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Thread: Artist or Despicable Scumbag?
You know, I can understand the perspective of the abortion rights people. They think a woman should have say over her body. For everything except abortion I'd agree, because I think an unborn baby is just as human no matter which side of the birth canal it's on.
Remember in the US, we have abortion on demand up to the day the baby is born.
Anyways, we have here a case of an 'art student' at Yale, which I formally thought had some sort of standards:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24513
So vote for your choice in the poll.
CR
Remember in the US, we have abortion on demand up to the day the baby is born.
Anyways, we have here a case of an 'art student' at Yale, which I formally thought had some sort of standards:
http://www.yaledailynews.com/articles/view/24513
Originally Posted by :
For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse
Martine Powers
Staff Reporter
Published Thursday, April 17, 2008
Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts' project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock . saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for "shock value."
"I hope it inspires some sort of discourse," Shvarts said. "Sure, some people will be upset with the message and will not agree with it, but it's not the intention of the piece to scandalize anyone."
The "fabricators," or donors, of the sperm were not paid for their services, but Shvarts required them to periodically take tests for sexually transmitted diseases. She said she was not concerned about any medical effects the forced miscarriages may have had on her body. The abortifacient drugs she took were legal and herbal, she said, and she did not feel the need to consult a doctor about her repeated miscarriages.
Shvarts declined to specify the number of sperm donors she used, as well as the number of times she inseminated herself.
Art major Juan Castillo '08 said that although he was intrigued by the creativity and beauty of her senior project, not everyone was as thrilled as he was by the concept and the means by which she attained the result.
"I really loved the idea of this project, but a lot other people didn't," Castillo said. "I think that most people were very resistant to thinking about what the project was really about. [The senior-art-project forum] stopped being a conversation on the work itself."
Although Shvarts said she does not remember the class being quite as hostile as Castillo described, she said she believes it is the nature of her piece to "provoke inquiry."
"I believe strongly that art should be a medium for politics and ideologies, not just a commodity," Shvarts said. "I think that I'm creating a project that lives up to the standard of what art is supposed to be."
The display of Schvarts' project will feature a large cube suspended from the ceiling of a room in the gallery of Green Hall. Schvarts will wrap hundreds of feet of plastic sheeting around this cube; lined between layers of the sheeting will be the blood from Schvarts' self-induced miscarriages mixed with Vaseline in order to prevent the blood from drying and to extend the blood throughout the plastic sheeting.
Schvarts will then project recorded videos onto the four sides of the cube. These videos, captured on a VHS camcorder, will show her experiencing miscarriages in her bathrooom tub, she said. Similar videos will be projected onto the walls of the room.
School of Art lecturer Pia Lindman, Schvarts' senior-project advisor, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Few people outside of Yale's undergraduate art department have heard about Shvarts' exhibition. Members of two campus abortion-activist groups . Choose Life at Yale, a pro-life group, and the Reproductive Rights Action League of Yale, a pro-choice group . said they were not previously aware of Schvarts' project.
Alice Buttrick '10, an officer of RALY, said the group was in no way involved with the art exhibition and had no official opinion on the matter.
Sara Rahman '09 said, in her opinion, Shvarts is abusing her constitutional right to do what she chooses with her body.
"[Shvarts' exhibit] turns what is a serious decision for women into an absurdism," Rahman said. "It discounts the gravity of the situation that is abortion."
CLAY member Jonathan Serrato '09 said he does not think CLAY has an official response to Schvarts' exhibition. But personally, Serrato said he found the concept of the senior art project "surprising" and unethical.
"I feel that she's manipulating life for the benefit of her art, and I definitely don't support it," Serrato said. "I think it's morally wrong."
Shvarts emphasized that she is not ashamed of her exhibition, and she has become increasingly comfortable discussing her miscarriage experiences with her peers.
"It was a private and personal endeavor, but also a transparent one for the most part," Shvarts said. "This isn't something I've been hiding."
The official reception for the Undergraduate Senior Art Show will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. The exhibition will be on public display from April 22 to May 1. The art exhibition is set to premiere alongside the projects of other art seniors this Tuesday, April 22 at the gallery of Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall on Chapel Street.
This sort of disgusting act, trivializing the creation of life and destroying it repeatedly like crushing pop cans, just makes my blood boil.For senior, abortion a medium for art, political discourse
Martine Powers
Staff Reporter
Published Thursday, April 17, 2008
Art major Aliza Shvarts '08 wants to make a statement.
Beginning next Tuesday, Shvarts will be displaying her senior art project, a documentation of a nine-month process during which she artificially inseminated herself "as often as possible" while periodically taking abortifacient drugs to induce miscarriages. Her exhibition will feature video recordings of these forced miscarriages as well as preserved collections of the blood from the process.
