Should Artists have Total Freedom of Expression

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Should Artists have Total Freedom of Expression?

Laws about obscenity, libel, slander and official secrets restrict freedom of expression, yet society’s understanding of what is offensive often needs to be clarified by the courts. Personal freedom requires the exercise of judgement even if law limits it.

Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights states, “Everyone has the right to freedom of expression. This right shall include freedom to hold opinions and to receive and impart information and ideas without interference by public authority and regardless of frontiers” and “ The exercise of these freedoms may be subject to such …restrictions or penalties as are prescribed by law…for the protection of the health or morals…or reputation or rights of others….” Morally this issue raises several questions:

        Should artists have total freedom of expression? If they should, should they use it?

        What, if any, self-imposed restrictions should there be?

        Who should decide restrictions on artistic freedom?

        Should great artists and works of art face the same restrictions that apply to lesser ones?

        

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Conflict inevitably exists between what the creative artist needs to say and what an audience wants to hear. Artistically and culturally, many people are conservative and easily offended by what is different or new. Moral judgements may simply disguise lack of artistic taste and poor judgement. Artists, by definition creative, look for new things to say and new ways in which to say them. However, not all innovations are great art or improve society. Do demands for artistic freedom simply seek to justify inferior work and disguise lack of talent?

Those making ethical rather than cultural judgements about artistic ...

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