The removal of a photograph featuring a nude woman from a Photographic Technology Department showcase has some students looking at Austin Community College's censorship policy, or lack thereof.
With many questions unanswered and issues yet to be resolved, one ACC student would like to figure out what happened to her art.
Brenda Lindfors entered a photograph into the fall 2007 end-of-year showcase. Her piece, viewed by professors, captured a woman lying on her side with her bare breasts visible to the viewer.
"This piece was graceful, sensible, not sexual," said Lindfors. "It showed her in a beautiful, sensual way."
On the day of the exhibit, her piece was pulled.
The explanation given to Lindfors was that someone might be offended being exposed to bare breasts. However, there are no specific guidelines in the college's policy stating that such photographs can or cannot be displayed on campus.
Among other photos shown at the end-of-the-year showcase was a portfolio of nude photos. This portfolio had a cover over the contents, but there were no recorded rules that it needed one. Lindfors was not given the option to cover hers before it was pulled from display. Once her piece was taken down, it was held in an administrator's office for her to pick up.
The Photographic Technology Department - separate from the Art Department - judges what is allowed into shows on a case-by-case basis. Verbal guidelines, not spoken of until Lindfors' piece was moved out, now exist.
"I would like the guidelines to contain a strong consistency because I have seen pieces with more sexual attraction than the sensuality, unlike my art," exclaimed Lindfors.
As far as those concerned are aware there are no guidelines. According to Bill Woodhull, department chair, "[Lindfors] entered a contest that has guidelines, and that one image did not meet those guidelines according to the judges."
When asked what the guidelines were he replied that, "it depends on the community at a given point."
However, the college has never polled the college community to see what is considered acceptable and not.
"We went to the dean, he didn't want to make the decision to map out the guidelines," Lindfors said. "He then left it up to the administration board. It seems as if they do not want to make a decision either."
Other students pointed out that the world might not have some of its masterpieces if contemporaries had not allowed for the display of nude art.
"It wouldn't be art because art is something you create on your own," stated
student Claire Parker. "And if it has to be a certain way, then it's not yours."
Public museums, such as the publicly-funded Blanton Museum, display nudity. The ACC Art History textbook "Gardner's Art Through The Ages: The Western Perspective" is filled with pieces containing nudity such as Bosch's "Garden of Earthly Delights."
The question many are asking is not what is wrong or right, but what should be done in the future, if anything. The biggest concern students and faculty are displaying is fear of the art department, drama department, and creative writing department being limited and constricted to Mickey Mouse-style art.
Gary Webernick, Art Department head, said there could be times when art may be censored. "In certain situations, yes," he said. "For example, in publicly funded institutions such as ACC there needs to be some protection for the public, but the problem begins when you have differing opinions about what is or is not acceptable. We are dealing with ambiguities and personal beliefs that cause problems; but in all of the cases so far, when complaints occur, they have been complaints that I did not think were valid in terms of removing a piece from an exhibit."
Because of this incident, the Board of Trustees has been asked to consider making a decision concerning what is and is not acceptable. Most colleges do not have guidelines, and it could be risky, as it might potentially limit ideas and be difficult to enforce an objective set of guidelines.
"There are no easy solutions or the magic wand quick-fix to this question on censorship. One only needs to look at the problems
facing our current society to see that these are complicated issues that are not easily solved,"
said Webernick.
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