The goal in creating the art exhibition, Shvarts said, was to spark conversation and debate on the relationship between art and the human body. But her project has already provoked more than just debate, inciting, for instance, outcry at a forum for fellow senior art majors held last week. And when told about Shvarts' project, students on both ends of the abortion debate have expressed shock . saying the project does everything from violate moral code to trivialize abortion.
But Shvarts insists her concept was not designed for "shock value."
"I hope it inspires some sort of discourse," Shvarts said. "Sure, some people will be upset with the message and will not agree with it, but it's not the intention of the piece to scandalize anyone."
The "fabricators," or donors, of the sperm were not paid for their services, but Shvarts required them to periodically take tests for sexually transmitted diseases. She said she was not concerned about any medical effects the forced miscarriages may have had on her body. The abortifacient drugs she took were legal and herbal, she said, and she did not feel the need to consult a doctor about her repeated miscarriages.
Shvarts declined to specify the number of sperm donors she used, as well as the number of times she inseminated herself.
Art major Juan Castillo '08 said that although he was intrigued by the creativity and beauty of her senior project, not everyone was as thrilled as he was by the concept and the means by which she attained the result.
"I really loved the idea of this project, but a lot other people didn't," Castillo said. "I think that most people were very resistant to thinking about what the project was really about. [The senior-art-project forum] stopped being a conversation on the work itself."
Although Shvarts said she does not remember the class being quite as hostile as Castillo described, she said she believes it is the nature of her piece to "provoke inquiry."
"I believe strongly that art should be a medium for politics and ideologies, not just a commodity," Shvarts said. "I think that I'm creating a project that lives up to the standard of what art is supposed to be."
The display of Schvarts' project will feature a large cube suspended from the ceiling of a room in the gallery of Green Hall. Schvarts will wrap hundreds of feet of plastic sheeting around this cube; lined between layers of the sheeting will be the blood from Schvarts' self-induced miscarriages mixed with Vaseline in order to prevent the blood from drying and to extend the blood throughout the plastic sheeting.
Schvarts will then project recorded videos onto the four sides of the cube. These videos, captured on a VHS camcorder, will show her experiencing miscarriages in her bathrooom tub, she said. Similar videos will be projected onto the walls of the room.
School of Art lecturer Pia Lindman, Schvarts' senior-project advisor, could not be reached for comment Wednesday night.
Few people outside of Yale's undergraduate art department have heard about Shvarts' exhibition. Members of two campus abortion-activist groups . Choose Life at Yale, a pro-life group, and the Reproductive Rights Action League of Yale, a pro-choice group . said they were not previously aware of Schvarts' project.
Alice Buttrick '10, an officer of RALY, said the group was in no way involved with the art exhibition and had no official opinion on the matter.
Sara Rahman '09 said, in her opinion, Shvarts is abusing her constitutional right to do what she chooses with her body.
"[Shvarts' exhibit] turns what is a serious decision for women into an absurdism," Rahman said. "It discounts the gravity of the situation that is abortion."
CLAY member Jonathan Serrato '09 said he does not think CLAY has an official response to Schvarts' exhibition. But personally, Serrato said he found the concept of the senior art project "surprising" and unethical.
"I feel that she's manipulating life for the benefit of her art, and I definitely don't support it," Serrato said. "I think it's morally wrong."
Shvarts emphasized that she is not ashamed of her exhibition, and she has become increasingly comfortable discussing her miscarriage experiences with her peers.
"It was a private and personal endeavor, but also a transparent one for the most part," Shvarts said. "This isn't something I've been hiding."
The official reception for the Undergraduate Senior Art Show will be from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on April 25. The exhibition will be on public display from April 22 to May 1. The art exhibition is set to premiere alongside the projects of other art seniors this Tuesday, April 22 at the gallery of Holcombe T. Green Jr. Hall on Chapel Street.
So vote for your choice in the poll.
CR
Neither, and nice poll options, perhaps you should have done it when not so "inflamed". I find what happened to be rather disgusting, but I don't hold the same views as others regarding "destroying life" as it's called.
I completely support abortion (in your face, pro-lifers), but i find this to just be despicable and wrong. Why get pregnant just for the sake of miscarriaging in the name of art? If she wanted to do something involving getting pregnant and art, she could have had as many children as possible, which would promplty be put up for adoption, and taken pictures of the happiness it brings into the lives of childless couples.
This is just stupid.
And again, i support abortion, but this isn't abortion, this is just the work of an utter cretin, an art-pillock of the highest calibre who needs to pull their head out their arse and look at what they're doing.
This is just stupid.
