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Jason: A Man, A Sculpture, A Controversy
Jason Thompson's sculpture only
stood for less than a week, but in that time it caused quite a ruckus here
on the Marshall University campus. I guess the best place to start is the beginning,
so featured just below are photos of Jason and his Friend Jamie
transporting the sculpture from the workshop to its location on campus
just outside the Birke Art Gallery in Smith Hall. I was behind the camera,
and it took all three of us to get it to stand so there are no photos of
that particular part of the process... |
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Here is a picture of it standing in all its glory: |
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Just a simple statement, and actually pretty cool if you
ask me. But boy did the poop hit the fan. Below is an
archive of all the editorial articles concerning the
sculpture that appeared in Marshall's newspaper, the
Parthenon. Some show bravery, others show ignorance; you
be the judge of which is which. I personally do not agree
with all of the articles, but I do respect the authors'
right to express themselves, which, in my opinion, is what
this sculpture was all about. All articles are property of
the Parthenon and their respective authors.
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~April
16~
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Art display
evidence of misguided judgment |
| The
Department of Art should really be congratulated for
displaying recent student art regarding the liberation of
Iraq. It's eloquence and timeliness should be commended.
It is unimportant that the underlying sentiment
(presumably no blood for oil) is a silly chant of the
under-informed. Just to be clear, Iraq is an oil-exporting
country. A free Iraq will be able to export more oil. This
will lower the price for oil. Businesses typically don't
like lower prices. How is it that a war in Iraq will help
the Texas oil industry? It is unimportant that for the
next two years Marshall will almost certainly face budget
cuts. These will, in part, be influenced by the
legislature's appreciation for the quality and public
demand for the education we provide. How is it that
displaying this art makes us look like a responsible
community of educators? It is also unimportant that
140-plus Marshall students have been called to active duty
to aid in the liberation of Iraq. I hope the Department of
Art will make much room for their art and creative voices
when they return. But I doubt it. One would have to wonder
if the Department of Art would've displayed a "No
Blood for Cotton" piece immediately after the Civil
War. It would have been just as timely. Its intellectual
foundations would have been just as sound. It would be
just as sensitive to the feelings of those involved in the
conflict (especially the 5 million African Americans freed
in the Civil War and the 22.5 million Iraqi's freed this
month). We should all congratulate the Department of Art.
They know how much easier it is to defend freedom of
speech by painting oil barrels than to fight terrorists
and tyrants in the bunkers south of Baghdad. Most
importantly though, the Department of Art has provided us
one important lesson: free speech cannot be constrained by
ignorance, poor-judgment or insensitivity.
-Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D.
Director of Research, Center for Business and Economic
Research
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~April
17~
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Sculpture invites
intellectual inquiry |
I
would like to thank Dr. Hicks for his letter about Jason
Thompson's sculpture. The sculpture is a strong visual
statement, and one that I commend for its scale, design
and communicative value. It seems that Jason's piece not
only works as an exercise in the formal elements, but as
one that invites thought, provokes questions and inspires
passion. That is, it deals with a topical issue, makes it
especially interesting, if not disturbing. In short,
Jason's sculpture does exactly what it is meant to do.
Well done, Jason.
-Jean M.K. Miller,
Chairwoman, Department of Art
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Art involves more
than mere appearances |
This
is a response to Michael J. Hicks's recent letter
criticizing a student sculpture displayed near the Birke
Art Gallery. As a teacher of art history and art
appreciation, I encourage educated viewers to consider all
aspects of an artwork, not just subject matter. Art is
not, after all, a mirror in which we simply see ourselves
reflected. What is the artist's intention? What are the
aesthetic qualities of the object? What is its technical
merit? How well do medium, elements, and formal
considerations cooperate to convey meaning? What are its
historical antecedents? Mr. Hicks "presumably"
(his word) sees "no blood for oil" in the piece.
