Fifty150
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,146
- Location
- The Barbary Coast
Recently, the Oak Park, Illinois Library board voted to destroy a 1930s ice skating mural for the unforgivable sin of excluding
figure skaters of color, which, of course had caused hurt feelings and severe trauma. So, the mural had to go.
Murals are a particular flashpoint for this type of thing. Several years ago, our then-governor ordered the removal from the lobby of the State Department of Labor a series of panels depicting Maine's often-troubled labor history, on the grounds that it created an uncomfortable and adversarial environment for businessmen having dealings with the Department. These snowflakes with their safe spaces.
Murals, especially WPA product are generally very high quality and quite often uniquely styled.
Art, is subject to interpretation. Porn is "art". To me, it's a 1st Amendment issue. Artists have the right to expression. Removing or covering a mural, in my mind, is censorship. It's like burning books, or smashing "Rock N Roll" records. Some may recall how the music industry was forced to put warning labels on certain recordings. Motion pictures are rated.
Maybe those public murals are serving their intended purpose.
Why weren't there skaters of color in the 1930's? Where do we come from as a society, and where do we go? Is figure skating now an event which is open to every race?
If there is a mural of factory workers, and it doesn't look good, what does the actual factory look like today? Can we walk into a factory, and see happy elves building toys in Santa's workshop? Do we find jolly midgets making candy for Willy Wonka? Do we need a mural to constantly remind us that factory workers deserve safe working conditions? Or that children should not be working in factories?
Maybe the truth hurts. George Washington did own slaves and killed Native Americans. Washington helped found a nation which - well, we all have our own views of Native Americans losing their land and being placed on reservations. That US policy extended into the Pacific Ocean. Hawaii was a sovereign nation. Should we just cover that up, and pretend that it's not true? Do we cancel Washington, and just teach future generations that The USA became a nation independent of The British without mention of Washington? Or sugar coat Washington as a great founding father, without mention of slaves and Native Americans?
But then again, art is subject to interpretation. I shrug my shoulders and shake my head, when it comes to a painting of a can of soup. But I have a print of Cassius Marcellus Coolidge's "A Friend In Need" on prominent display for all guests in my home.