Why Censorship Ruins Art

As this term at GCE is coming to a close, the third and final Action Project for the Fall 2015 term is all about an artist's statement. We use art to convey a message that we stand for and back it up with Rhetorical elements, devices, and appeals. But this art isn't just visual art, it can go to poems or even fashion, anything goes as art is such a wide medium that includes auditory and/or visual aspects. It was challenging to find the right topic on what to speak about, as I knew I wanted to use visuals to convey the message, but thinking of something I could passionately speak about what tough. Then when the idea of art censorship struck, I thought it was something I could use to my advantage in the best way. Overall, I was proud of the ironic art piece I made, which you can view just down below, along with my artist's statement.

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Art censorship is only acceptable under few circumstances, such as when broadcasting or displaying some medium from the past towards an audience of children. Other than that, it’s practically criminal to unreasonably censor art that was never intended to be child-friendly. Art, whether it be painting or animation, song or movie, has an intended effect upon its audience. I myself am a high student that’s greatly engaged in the arts, mainly visual, so I know what it feels like to have your work defiled by others, without consent, just to meet their own personal wants or needs. Art is a form of speech, as you’re sending out a message or tone that you heavily believe in, which is why censorship can be disrespectful to the artist. There’s even plenty of censorship or bans that blatantly destroys a positively intended message. In the Utah State University, some student made over 900 chalk drawing of hearts with anti-abortion messages inside of them. The police ordered them to clear it all up as it was considered vandalism, thus it followed under an act of censorship.

Now when someone’s hard work to exercise their freedom of speech and spread a good message is censored like that, can you really stay behind that idea? There’s allot of art out there that’s not intended for young ages, whether it’s visual or not. Just think of censored lyrics or poems that lose meaning when you’re forced to take out important aspects of the song or writing. Same goes with art. When it’s censored or banned, it’s automatically losing meaning or the artist is being stripped of their first amendment. There are some pluses to art censorship like making something safe for all audiences, but what if there’s a specific tone that’s wanted to be set by the creator? Is it really justified to censor something by destroying its message just to make it alright for children to see?

That’s why I’ve made this art piece, ironically, you have a bloody, gorey figure pointing down at the word “censorship” with his middle figure, meanwhile, a female graffiti artist is making word art with an obvious curse word, thus, tying together the message of disapproving censorship. This is meant to have an aggressive feel to it, as it should make you feel angry! Just think about you, you’re passionately speaking about an issue that needs more exposure, and as you’re emphasizing the seriousness of it, someone deems it unworthy for the public eye. Wouldn’t it infuriate you if your music, art, book, speech, poem, or simple comment was smacked out of existence by someone because they think others will take it offensively? So using a 0.9mm #2 lead pencil (Bic), and of course standard printing paper (8.25in x 11.75in), along with a simple eraser that’s on the mechanical pencil, I’ve made a visual art piece that demonstrates what exactly censorship takes away.

Anti-Censorship, VG, 2015

And this isn’t just a modern topic about our current generation of art, think about every single image that represent the bible, or even just lines of text. Hell is a realm in which corrupt souls are damned to after death. That’s a completely serious tone as it infers that Hell is a place of suffering for sinners, giving incentive for people to treat thy neighbor as they would treat thyself. Now imagine if “Hell” was simply known as the very bad place where bad people go and have bad things happen. Censorship dumbs things down to an unacceptable level of simplicity. It really doesn’t represent the true meaning of the message because it’s not allowed to have any suggestive text that relates to any topics that people over the age of 8 would know about. Death, suffering, pain. We all know what these things are and that humanity encounters it all. Sex, drugs, violence. Issues that practically revolve the globe as we need to be education about these things so that we don’t end up hurting ourselves in the future. Now if people simply hide these topics and concepts to younger minds forever, how will they react and/or what options will they have when they do encounter these problems?

It’s a given that certain things in media should be censored for the sake of trying not to influence children to use things that they’re not allowed to do yet (since they’re still developing minds), but when you harm an artist’s life by banning their work because you deem it inappropriate, well that’s just wrong, damn wrong, if I may. Visual arts are meant to connect to others by images, and powerful imagery comes at the price of sensitive topics that only mature people can handle. Music is meant to connect to the listener through a usage of relatable topics, and when there’s a lot of messed up crap on this Earth like abuse, war, and discrimination, one can only try to avoid using mature language. Did you notice? It’s that word again. Mature. The word that describes those who know how to act in certain situations based on knowledge and/or experience. Sometimes, things in writing need to utilize hyperboles or similes, metaphors, and analogies to adult topics. I myself exaggerated upon what exactly should and shouldn’t be censored through my art. The most extreme vulgarity, “fuck” and the most extreme suggestive theme/sexual content (nudity), which are both ironically censored.