From my perspective, there may be references to important
images of conquest such as photographs of the raising of
the flag at Iwo Jima, Sir Edmund Hillary planting a flag
on Mount Chomolunga, or Neil Armstrong
"claiming" the moon for the United States. I
don't know whether the artist intended such allusions, and
neither does Hicks. But I do know that art has its
conventions and traditions, and I invite Hicks and anyone
else who is interested in the arts to come take a class or
two. Most folks are amazed when they learn how much is
involved in the creation of a work of art. Whether the
Department of Art or any of its members support or oppose
war in Iraq is quite beside the point. We evaluate student
work on the basis of its visual and intellectual
qualities, not whether we agree with the content. And we
generally try to discuss the issues without insulting
those who do not agree with us, no matter how ignorant,
misguided or insensitive they may seem.
-Susan Jackson
Art Department
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~April
22~
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Department of Art
unnecessary? |
The
Department of Art seems a bit vexed over my criticism of
their decision to display a particular piece of artwork.
Perhaps some clarification is in order. As far as its
artistic merit, I would assume, that given its pride of
place, it is indeed a fine piece. But how can it be that
if, as Dr. Jackson argues, no one can know what the artist
"intended" it can still be evaluated for its
"intellectual" qualities? Or is this art really
just a political statement? Since none of us can know what
the artist meant by the work (a clever rhetorical device
designed to protect even the most objectionable
representation from effective criticism) we shall never
know. As for the invitation to attend art classes, I may
have to accept. Though my tastes tend towards velvet
representation of card playing dogs and Elvis Presley.
This artwork will certainly spur debate, but I doubt it is
one the Art Department will relish. There are really two
important questions that need to be asked. First, when
facing several consecutive years of double-digit budget
cuts and painful tuition increases, does Marshall need an
Art Department? Second, should the taxpayers of West
Virginia extend their funding to an institution whose
faculty blatantly engages in state funded political
protest? As a professor and taxpayer I think the answer to
the first question is clearly yes. Indeed, I have argued
the merits of "unmeasurable" benefits of
education before three legislative committees in the past
four months. The answer to the second question is clearly
no. Neither free speech nor artistic merit is at issue. It
is the Department of Art's clear institutional support of
any particular point of view that is so objectionable.
-Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D.
Director of Research, Center for Business and Economic
Research
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~April
23~
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Art majors respond |
| In
response to the criticism the art department has taken for
the sculpture that was featured in front of SH along 3rd
Ave a couple of weeks ago I would like to clear up a few
facts that some have chosen to ignore. The art displayed
was done by an individual artist or group, as the outdoor
installations are usually a small group effort, and in no
way reflects the views of the art department. In fact
there are many who would agree that there should be more
consideration and accuracy put into work that is to be
displayed. Students are offered a chance to publicly
display work in order to gain experience. Whether they
choose to make statements is their choice, no matter how
misguided. The school cannot dictate what kind of art can
be created by a student. As an Art Edu. Major I am in the
art department to learn all I can and to one day be able
to get a real job. The art department is as valid a
department as any other. There are many majors in this
department that are crucial not only in the business world
but in a personal way as well. There are graphic
designers, illustrators, art edu, painters, sculptors,
printmakers, and photographers. The list goes on. Without
an art department there would be no way for these people
to learn their trades. There are also many people in this
department who do not agree with the offending sculpture
just as there are those who do. The art department is made
up many people with many beliefs just as any other
department is. Before lumping the whole art department in
with that artist's view try to remember that it was only
one artist's view and not the department's.
-Emily Workman
Art Education Major
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Professor objects
to art display |
Dr.
M.J. Hicks may be surprised to know that at least one art
faculty member strenuously objects to any sort of 'art'
that would display our American flag like a dish rag. I
was extremely dismayed and offended upon seeing the stack
of barrels with our flag so disrespectfully displayed.
Besides, if 'blood for oil' was the message, the French
and Russian flags should have been used in such a way,
instead of ours. I agree with just about everything Dr.
