Decline of Artistic Freedom in America?

1. Is this kind of censorship a uniquely American problem? Do you have any thoughts as to why this would be the case?
2. How does art censorship in America differ from that in other countries? What can we learn from other countries’ protections and censorship of artistic expression? 
3. Consider the censoring of the Minhaj episode in Saudi Arabia again, and read this article about the ethics of American and international business. What is the responsibility of U.S.-based companies to uphold Free Speech/the First Amendment abroad?
4. What is the public responsibility to separate admirable art from an offensive artist who created it? This clip of Pete Davidson from “Saturday Night Live” makes the point.
5. Check out this statement from American Theatre: “Schools have the right and responsibility to determine what is appropriate activity and speech under their control, and just because students are exposed to all manner of content in the media and even in their day-to-day lives doesn’t mean that schools can or must permit it, either in classrooms or performance.” Do you agree, and if not, why not? Whose interests should school theater, or for that matter, campus coffee shop playlists, serve?
6. Will there always be a problem in the United States where we’re comfortable censoring certain actions by others, yet resist when they try to censor us? How many people are truly opposed to all forms of censorship?
7. How important are feelings when evaluating whether art should be permitted? Should there be measures to protect viewers from being “triggered” or offended?
8. Should there be a distinction between entertainment and expression?
9. Can morality be measured in debates about which art is appropriate to display?

Art, of course, is not just to look at and critique. It inspires us, provokes us, and often makes us consider unwelcome or uncomfortable truths. In tense and chaotic times, art may communicate what is on our minds more effectively than politics or the popular media. This conversation on “Art and Political Speech” featured panelists including artists and teachers from both sides of the Atlantic, a gallery director from Barbados, and the renowned former director of the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore.

History is rife with artists who created inspiring work, but were considered questionable characters at best, and despicable at worst. Caravaggio, the renowned 16th-century Italian painter, was also known as a notorious criminal and a murderer. Immediately after the death of Klaus Kinski, one of the greatest actors of the 20th century, his daughter revealed that for years he had sexually abused her. In the 21st century, when egregious behavior has come to be more closely scrutinized, talented artists and crafty gatekeepers, such as Roman Polanski, Harvey Weinstein, and Kanye West, have not been spared from public condemnation. In these times, when creative people have been “canceled” or criticized for an assortment of reasons, is it ever truly possible to separate the art from the artist?