Case Studies in 20th and 21st American Art Censorship

It is fair to say that the controversy surrounding the photographs made by Robert Mapplethorpe that were exhibited in the late 1980s remains to be the most well-known case of artistic censorship in recent American history. Here is a short article by the lawyer who defended the right to exhibit these photographs. The effects of this case are still seen today. 

Also in 1989, a young Black art student at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago named Dread Scott made headlines for his artwork involving the American flag. 

Certain politicians and other people want to prevent art (visual, literary, theatre, dance, music, etc.) from being exhibited or distributed on the grounds that it makes some people "uncomfortable". It is not a matter buried in the deep past. As I type, legislators throughout America are trying to pass laws that would make it illegal to teach and exhibit "controversial" works and ideas. Sometimes the issues aren't even very controversial. Who could deny that racism isn't a real thing and a real problem? Who could deny that people experience sexuality and gender in ways that are not explicitly heteronormative? Who could deny that violence against women and trans people shouldn't be taken seriously? Well, sadly, the answer to these questions is "Plenty of people," and they're trying to pass laws to enforce these ideas. They do this by censoring and silencing people who have different ideas. 

This document, The State of Artistic Freedom, 2021, summarizes the problems that artists (a/k/a content creators) continue to face.

Start to take notes, search J-STOR, bookmark websites, freewrite. You will be writing your essay on these ideas.