sometimes, the powers that be push back.
Recently, a graduate student at the University of Southern Illinois was given an ultimatum by interim Chancellor Sam Goldman to cover her photograph of a woman with a "partially exposed buttocks."
Goldman says the photo, which was used in a banner for a feminist art exhibit, could offend children and families visiting campus. He suggested that the offending buttocks be covered with a cloth if the banner was to remain. The "compromise" sparked a protest over artistic freedom of expression at the university.
Is such a scenario possible at the University of West Florida?
Raina Benoit, new director of the UWF Art Gallery and victim of internet censorship, says yes.
"Censorship is always possible," Benoit said. "There are many ways to look at art.
"People who disagree can be offended by certain things they're not conditioned to look at. If we're only going to show work that pleases everyone, then I think that cancels the purpose of art."
Benoit is currently the grant writer and curator for "Her Shorts, A Woman's International Video Festival." After three warnings, the festival was removed from www.youtube.com for nudity.
This was chiefly due to a clip entitled "American Spaghetti Crime," which featured parallel shots of women having spaghetti noodles dumped on their bodies. One woman was naked.
The UWF student handbook contains the word "censorship" zero times. Associate Vice President and Dean of Students Jim Hurd said his office has not dealt with "anything specific in recent memory."
"In the best of all worlds, a decision to restrict some aspect of an artistic exhibition would be made with great deliberation and collaboration between key stakeholders, and should be held to a very high standard of tolerance for expression," Hurd said.
"Expressions that endanger others are one extreme example, but it might also be argued that expressions which violate others' legitimate civil rights may also be appropriate for restriction."
Patrick Burtucci, 22, a senior international studies major, says censorship should only be allowed with the intention of protecting children.
"Profanity, excessive violence, sexual acts and stuff of that nature, I wouldn't be comfortable if I had a 5-year-old child walking around and seeing that," Burtucci said. "I believe that the innocence of a child is something that is important and should be protected. Every child should have the right to have that."
Benoit says it's not unreasonable to respect the needs of the parents to protect their children."
"With that said, as the curator and director of the gallery, any time that our gallery, or any public space that's showing artwork, has anything that would show nudity or anything suggestive of sexuality, we would have a clear statement so that someone wouldn't go in unknowingly with their child and expose them to something," she said. "There is a big consideration for the public in that regard. I respect that."
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