Hicks has written, except he has tarred me with the same
brush. The approximation at the sign for the Birke Art
Gallery was upsetting to me too, because it dragged us all
into it. This abomination was done by a single student for
a particular class, and I have to defend his right to make
it and display it, and I have to defend his teacher for
allowing it to be produced. I will defend it to the death,
but I also would not prevent others from 'expressing'
their feelings by pulling those barrels down to save the
symbol that they revere from further insult. The symbolism
goes both ways, you understand. But this debate clearly
illustrates the mindboggling hypocrisy so rampant among
universities/ the media/ the left. It is extremely
insulting, repulsive and offensive is that in nearly every
university, wearing the American flag on one's person is
frowned upon, because it 'might offend someone'. Yet it is
perfectly acceptable, and even applauded, to use our flag
as part of a negative message about America, therefore
offending huge numbers of decent American people. If it is
any comfort to Dr. Hicks I am just as crusty about the art
world as he is. I have witnessed over the past 40 years a
steady erosion of skills and aesthetics by elite
snobbyists and their sycophants. I am appalled every time
I attend art conferences at the number of professors who
have absolutely no visual acumen but plenty of ideas. This
deficit is passed on to their students to be further
amplified. Scientifically speaking, the morons form new
isodopes. Maybe the pendulum will swing back the other way
before I am dead, and there will again be more of an
interest in the visual parts of the visual arts.
- Stanley Sporny
Professor Visual Art
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Professor defends
free expression |
I
surrender to the superior intelligence and rhetorical
skill of Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D. I will never again at
this public institution exhibit, discuss, view, think
about, or in any other way endorse any form of art that
has political content. In fact, I promise to sit down
immediately with a razor blade and expunge all political
images from my art books, beginning with the Egyptian
Palette of Narmer and progressing systematically through
the Viet Nam War Memorial. That will take a while, but
once I'm done I'll start in on all the images that have
something to do with religion or sex. In fact, I think
I'll ask for a sabbatical just to accomplish this
Herculean but morally imperative task. Now, please excuse
me-I need to go get my tongue out of my cheek before I
choke on it.
-Susan Jackson
Art Department
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Art department
needed |
In
response to Micheal J. Hicks Ph.D., Sir, the reason
Marshall has an Art Department is so that the students of
the university do not have the same perception of the Arts
as you do- Dear god- 'dogs playing poker and Elvis?' you
cannot possibly like- but anyway you answered your own
question. The University has a college of fine arts for
the same reason every other respectable higher education
institution has one- the Arts are integral to the
education of a student just as physics or biology.
Historically speaking, the governments which have cut the
arts and used state sponsored censorship are synonymous
with Hitler, Stalin, and Pinochet. If you are going to cut
funding from a department that might not agree with
everything its government does - then let's be equal in
our hacking away of our institution- take away the English
department, sociology, history, music, foreign languages,
etc. Might as well change the Parthenon name to Pravda. I
mean if it's just for the budget's sake - let's go all
out- but then there's your problem, we wouldn't have any
students anymore- just business majors with no electives.
Yet the department does support the state which sponsors
it- by ensuring freedom of expression for it's students.
The Art department, though, does have a large group of
talented students and faculty, and believe it or not, one
can make a living as an artist. Those students bring in
more money in tuition and fees than they cost. So why not
have an Art department?
-Elizabeth K. Mott, Senior, Art Major
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~April
24~
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Art debate
continues |
Apparently, when Ms. Jackson is caught being hypocritical,
she finds simply screaming "freedom of
expression" provides an opportunity to reclaim the
moral high ground. Sorry, that just won't work. My beef is
with state funding of artwork expressing any opinion. Have
no fear your freedom of expression is safe. Indeed, as
long as the artwork you display is busy protesting
historical events, it is a useful diversion for energies
spent protesting policies that one might be able to
influence. Insofar as one is judged based upon the quality
of critics, I suspect the Bush administration welcomes
protest from a university art department. Ms. Jackson,
since you are so concerned about freedom of expression,
would you support creating a memorial to those Marshall
students currently deployed to the Middle East outside
your office? You don't mind spending the university's
resources expressing opinions you support, so how about
placing a life-sized crucifix outside the art gallery? I
don't, but surely given your screaming retreat into
'freedom of expression' you do. Ms. Workman is deserving
of a reply. Ms. Workman, I fully agree that the Art
Department is important (for far more reasons than there
is time to recount). But as long as the leadership of the
department feels it is appropriate to provide public
support for a single suite of opinions, I suspect our
argument in support of creative arts is going to be a bit
tougher to make. That's too bad, because ultimately it
will hurt serious students and faculty. Finally, Professor
Sporny, I offer my apologies. My criticism of the Art
Department was intended to prevent this being personal, a
hope that has clearly passed from the realm of
possibility. The Art Department needs some serious
self-examination, and I expect budget realities will spawn
part of that. But judging from the quality of the
responses to my original letter, that's a bit unlikely. To
better illustrate my point, let us revisit the standards
by which Ms. Jackson judges the art, how it "convey['s]
meaning." But, in the same letter she argues that no
one, but the artist, can know what it means? I am reminded
of the odor one perceives when walking through a cow
pasture.
