Main Page: Difference between revisions

From Censorpedia

No edit summary
No edit summary
Line 10: Line 10:
----
----
<!--        PASTE INCIDENT BELOW.        -->
<!--        PASTE INCIDENT BELOW.        -->
{{Display censorship incident
====Date: [[:Category:2006|2006]]====
|ongoing=no
|work=State of the Union (exhibition)
|year=2016
|region=North America
|artist=group exhibition,
|subject=Political/Economic/Social Opinion, Violence
|medium=Film Video, Mixed Media, Painting
|date_of_action=November-December 2016
|location=Salem State University, Salem, Massachusetts
|description_of_content=The exhibition “State of the Union” opened the day after the 2016 U.S. presidential election at the university’s Winfisky Gallery. 19 artworks created by 13 artists from across the region were selected from an open call for works that reflect "concerns and hopes for our future" in post-election America, according to a statement by gallery curator Ken Reker.
|description_of_incident=The university temporarily closed the exhibition over Thanksgiving weekend after a group of students complained that they found several of the works hurtful and offensive. The piece that created the most controversy was a painting by Garry Harley that depicts members of the Ku Klux Klan, "Meeting Under A Black Moon in the Plains of Despair." Students mistook the representation as a pro-white supremacist work, when in fact it was intended as a critique of Trumpism. A closed-door meeting with fifty students was held the Monday after Thanksgiving to discuss how to move forward.
|description_of_result=The university decided to reopen the exhibition with several modifications, including contextualizing signage; the painting  'Meeting Under A Black Moon in the Plains of Despair' was cordoned off behind a drape.


Salem State President Patricia Meservey stated in a press conference that the decision to reopen the exhibition is based on the university's commitment to upholding principles of academic freedom and freedom of expression:  
====Region: [[:Category:North America|North America]]====


"These freedoms include: the scholarship of the curator; the expression of art by the artists; and the right to express dissenting and supportive views by the people who observe the work. […] We acknowledge that we could have done more to prepare our community. The overall outcome of the show offers gains for both those concerned about the exhibit and those concerned about freedom of expression, and builds on our approach all along: creating dialogue." (from Marblehead Wicked Local, Nov 29, 2016)
====Subject: [[:Category:Religious|Religious]]====
|image=State-of-the-union.image.jpg
}}
[http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/dec/1/salem-state-hides-anti-trump-art-behind-drapes-stu/ College hides anti-Trump art behind drapes; students wanted censorship of KKK imagery], Dec 1, 2016


[http://ncac.org/banned-books-week/state-of-the-union-difficult-art-at-salem-state State of the Union: Difficult Art at Salem State], NCAC Blog, Nov 30, 2016
====Medium: [[:Category:Design|Design]] [[:Category:Commercial Advertising|Commercial Advertising]]====


[http://marblehead.wickedlocal.com/news/20161129/salem-state-university-to-reopen-controversial-art-exhibition-today Salem State University to reopen controversial art exhibition today], Nov 30, 2016
[[File:SantasButt.jpg|right]]
'''Artist:''' Shelton Brothers Brewers/ Daniel Shelton, a specialty beer distributor


[http://whdh.com/news/salem-state-students-and-staff-discuss-controversial-art-exhibit/ Salem State students and staff discuss controversial art exhibit], Nov 29, 2016
'''Confronting Bodies:''' Maine government officials


[https://www.thefire.org/fire-notes-uptick-in-student-driven-calls-for-art-censorship-as-salem-state-shutters-exhibit/ FIRE Notes Uptick in Student-Driven Calls for Art Censorship as Salem State Shutters Exhibit], By Alex Morey, Nov 28, 2016
'''Date of Action:''' 2006


[https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2016/11/28/salem-state-university-facing-criticism-minority-students-shutters-art-exhibit When Art Offends (and Isn't Understood) - Salem State invited artists to create works inspired by election. Several paintings, created by critics of Trump, were intended to draw attention to oppression. But minority students were offended -- and university shuttered exhibit.] By Scott Jaschik, Inside Higher Ed, Nov 28, 2016
'''Location:''' Portland, Maine USA


[http://www.salemnews.com/news/local_news/salem-state-art-meeting-moved-to-tuesday/article_6646693f-d355-5193-9191-d35422b7a45d.html Salem State art meeting moved to Tuesday], Salem News, Nov 28, 2016
'''Description of Artwork:''' The label, intended to go on Shelton Brothers Brewers new beer they call "Santa’s Butt Winter Porter," features Santa’s fully-clothed derriere perched atop a barrel (or "butt") of beer. In addition to "Santa’s Butt," at question were "Les Sans Culottes," featuring Delacroix’s classic painting ''Liberty Leading the People'', and "Rose de Gambrinus," featuring a watercolor painting of the king of Flanders sitting with a naked woman. <P>


