Censorship of Art

Tao Manacmul

ASA 2 

1 November 2015

Blog #7

Chau Huynh's anecdote concerning her art piece and the protests that were created is connected to "trigger warnings," as well as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. The Viet Nam war continues to affect the Viet community in Viet Nam and abroad. The attitudes for and against communism still lingers and surprising how even dozens of years passing cannot change mindsets. Trigger warnings transcend just verbal communication, but also artistic expression. The artists are affected by the opinions of protestors when it should not be that way. Art should not come with a trigger warning; it addresses bigger ideas and experiences, which everyone can draw an opinion about and learn from. To censor artwork is to censor individuality, which makes people different and separate from each other. To what extent should people be censored? By not discussing and expressing how one feels about anything can only lead to pent up emotions, until one day they explode. Chau burns her art piece, which is a reflection of her anger. If she did not express how she feels, it could lead to more traumatic consequences. The first step to solving a problem is to recognize that there is a problem. This step of problem-solving applies to every problem that one has.