And again, i support abortion, but this isn't abortion, this is just the work of an utter cretin, an art-pillock of the highest calibre who needs to pull their head out their arse and look at what they're doing.
I think she has done a great disservice to the pro-choice movement. This can only further polarize the issue. It will not, as she says, promote discourse.
Although I wouldn't label her a despicable scumbag, I would certainly describe her as a very immature little girl who wants some attention for herself, be it good or bad attention.
Her dad probably didn't hug her enough when she was little.
Although I wouldn't label her a despicable scumbag, I would certainly describe her as a very immature little girl who wants some attention for herself, be it good or bad attention.
Her dad probably didn't hug her enough when she was little.
I am pro-choice...
but that is totally ****** up!
but that is totally ****** up!
Can I get a free pass from the mods for properly making sure you guys understand how I feel about this?
My brother goes to an art school. From what he tells of his peers, I've gotten the impression the arts attract their share of people who exemplify the old adage about the line between genius and insanity.
Folks like this woman don't particularly help dispel the image of Van Goghian instability...
Folks like this woman don't particularly help dispel the image of Van Goghian instability...
Next up: Art of the 13th century Mongol horde.
Originally Posted by Fragony:
Can I get a free pass from the mods for properly making sure you guys understand how I feel about this?
Tempted as I am, no.Can I get a free pass from the mods for properly making sure you guys understand how I feel about this?
Originally Posted by Goofball:
I think she has done a great disservice to the pro-choice movement. This can only further polarize the issue. It will not, as she says, promote discourse.
I agree with Goofball.I think she has done a great disservice to the pro-choice movement. This can only further polarize the issue. It will not, as she says, promote discourse.
It's a repulsive and highly counter-productive posturing. Being pro-choice does not mean one denies the dignity of women and the immense impact that choice has on most of them.
There is a grave insult contained in her behaviour towards women and how they exercise their right of choice.
I blame modern capitalism. Now all she has to do is publish a book on the episode, get on Oprah and retire.
I am pro-choice, but this is just stupid...A pox on her house!
A scumbag of the most disgusting, horrific, abominable type. She should never have been allowed to do it.
Would have went on but I don't have a thesaurus.
A truly sick person. 
Would have went on but I don't have a thesaurus.
A truly sick person.
Can't she be both an artist and a despicable scumbag? Why are the two incompatible?
I'd class her with that Honduran artist who let a dog starve to death in a gallery. Snuff art is not art, kids.
I'd class her with that Honduran artist who let a dog starve to death in a gallery. Snuff art is not art, kids.
Does raise a question for the pro-abortion crowd, where do you draw the line the line between necesity and egocentrism. If you are pro-choice here's it's consequence we are talking cells after all. If it is that there is absolutily no need for this, there isn't any need for abortion either most of the time.
I guess that depends on the person, but shouldnt that stay in the abortion thread?
This girl would be put into prison for this in a more civilized society.
She has committed Homicide out of enjoyment. Not for defense, not to live, not even to save face.
On the other side, there is really nothing wrong with her actions by the confused and corrupt amorality of this society. How is this any different from Feces? Just another disgusting part of her body that she is free to do with what she'd like.
Give me a break.
She has committed Homicide out of enjoyment. Not for defense, not to live, not even to save face.
On the other side, there is really nothing wrong with her actions by the confused and corrupt amorality of this society. How is this any different from Feces? Just another disgusting part of her body that she is free to do with what she'd like.
Give me a break.
Originally Posted by Fragony:
Does raise a question for the pro-abortion crowd, where do you draw the line the line between necesity and egocentrism. If you are pro-choice here's it's consequence we are talking cells after all. If it is that there is absolutily no need for this, there isn't any need for abortion either most of the time.
It seems alot of pro-abortioners condemn this; but if one is pro abortion in general, it does indeed seem a bit weird to do it just because it now was done in the name of art and not because of an unwanted pregnancy. Based upon my standing regarding abortion, I'll in no way condemn this; though one ponders about the sanity of the artist (as I do with most of them anyway Does raise a question for the pro-abortion crowd, where do you draw the line the line between necesity and egocentrism. If you are pro-choice here's it's consequence we are talking cells after all. If it is that there is absolutily no need for this, there isn't any need for abortion either most of the time.
).It is certainly not art so I would go with scumbag or attention whore with an intentional pun. I am a very pro-choice guy but this person is an idiot and I do not support what she is doing. 
Originally Posted by pevergreen:
I guess that depends on the person, but shouldnt that stay in the abortion thread?
She does it to make a point out of it so it sits here just gloriously imho.I guess that depends on the person, but shouldnt that stay in the abortion thread?