[https://www.artforum.com/news/id=64989 Salem State University Shuts Down Exhibition Responding to US Presidential Election], ARTFORUM News, Nov 25, 2016
'''The Incident:''' The State of Maine refused permission to sell the above described Shelton Brothers Brewers’ beers because the State deemed their labels “undignified or improper”. <P>
[[File:Rose.jpg|left]]
'''Results of Incident:''' On November 30, 2006, the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation (MCLU) filed a case against government censorship on behalf of Daniel Shelton. With the help of MCLU, Shelton won the lawsuit; in a letter dated December 22, 2006, Maine’s Liqour Licensing Unit Inspector Supervisor Jeffrey Austin told Shelton Brothers Brewers that they could register the label for "Santa’s Butt Winter Porter."  While Shelton did win his case, unfortunately the ruling did not come in time for the company to be able to get the label out onto the bottles for the 2006 Christmas season.  The MCLU has not stopped there; they intend to continue fighting the Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement ensuring that they stop censoring all labels.  <P>


[http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_coverage/2016/11/salem_state_university_suspends_exhibit_after_kkk_painting_upset Salem State University suspends exhibit after KKK painting upset students], Associated Press, Nov 23, 2016
'''Source:''' North Country Gazette: www.northcountrygazette.org


[http://www.salemnews.com/news/art-or-hate-salem-state-university-shuts-down-controversial-show/article_72d57104-b135-11e6-81a5-a3d6e9159a4e.html Art or hate? Salem State University shuts down controversial show], By Dustin Luca Staff Writer, Salem News, Nov 22, 2016
[[Category:2006]]


[https://www.salemstate.edu/news/4888/update-winfisky-gallery/ Email apology to Salem State Students, Faculty and Staff Members], Nov 22, 2016
[[Category:2000s]]


[https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2016/11/22/salem-state-art-exhibit-temporarily-suspended-for-controversial-painting/TnH1rMgdq4fNYqB9bErR8I/story.html Salem State art exhibit temporarily suspended after complaints], By Olivia Quintana GLOBE CORRESPONDENT, Nov 22, 2016
[[Category:21st century]]


[http://whdh.com/news/gallery-featuring-kkk-painting-temporarily-closes-at-salem-state/#.WDS85x0tD8A.facebook Gallery featuring KKK painting temporarily closes at Salem State], Nov 22, 2016
[[Category:North America]]


[https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10154757350322803&set=a.10151507939052803.545301.639862802&type=3&theater Liz Embree (Facebook)], November 21 near Salem, MA
[[Category:Religious]]
 
[[Category:Design]]
 
[[Category:Commercial Advertising]]
 
[[Category:Shelton Brothers Brewers/ Daniel Shelton, a specialty beer distributor]]
 
__NOTOC__
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>

Revision as of 17:08, 8 December 2020

Featured Case


Date: 2006

Region: North America

Subject: Religious

Medium: Design Commercial Advertising

SantasButt.jpg

Artist: Shelton Brothers Brewers/ Daniel Shelton, a specialty beer distributor

Confronting Bodies: Maine government officials

Date of Action: 2006

Location: Portland, Maine USA

Description of Artwork: The label, intended to go on Shelton Brothers Brewers new beer they call "Santa’s Butt Winter Porter," features Santa’s fully-clothed derriere perched atop a barrel (or "butt") of beer. In addition to "Santa’s Butt," at question were "Les Sans Culottes," featuring Delacroix’s classic painting Liberty Leading the People, and "Rose de Gambrinus," featuring a watercolor painting of the king of Flanders sitting with a naked woman.

The Incident: The State of Maine refused permission to sell the above described Shelton Brothers Brewers’ beers because the State deemed their labels “undignified or improper”.

Rose.jpg
Results of Incident: On November 30, 2006, the Maine Civil Liberties Union Foundation (MCLU) filed a case against government censorship on behalf of Daniel Shelton. With the help of MCLU, Shelton won the lawsuit; in a letter dated December 22, 2006, Maine’s Liqour Licensing Unit Inspector Supervisor Jeffrey Austin told Shelton Brothers Brewers that they could register the label for "Santa’s Butt Winter Porter." While Shelton did win his case, unfortunately the ruling did not come in time for the company to be able to get the label out onto the bottles for the 2006 Christmas season. The MCLU has not stopped there; they intend to continue fighting the Maine Bureau of Liquor Enforcement ensuring that they stop censoring all labels.

Source: North Country Gazette: www.northcountrygazette.org






























What is Censorpedia?

Censorpedia is a crowdsourced online database of censorship cases within the arts and in culture. It is aimed at those researching censorship, at activists working for freedom of expression and at artists and other cultural producers whose expression has been subject to censorship or attempted censorship.

Censorpedia documents censorship incidents by providing the who, what, when, where and why. By providing a repository of information about what is vulnerable to censorship and about the strategies and tactics that have defeated previous’ censorship attempts, Censorpedia aids the fight for free expression.

Researchers can search for a specific case, year or keyword using the search box, as well as browse by medium, by grounds for censorship, or explore a random case.

Activists can search for ongoing cases or contribute a case that is ongoing or recently resolved.

Artists and cultural producers are similarly invited to add cases they are directly involved with or are familiar with first hand.

Censorpedia builds on the landmark 1994 art project The File Room, initiated by Muntadas.

For more information about censorship visit our Annotated Bibliography


Feel free to:

Browse censorship cases by:


Censorpedia Terms of Use