Censored by SCAD

Censored by SCAD
This image was censored by SCAD administration; Photograph by Nicole Craine

Thursday, November 11, 2010

Open letter to SCAD students, faculty and patrons


CENSORSHIP is the suppression of speech or deletion of communicative material, which may be considered objectionable, harmful, sensitive, or inconvenient to the government, media organizations, or public as determined by a censor.

Dear SCAD students, faculty, and patrons,

We would like to start this letter by quoting SCAD’s mission, vision, and values:


SCAD Mission

The Savannah College of Art and Design exists to prepare talented students for professional careers, emphasizing learning through individual attention in a positively oriented university environment. 

SCAD Vision

The Savannah College of Art and Design, an institution with distinctive yet complementary locations, will be recognized as a leader in defining art and design education. By employing innovation in all areas, SCAD will provide a superior education through talented and dedicated faculty and staff, leading-edge technology, advanced learning resources and comprehensive support services.

SCAD Values
  • Being a student-centered institution.
  • Providing an exceptional education and life-changing experience for students.
  • Demonstrating quality and excellence in every aspect of operations.
  • Sustaining a respectful and honest college environment.
  • Growing while continually improving.
  • Being innovative and results-oriented.
  • Promoting a cooperative team spirit and a positive "can-do" attitude.
  • Going the “extra mile.”


Censorship or removal of student work is resisting a “student-centered environment.” As artists, we are dedicated to applying our thoughts and abilities so that we may partake in the production of knowledge and the creation of historical ideas and artifacts. We came to this school to learn about art and thrive in a “positively oriented university environment” that allows us to push boundaries, raise the bar of expectation for others and “grow” to our full potential. As working (and paying) students, we should be able to express our ideas with the support of the SCAD faculty and administration. Censoring student work limits students’ ability to create and discuss artwork and ideas freely and openly. Our college sets an example for other facilities, institutions, and exhibition spaces to follow. In an “honest college environment,” students should feel comfortable to submit and create work that they feel is successful and relevant to contemporary standards. Art education needs to include and promote communication and critical discussion between artists. SCAD possesses the power to expose students’ work to the general public and gain attention for our efforts and the talents we possess. If an art-centered facility in which we create our artwork and ideas will not recognize and exhibit our talent, then who will?

"Remember: defending someone’s right to speak doesn’t mean you agree with what they say. Defending the right to read a particular book, or view a work of art or a film, doesn’t mean you like it or agree with its message. Recognizing that others have different views about art, politics, literature and religion, and that their views are entitled to the same respect and protection as your own, is a form of tolerance required of all in a pluralistic society."
-National Coalition Against Censorship

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

So tonight I walked around the exhibition with your poster on my back. The vice president (P.J.) first approached me to say he had an explanation about the censorship and that he'd like to talk to you particularly about it. Then he told me I was in a private property and that he was "kindly" asking that I remove the poster from my back or leave the premises. I left the premises.

Anonymous said...

I was also at open studio and saw the flyers, and saw administration accost a woman reading a flyer accusing her of being behind the Censored By SCAD posters. The woman looked astonished, it was obvious she was simply a bystander. Why are they censoring in the first place? Isn't SCAD an art school?

Anonymous said...

Fight girl! We are on your side. A good art is controvercial. I like your work.

Donut

Anonymous said...

Please kindly remove this from the internet or leave the premises.

Anonymous said...

Did anyone notice the pieces with nude women? One was a stripper. Why were the ones of nude women okay and this was not? No good. What message is that sending?

Anonymous said...

Does shit like this really exist anymore? Censorship? I mean are we in the 50s again or something?

Dara :) said...

Yes are we in the 50s? every flipping movie has to have boobs (or its no good) according to holly wood. Art history books full of nude Venuses. I'm tired of seeing women exploited. I'm tired of seeing boobs and bushes. Let me see men in photographs so i can stop, look and admire. Its not fair. As a woman why do men get to hide their body while women or projected everywhere. Our clothes, t.v., movies, magazine, cd covers, posters, everywhere. I applaud Nichole, bout damn time subject matter changed.

Anonymous said...

I don't understand, there were photos up of people with drugs, depiction's of illegal acts, however when you have a male nude, nothing vulgar about it, it is censored. This just doesn't make sense.

Anonymous said...

The adults-only "Content Warning" about this page is kind of ironic, considering the blog's subject.

Anonymous said...

Seriously....."holly wood".....get a clue.

Anonymous said...

> SCAD is a service provider, no
> different than a paid cable
> company.
I encourage you to keep speaking out on censorship issues, but am very troubled with your consumerist idea of education. Most SCAD students' educations are heavily subsidized by our government. Educations are earned, not bought. As students, you are complicit in the system you find oppressive. Good luck.

Anonymous said...

The Religious Right is notorious for art censorship in America. If you don't want your child to see a naked body, then hire a babysitter. I think the male nude is just as beautiful as a female nude.

Anonymous said...

@Anonymous It's a good thing there were plenty of both at this show. Just look at that male ass image on this very site. Why would they put in junk like that? Male nudes dont' count unless thers balls in them.

Anonymous said...

That's the entire issue. SCAD won't put in photographs when there are balls in them. They settle for the ass and only the ass at best. Or charcoal drawings of idealistic figures which lend no sense of reality to what a male body actually looks like. Thus, the photograph is removed.

Anonymous said...

If you all get balls, I wanna see some spread pussy. Where the vag photos at ur school? I want to go there!