Just goes to show - anything taken to an irresponsible extreme becomes creepy and perverted.
Originally Posted by Viking:
It seems alot of pro-abortioners condemn this; but if one is pro abortion in general, it does indeed seem a bit weird to do it just because it now was done in the name of art and not because of an unwanted pregnancy. Based upon my standing regarding abortion, I'll in no way condemn this; though one ponders about the sanity of the artist (as I do with most of them anyway).
just because I am for pro-choice doesn´t mean I think the act has no moral consequences and should be performed willy-nilly for entertainment(or shock) valueIt seems alot of pro-abortioners condemn this; but if one is pro abortion in general, it does indeed seem a bit weird to do it just because it now was done in the name of art and not because of an unwanted pregnancy. Based upon my standing regarding abortion, I'll in no way condemn this; though one ponders about the sanity of the artist (as I do with most of them anyway
).the woman has the right to do what she is doing.....I don´t have to approve.
I hope she didn't store the miscarriage blood in her fridge. Potential for some horrible accidents there.
Originally Posted by TuffStuffMcGruff:
This girl would be put into prison for this in a more civilized society.
She has committed Homicide out of enjoyment. Not for defense, not to live, not even to save face.
On the other side, there is really nothing wrong with her actions by the confused and corrupt amorality of this society. How is this any different from Feces? Just another disgusting part of her body that she is free to do with what she'd like.
Give me a break.
Truly. I could certainly see the pro-abort crowd seeing this as being in bad taste- not unlike feces art. But how can you make any moral statements on it?This girl would be put into prison for this in a more civilized society.
She has committed Homicide out of enjoyment. Not for defense, not to live, not even to save face.
On the other side, there is really nothing wrong with her actions by the confused and corrupt amorality of this society. How is this any different from Feces? Just another disgusting part of her body that she is free to do with what she'd like.
Give me a break.
For my part, this is definitely in poor taste. But moreso, I find it offensive, disgusting and morally repugnant. This woman is a horrible person.
Originally Posted by Viking:
Based upon my standing regarding abortion, I'll in no way condemn this; though one ponders about the sanity of the artist (as I do with most of them anyway).
Hmmm got me there.Based upon my standing regarding abortion, I'll in no way condemn this; though one ponders about the sanity of the artist (as I do with most of them anyway
).I think a lot of people here are showing not only complete lack of understanding but also a lack of support for their own morals.
Question - Has she broken the law.
Answer - No.
Question - Should we censor writers, free speech... and yes, artists, when they DO NOT break any law.
Answer - No.
However, what we have here is a group of people completely going against their OWN moral beliefs - unless of course people here believe in censorship, and then of course we can have a debate on that - in order to throw mud and abuse at someone who is PROVOKING DEBATE. Wow, who would have thought it, an artist provoking debate! Amazing.
What is sickening, far from her actions - which I myself find a tad bad taste, however it makes the point she articulated in the article very well - is the actions of people who would want to censor her and other artists from creating art.
It doesn't hurt you, it doesn't hurt her, it doesn't hurt anybody! - Sure I have more respect and a lil understanding with the pro lifers here, it is different for you. But those here who have stated, 'oh I am pro choice, BUT - get your head out of your bloody arse.
Question - Has she broken the law.
Answer - No.
Question - Should we censor writers, free speech... and yes, artists, when they DO NOT break any law.
Answer - No.
However, what we have here is a group of people completely going against their OWN moral beliefs - unless of course people here believe in censorship, and then of course we can have a debate on that - in order to throw mud and abuse at someone who is PROVOKING DEBATE. Wow, who would have thought it, an artist provoking debate! Amazing.
What is sickening, far from her actions - which I myself find a tad bad taste, however it makes the point she articulated in the article very well - is the actions of people who would want to censor her and other artists from creating art.
It doesn't hurt you, it doesn't hurt her, it doesn't hurt anybody! - Sure I have more respect and a lil understanding with the pro lifers here, it is different for you. But those here who have stated, 'oh I am pro choice, BUT - get your head out of your bloody arse.
JAG, I think the people proposing she be censored were making an artistic statement themselves. Why are you trying to stop them from making that suggestion?
Despite being pro-choice I find this a horrible thing to do. Not because of the abortions themselves but because the motivation mocks and belittles every woman who has ever agonized over making her choice. Not to mention those who have suffered miscarriages or infertility.
Well, I'm planning an art project as well, I'm going to:
- take over an african country
- make killing civilians legal
- have every last civilian in the country killed to PROVOKE DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111111
- take over an african country
- make killing civilians legal
- have every last civilian in the country killed to PROVOKE DEBATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11111111111111111111
.What I find off-putting is the sheer gratuitiousness of it.
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