Humanities Homework Help

Part 1. Post Original response by Nov. 18, 11:59 PM: (THERE ARE MULTIPLE TASKS FOR PART 1) (30 pts)

       a. Please read pp. 58 (Chapter 3, Thinking about Art: Iconoclasm), 333 (Chapter 14, Thinking about Art: Destroying Works of      Art), and 511 (Chapter 21, Thinking about Art: The Nazi Campaign against Modern Art) in Living with Art regarding censorship and iconoclasm.

        b. Watch the videos below about the Nazi’s Degenerate Art exhibition (THERE IS NO SOUND FOR THIS VIDEO. BECAUSE THERE IS NO SOUND, THERE IS NO CLOSED CAPTIONING.) and ISIS’ current destruction of World Heritage sites. (All video link to external sites.)

Degenerate Art Exhibit

On ISIS Destruction: Human History “Is Permanent” | National Geographic

How Much History Has ISIS Destroyed?

         c. Review UNESCO’s website: UNESCO was established in 1945 to act as a global force in civic responsibility to act across cultures and communities.  Review the “Protecting Our Heritage and Fostering Creativity” portion of the UNESCO web site.  UNESCO has set policies and procedures for safeguarding cultural heritage worldwide in times of emergency and ongoing instability. 

          d. Write 1-2 paragraphs (30 pts) that answer the following questions and demonstrate you have watched and thought critically about the required videos and readings. Think about your personal response to art censorship and answer the following questions. Remember that your answer must indicate you read the textbook pages, watched the videos and reviewed the UNESCO website.

Is the Nazi or ISIS art destruction/art censorship appropriate? Why or why not?

Are there alternatives you could suggest? 

Is censorship ever appropriate? If so, when? How should censorship be approached? 

How do we as American citizens address the destruction of human history at world heritage sites? 

What would you do if this was happening in your community?  

Part 2. Post response to two students,

After you have made your original post, read the comments by other students and respond to TWO other students posts. Do you agree with their assessment? Suggest an alternative solution to their art censorship problem. 

1. 

I believe that art is to be destroyed only if it is the desire of the artist. If art is destroyed by anyone else but the creator of the art I see it as nothing but immoral. Banksy is a prime example of an artist destroying their own art with his “Balloon Girl”. I am not surprised of Nazis and Isis destroying art given their history and beliefs. Isis believes that God ordered for these artifacts to be destroyed as they represent adultery meanwhile they are beheading people like no other. The real purpose for destroying history is to lie to future generations on their real identity and set of morals/beliefs, this was done by both Isis and the Nazis to have control on future generational beliefs.

We as Americans need to be aware and thoughtful enough to realize that these cultural resources belong to everyone as humans due these artifacts being a representation of human history in one point in time that we will never recover. Censorship can be deemed appropriate in certain cases such as when Germany destroyed all portraits of Hitler and swastikas to not be affiliated with Hitlers Nazism beliefs and actions. When censorship is to disassociate with tragic events I believe its appropriate. Today it is easier then ever to censor art in the age of the internet. Humans will always disagree on art, some may be interested in all of the Nazi artifacts while others cant bear to be in the presence of it. Therefore, If you dislike a piece of art, simply move on to the next there’s so much to see to be wasting your time complaining about something others could find amazing. “The urge for destruction is also a creative urge !”- Pablo Picasso

2.

The destruction of art is never appropriate unless of course, that is the intended end to the art as the artist wishes. The history of destroying art to prove a point or to wipe out the records of things people don’t agree with goes beyond just what the nazis did or what isis is doing today. it is a part of human history that has repeated itself over and over again. If these groups must ‘remove’ the art they feel idolizes other deities or secular aspects of life they should take it and stow it away instead of destroying it. Regardless of what they might feel they are called upon by their god to do, the destruction of history should never be allowed.

Censorship is appropriate when it comes to children and younger adults, who are still impressionable and learning how they think and feel about things. Apart from that, I feel it is up to each individual to look or not look at things, to take their own individual censorship into their own hands. As Americans, we have come together to offer support and aid in the prevention of the destruction of human history at world heritage sites. Creating organizations such as UNESCO to work together outside of America and take measures into protecting these sites and human history as best we can. As things like this occurs in the world and even to differing degrees in America, I find it hard to sit idly by and watch such things unfurl, I always do what I can to support people and places that aim to prevent such disasters from happening.