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Why not move the statue to a museum instead of melting it down? If that isn't agreeable then why not sell it at auction? Maybe the city could use the resulting

by hgs3 3y ago

Why not move the statue to a museum instead of melting it down? If that isn't agreeable then why not sell it at auction? Maybe the city could use the resulting funds to build a new statue. Destroying art whether it be books, paintings, sculptures, or otherwise is emotionally reactionary at best and totalitarian at worst. It shouldn't matter whether the art is political, religious, or secular. No one should have the right to destroy art barring the creator themselves and even that's debatable.

eesmith 3y ago
> Destroying art whether it be books, paintings, sculptures, or otherwise is emotionally reactionary at best and totalitarian at worst. You must surely understand that isn't true. I destroy art pretty often. I've thrown away old books. I've tossed art posters I no longer find interesting. I've junked sculptures that were past their prime, and sculptures in old awards I no longer wanted to keep. Parents often throw away the art their small kids made. Architecture is art - can we no longer destroy buildings? Industrial design is art - can I no longer throw away old equipment? You can't really think only the creators of those works have the right to destroy it. I suppose you'll argue that mass-produced art is different. As a reminder, many of the Civil War statues (not necessarily this one) were mass-produced in the early 1900s, and again in the 1950s, by reactionary white supremacists spreading a false narrative. https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544266880/confederate-statues-were-built-to-further-a-white-supremacist-future https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544266880/confederate-statues... But even with a unique piece of art, we can look to the infamous story of the statue of Juan de Oñate in New Mexico. Its foot was cut off to highlight Oñate's massacre of 800 citizens of Acoma Pueblo, and the foot amputation of 24 of the survivors. How would that be "emotionally reactionary" or "totalitarian"? I think it adds to the art, as a reminder of the actual history.
- pauldenton 3y ago
  Why destroy art instead of donating it to Goodwill or Salvation Army? My Mom always had us donating to charity instead of throwing stuff into a dumpster

by hgs3 3y ago

eesmith 3y ago

> Destroying art whether it be books, paintings, sculptures, or otherwise is emotionally reactionary at best and totalitarian at worst. You must surely understand that isn't true. I destroy art pretty often. I've thrown away old books. I've tossed art posters I no longer find interesting. I've junked sculptures that were past their prime, and sculptures in old awards I no longer wanted to keep. Parents often throw away the art their small kids made. Architecture is art - can we no longer destroy buildings? Industrial design is art - can I no longer throw away old equipment? You can't really think only the creators of those works have the right to destroy it. I suppose you'll argue that mass-produced art is different. As a reminder, many of the Civil War statues (not necessarily this one) were mass-produced in the early 1900s, and again in the 1950s, by reactionary white supremacists spreading a false narrative. https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544266880/confederate-statues-were-built-to-further-a-white-supremacist-future https://www.npr.org/2017/08/20/544266880/confederate-statues... But even with a unique piece of art, we can look to the infamous story of the statue of Juan de Oñate in New Mexico. Its foot was cut off to highlight Oñate's massacre of 800 citizens of Acoma Pueblo, and the foot amputation of 24 of the survivors. How would that be "emotionally reactionary" or "totalitarian"? I think it adds to the art, as a reminder of the actual history.

pauldenton 3y ago
Why destroy art instead of donating it to Goodwill or Salvation Army? My Mom always had us donating to charity instead of throwing stuff into a dumpster