-Michael J. Hicks, Ph.D.
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Professor should
attend art, political science classes |
As
the art department has extended an invitation to Dr. Hicks
to attend some art classes, I, a student of political
science, would like to extend an invitation to the
professor to attend some political science classes,
particularly those dealing with our constitution. Might I
recommend PSC 104. I am curious if Dr. Hicks would
consider a "patriotic" art piece, which shows
pictures of our troops inside Iraq, to be "state
funded political protest". I highly doubt it.
"Political protest" takes place in our
classrooms every day, mainly because this is an
institution of higher education, where ideas are supposed
to flow freely. This is not k-12, where children are force
fed nationalism on a daily basis. I commend the individual
who created the piece in question. Although I haven't seen
the piece, I can see from the reaction in the Parthenon
that this piece was very thought provoking. I think I'll
go get ready for the "thought police" to come
pick me up now.
-Matthew McCarty
sophomore, political science major
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Arguments did more
harm than good |
Since the valiant Susan Jackson has released her grip on
the sword of battle over the art piece displayed in front
of Smith Hall, I believe that something should be said for
her efforts. Susan, I commend you. It was a righteous
effort. I am freshman here at Marshall, ending my second
semester. I would like to say that the continued and
pointless crucifiction of the artistic expression of a
student here on campus has diminished this college more
than a million "political protest" pieces of art
ever could. This struggle, by some, for a self-indulgent
pat on the back has shown only the weakness of Marshall as
a unit. However, it has taught me a valuable lesson. To
step on the toes of some people here at Marshall is to set
yourself up for an all encompassing search of your
integrity as a person. Do not rattle the old, rusty cages
of the faculty here or you will pay the price. They will
call you ignorant. They will call you misguided. They will
call you an offending and disrespectful person- and they
will be right, because they always are. I am a true, red
blooded American through and through. I come from a long
line of Army men. My ancestors have spilled blood for this
country, but when I saw this sculpture, I was not
offended. My blood did not run cold at the impertinence of
such a dastardly crime on Marshall's humanity and I most
certainly did not see a "dish rag" on top of
some barrels. I saw a symbol of valor on top of a point of
view. A point of view that I hear on the news every single
night. Why has this become such a heinous crime on a
certain few? I would never fear to wear an American flag
on my person here on campus-but now I might fear to
incorporate it into anything in an art form that someone
else might see. There are a great many things that some
might find offensive here at Marshall. Maybe all the
fliers pasted on the walls of every building that preach
to you as you wait for an elevator on what a "true
patriot should do" are offensive. But I don't see any
professor holding a press conference on that. Maybe some
people believe that "trans-gender class" posters
do not belong all over this campus because they are also
offensive. I don't see them being burned and danced around
in the courtyard. The only thing that this farce of a
confrontation on rights has done is shown the students,
and everyone else, just where being an artist to some ends
and being a traitor begins. At least it wasn't a sculpture
of a football player and a prostitute. Good lord, that
would've been World War III, right?
-John Douglas,
graphic design major from Ironton, Ohio
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~April
25~
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Professor questions
response to art debate |
Now Hicks
is engaging in "straw man" arguments. I don't
know with whom he is having this debate, but it ain't me.
I never once invoked freedom of speech. I have both of my
letters in front of me: it simply did not come up, and I
most certainly didn't "scream" it. I never
contradicted myself by saying that art conveys meaning,
but nobody knows what it means. What I said was that I
don't know that the student artist's intentions were in
this particular piece. I never voiced any opposition to
pro-war art, either. Nor have I spent one cent of state
money on art related to the war in Iraq. Disagree with me
all you like, but don't put words in my mouth. This is a
university. There are certain standards for debate.
-Susan Jackson
Department of Art
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Is it just me or do the
students have the best articles while the professors fight
like a bunch of kids? Oh well.
Back to Voices |
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