Yet another ardent act of violence performed under the guise of ‘starting a conversation’
A professor at the University of Alaska at Anchorage has created a highly controversial painting that depicts a nude liberal actor Chris Evans, who plays Captain America in films, holding the head of a decapitated President Donald Trump by the hair. The painting is featured in an art show at the university. Professor Thomas Chung—the creator of the painting—says he was hesitant to display the painting out of concern that students would become uncomfortable. He ultimately decided for it in hopes that his art would start a conversation. Chung also claimed that he would never talk about his political beliefs with students, completely contradicting himself.
While freedom of expression should be protected on college campuses, especially in the wake of conservative speakers continuously being prohibited from appearing, concerns such as national security should also be weighed. What educational purpose does a visual representation of the President of the United States being beheaded serve? There is a fine line between freedom of speech, threatening behavior and radical ideology. However, the university has defended the display, saying that it doesn’t censor ideas and diversity. That argument might hold some weight if the so-called art had been created by one of the students. This is another instance of a college professor preaching political beliefs to his students.
Chung’s reservations about displaying the piece are not without merit. The same university has censored art exhibits in the past where nudity has been concerned out of consideration for religious students. They’ve also refused to address concerns of racism raised by a Native American student over a professor’s poem titled Indian Girls. The University of Alaska seems to be inconsistent in their claims of fostering constitutional rights to their fullest extent. If these types of portrayals are allowed to be on public display in a publicly funded university, it might be time for the Trump Administration to consider pulling funding. Perhaps even an investigation into the professor who created this “art” is warranted.
Since it’s acceptable to display art that depicts crimes, what else is acceptable to the University of Alaska? I can’t help but wonder where the line would be drawn. If this is acceptable, would this university display heinous crimes committed by pedophiles and label it an avant-garde creation to raise awareness?
It’s impossible to truly know the intent of another human being. Thus, these professors need to start being aware that they are responsible for shaping minds. Some of those minds suffer from severe mental illness, radicalization, and other unseen conditions. Creating an environment where violent crimes against a sitting president are acceptable because it’s “how I feel” is the first step toward making violence socially acceptable as a way of thought.
Do I agree with every single policy President Trump has set forth? I sure don’t. That has never once inspired me to conjure mental images of his death. I also fail to see the significance of Chris Evans being portrayed as nude. Where do some of these weirdos come from?