If I had to choose a specific place for my art to be displayed, I would hope it would be out on the streets as that’s the style that I aimed for and street art is often accused of being pure vandalism that features everything that most people would want censored as it’s out in public. With that, I hope that you have a new perspective on what’s censored nowadays, since there are indeed adult topic in the bible, so why should artists have to restrain themselves?

Cited Works:

Utah State University students claim censorship over anti-abortion chalk art on campus, by Tamara Vaifanua, Fox News [Salt Lake City], October 1st, 2015

6 Artists Who Were Banned, Censored or Arrested by Conservatives, by  Julianne Escobedo Shepherd/AlterNet, January 3, 2011

The Slammer of SledgeWhammer

It's the first Action Project of our second class, Design and Engineering. This class is a math, science, and of course, design based course. The first of two Action Projects, as there are 2 units (as opposed to the regular amount, three), has us recreating/improving upon a tool that we already decided to analyze during an external investigation at Home Depot, seeing why the tools were made and how they help. My fellow blogger MF and I decided upon the sledgehammer as it wasn't that practical for gardening, so it stood out (unknowingly deciding the tool for this Action Project). During this time of research, it was worth noting the weight and material of different sledgehammers, as well as the variety ni handles. Some hammers were cushiony, some where just plain steel, others had wooden handles, it was all so different for being the same exact tool. Certain struggles and obstacles with the design were finding out its size and how it would differ from the competition. At first, the idea was making it repetitively slam onto a surface, but then the problem was finding out how that would work. Overall, I was proud of the concept and enjoyed figuring out how to work out the different mechanics, innovating on every aspect we could. Just below you can find the rest of the information about the concept, and I hope you enjoy.

The SledgeWhammer (Vectors included), VG & MF- 2015

Now people of all ages are the intended consumer as it should have universal usage. Despite physical differences, anybody should be able to pick up a nifty sledgehammer and buy it for some good old fashion demolition without worrying about buying multiple types or a unique version. A tool that relies heavily on the simple machines; a lever, pulleys, wheel & axle— should be able to be universally used (interchangeable weights/hammers). And speaking of the lever, as one side rises, the other side lowers, so utilizing a counterweight was truly taken advantage of as we could have the sides alternate going up and down for efficiency through repetitive hammering. So unlike the common sledgehammer, our SledgeWhammer can be used by anyone, even a senior citizen.

Based on the interviews my fellow students and I did, our consumers (or at least gardeners) want easy tools that are comfortable and efficient. And since we empathize those of you who aren't as physically able as the average adult, we made a design that suits everyone. Now with the SledgeWhammer, we have a detachable sledgehammer that rests on a fulcrum, equal distance from its also interchangeable liquid counterweight (to make repetitive smashing). This lightweight frame of 24 pounds is small enough to fit inside of a minivan, and the cases containing the multiple hammerheads and counterweights are neatly packed. The liquid counterweight is intended to create a mirrored ripple-like effect that will create the equal and opposite reaction for every action the head of the hammer does. The hammer itself is lifted by a double pulley system that's controlled by a crank.

Storyboard for Tool part 1, VG & MF-2015

The SledgeWhammer won't be a hassle, as it's operated by a ratchet pulley system that utilizes a crank to raise the hammer and a release/lock button to start the swing (which might I add is behind the tool, and on the back of it, there's a strong, thick layer of plexiglass so you can see what you're demolishing!), or stop it when necessary. The crank is to the side of the frame pulling on an extremely dexterous tether which is attached to one pulley that redirects the tether to the ratchet pulley, which raises the hammer. But what if you don't need or want to utilize the whole SledgeWhammer? That's why the sledgehammer part is detachable, no need to roll the frame with you everywhere you go. All the parts of the hammer come in cases (alongside counterweights) so it's easier to transport, however these cases can get hefty sometimes, so don't underestimate the weight. On the other hand, since I mentioned the frame, it's supported by 4 large wheels that are friction-based to ensure that when the brakes are applied, the tool stays in place. The frame also has gaps for cost-efficient design when being built, and it utilizes triangles in its frame design for a sturdier build.

Storyboard for Tool part 2, VG-2015

Lastly, the SledgeWhammer smashes the competition with its diversity in a single tool, as well as automated performance. And who even wants a regular sledgehammer when the SledgeWhammer is the coolest tool you'll ever own? It's like the best non-electric jackhammer anyone could ever ask for.