Much Confusion.....

After reading this week's assignment in "The Art of Protest", I fail to see how the actions of the Black Panthers are considered art. I don't know entirely that much about art, but when does violence and fear become a part of it? From what I know about their time period, there was so much injustice being done to their people and a change was definitely necessary, but I came away from the text feeling as if they just fueled the fire for more stereotypes and problems to arise for their race. I don't know how violence and fear can ever produce a positive outcome, and I feel that these are the tactics that they utilized the most. Maybe they felt that desparate times called for desparate measures, but I believe in most, if not all cases, violence is not the answer. And their "Ten Point Point Program" seemed so hateful and threatening. Wasn't hate and discrimination the things they were fighting against? Reading through it really made me feel awful, ugly, and a little angry inside. I can't imagine that anyone would consider complying to something that made them feel this way. I felt like I was being accused and screamed at. Hmmm, I would like to hear what other people think about the text tomorrow. I am curious if I am the only one that feels this way....

As for the artist, Arnaldo Morales, of "In the Making", no other person that I have read about in my art courses has scared me more. His art pieces are so creepy, infliscting pain on those who view them. I got the feeling from the article that the artist connects with people through hurting them. That is not cool with me. I kept thinking throughout this article, "I gotta remember this guy's name. I NEVER want to be browsing his exhibits." The other thing that really disturbed me was the carelessness of this man's mother. What parent would allow their child to cut metal with a saw at age 4 or 5? It is madness, and I bet if someone would have known, his mom would have been reported to the CPS. As a future teacher, has and is presently working with young children, I am very angered when I hear of any child being put in danger, ESPECIALLY when it involves their parents. >:O