Week 7: Controversial Art and Censorship- All Hands on Deck-Nursing Essay Examples

Social contribution

Damon Davis and Michael Skolnik created the All Hands on Deck painting to champion social justice and change within society. Davis (2022) illustrates that the painting represents resistance and fortitude centered around police injustices following the brutal murder of Michael Brown by the police. The artists utilized a mosaic-like style of acrylic and paper on stretched canvas. Moreover, to present their views about social injustices people experience under the police. For instance, Davis (2020) says, “All Hands On Deck is our charge – a call of action to stand with those who stand for us all.” The activists’ perspectives contribute socially to developing peaceful coexistence between the police and the public. The art reminds the police to stop brutality and use limited force toward the public, especially those picketing peacefully (Controversial Art and Censorship).

Aesthetic Value

The aesthetic value of art includes its role in promoting societal balance and encouraging peaceful movements to discourage police brutality. Davis (2020) explains that art reflects the deterioration of humanity and morality within society, with most people, especially the police disregarding the value of human life and the peaceful resolution of differences. For example, racial prejudice remain significantly rooted within American societies, whereby the police are at the forefront of orchestrating it. Consequently, on a personal level, the art reminds me of the racism-related dangers I am likely to encounter under the police as a black person.

Censorship

The all-hands-on-deck painting has not been censored in the US and has been an important symbol during social justice campaigns. Its lack of censorship aligns with the freedom of expression regulations, allowing individuals and entities to voice their complaints without government restrictions (Howard, 2019). Freedom of expression is enshrined in the First Amendment regulations, indicating that the government does not have the authority to censor the use of art in voicing complaints about social issues affecting the community (Howard, 2019).

Influences

The painting has been influential across American communities, with the public and social activists using it to voice their disgust about societal social injustices. Davis (2020) observes that protesters use it as a symbol of solidarity, constituting the pillars and strength of social movements. Its positive perception among the public has been crucial in portraying protestors’ messages to the intended audience, like the police departments. For example, Smith (2016) observes that slogans from the All Hands on Deck painting were used to criticize Donald Trump during the Black Lives Matter campaigns (Controversial Art and Censorship).

Reflection

The painting is considered art due to the skillful and imaginative nature of its creation. Davis creatively expressed the emotional perspectives of individuals disgusted with the increased police brutality to effectively display the aesthetic value of the painting (Davis, 2020). For instance, the hands are depicted as raised to symbolize surrender, in which the police do not need to use maximum force on the people.

References

Davis, D. (2020). Negrophilia. American Ethnologist, 47(2), 140-141.https://doi.org/10.1111/amet.12888

Davis, D. (2022). Damon Davis: All Hands on Deck. Saint Louis Art Museum, St. Louis, Missouri, USA. https://www.slam.org/exhibitions/damon-davis-all-hands-on-deck/#:~:text=Damon%20Davis’s%20All%20Hands%20On,protests%20after%20Michael%20Brown%20Jr.

Howard, J. W. (2019). Free speech and hate speech. Annual Review of Political Science, 22, 93–109. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-051517-012343

Smith, S. (2016, November 13). Art as artillery: Damon Davis on Black Lives Matter and Trump’s America. CBS. https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/damon-davis-donald-trump-1.3848834