In today's class we discussed the debate of censorship and freedom in television programs as it pertains to the youth of America. As so often is the case with popular issues, the idea of political leaning came into play, with one side of the argument being "left" and the other "right". Toward the end of the discussion, Prof. Leeper attempted to erase (quite literally) the idea from our minds, so that we might be able to look at this issue from a more personal, non-partisan, critically-thinking POV.
Unfortunately, it's not so easy to separate the debate (censorship vs. freedom) from the debacle (conservative vs. liberal). I knew immediately upon the topic being broached where I stood, and it was firmly on the left side of the board.
You see, there is much needed context for the reader to fully understand my perspective on this (as well as most political issues). I grew up in the Midwest and attended a Baptist school for my final three years of high school. By all accounts, I was a rabid conservative; one who believed that Pro-Life simply meant anti-abortion, and that homosexuality was something to be disgusted by, though not a reason to withhold "love" from "the homosexual."
Upon entering college though, there was a RADICAL shift in my views, as the pendulum swung just as equally in the opposite direction.
This is a somewhat typical trajectory for most university students, as once they leave the safety and confines of their upbringing and are introduced to new ideas and ways of thinking, they struggle with where they should fall on the spectrum. Some hold steadfast to their original beliefs, while others drop them faster than you can say, "Oops, sorry about the HUB."
Over the years I have been able to steady the swinging of that pendulum to the point of near rest as I've come to terms (somewhat, but not entirely) with who I am and what I believe. I tend to take a more "centrist" point of view on a number of topics, as I believe there is much more room for love and grace in the middle ground than there is on the fringe of either side.
The point though, is not about political leanings. If you lean "right" or "left", that's fine; but do your best to flesh out entirely why you lean whatever direction you lean, and as an artist, stay true to that leaning. But when you are confronted with another artist who leans differently than you, don't fear him or her. Don't become angry with them. Seek to understand and acknowledge their frame of reference and find the middle ground that we can all occupy together.
As artists, let's not let our fears of rejection and need for validation in our beliefs dictate the work laid out before us, as well as the work of others.
*steps down from pedestal*
I disagreed with some of the views presented in class. In class, we saw that conservatives were worried about censorship and allowing only their values, while we saw the left as concerned about freedom and dialogue.
ReplyDeleteI thought this views was too simple.
Sure, their are those on the right that seem like thought police, but their are those on the left as well that also want nothing more than to shove their beliefs down are throats. And they too have their dumb stereotypes. Like the "evil christian", "the corrupt businessman", the "sadist military", etc.
And I also prefer restraint, or as some call it, "censorship." The right is too timid and doesn't want to push anything past comfortable, and the left, at least I think, are completely unrestrained. The right seems to think that in order to make a good artistic movie, you have to sugar-coat everything so as not to offend. The left seems to think that in order to make a good artistic movie, you need lots of violence and dirty language because "it's realistic!"
Politically, I'm on the right. Artistically, I want to engage tough issues with realism but restraint. At least that's me.