Vision Series Explores Art

By Broadside Correspondent Laurel Ferretti

On March 16, Dr. Suzanne Carbonneau voiced the seventh perspective of George Mason University’s Vision Series regarding “The War Against Art: Where Are We Now?” by utilizing the examination of art and invoking the evidence of history. She explained that one of the purposes of art’s presence, in the public eye, is “to remind us that we are moral.” However, in light of the political history she presented, one may question her point of view. Carbonneau’s named “war” began in 1989 when Andres Serrano exhibited his own photograph “Piss Christ.” This event catalyzed conservative political opposition to contemporary artwork, making it difficult for artists to voice their expression.

The interaction between contemporary artists and the government has improved toward the beginning of the twenty-first century. Carbonneau noted that this political attention was made possible by the fall of the Berlin Wall. “Who was the enemy now?” She answers, “The enemy was within [the United States].”

Carbonneau also gave light to the presidencies of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush. Reagan delayed treatment of AIDS, which hurt members of the art community—such as Robert Mapplethrope.

Former President Bush, Sr. refused certain measures of funding to the arts. In application, freshman music performance and graphic design major Courtney Leonard noted that conservatives are becoming less prevalent at Mason. “Look at our university;” said Leonard, “It’s really diverse.”

Carbonneau gave a brief history of the National Endowment for the Arts, which promotes itself as “the largest annual funder of the arts in the United States.”

Graduate student sociology major Jeff Johnson said he did not expect to learn of the NEA in this respect. Carbonneau noted that the agency has witnessed much corruption for the sake of wealth and power; it has thus been utilized ineffectively or improperly at times. Even though the First Amendment and civil rights had accomplished their written task, there remained within the government a wealth of power that contained domination by the white, straight man. However, in concern of this cumulative “war,” Leonard believes, “It’s an issue, but not as much as before.”

Carbonneau stated that in the modern world, art is treated as something pleasurable, yet art even supposedly preceded written language. In our current experience, it actually appears as if the arts will financially benefit from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The act allotted $50 million to the arts. To the reaction that a small percentage was given to arts while much more capital was invested in “failing CEO’s,” Johnson reacts, “It’s a shame.”

In closing, Carbonneau then reminded the audience that the purpose of presented art is “to remind us that the world is both a terrible and a beautiful place.”