Are there Ethical Limitations in Art?

Example: Bodies Exhibition Bodies exhibition in London displays 20 preserved human corpses, often dissected and placed in different poses. 250 other body parts and organs also on show. Educational art form? or Unnecessarily distasteful? Morally wrong? money spinning? illegal?

Knowledge Issues What is the role of moral values in Art? and To what extent there should there be ethical limitations in what artist can produce?

What is Art? In finding a definition, it is important to question the boundaries to Art. What should we label as art? Painting, poetry, music etc but where do we stop? No universal standards. ‘Freedom’ of subject matter. Therefore what is art trying to do?

Is This Art?

The Intentions of Art It is often suggested the arts are a way of expressing emotion. The full purpose of art? Art can imitate nature. (mimetic theory) Morality in Art- ‘art can teach us what is right’ If Art can heighten our moral awareness does this mean there should be no restrictions in the methods used to prove a moral point?

Ethics Ethics is the study of what is right and what is wrong. Like art, it can be product of personal choice. But we have to remember we are part of a society, to which we tend to have a collective ethical beliefs. Despite this debate does still exist. Moral belief in art form? When do ethical values become an issue in art?

La Nona Ora ‘The ninth hour’ by Maurizio Cattelan, shows the Pope being struck by a meteorite. Provoked anger from the Christian Community.

The Holy Virgin Mary Chris Ofili created an image of the virgin Mary out of Elephant Dung and pornographic images. The dung is supposed to represent fertility as it fertilizes the soil. The nude images are also supposed to represent fertility.

Hanging Children Maurizio Cattalan hangs lifelike dummies of children from a tree in Milan. He says the work is a protest against violence to children. It has caused outrage amongst public.

Example: Bodies Exhibition Bodies exhibition in London displays 20 preserved human corpses, often dissected and placed in different poses. 250 other body parts and organs also on show. Educational art form? or Unnecessarily distasteful? Morally wrong? money spinning? illegal?

Conclusion We have seen examples of art which has shocked the world. Although many of them are addressing a valid moral point, it is important for the artist to consider the consequences of his/her work and the sensitivity of the audience.

Conclusion The way that artists put their message across is key to deciding whether or not the piece is ethically correct. Like the ‘hanging children’ example; the artist is trying to convey the message that violence towards children is wrong. The nature of his work suggests there are no real limits to art, the only limits are the ones that we decide upon.