WritingAssignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

WritingAssignment - Essay Example Lastly, it would enhance responsibility among artists. After all their art works are not covered by public funds. Therefore, this paper will expound on why public money should not be used to help pay for art that some taxpayers believe to be offensive and indecent. To begin with, it is an insult to the public when their funds are misappropriated. People who do not subscribe to obscenities and artworks that insult their faith may protest against the inappropriate use of their money. Case in point is the protests by American Family Association against National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for wrong use of their money in the artwork display. The art work was a painting by Serrano named ‘Piss Christ’ to which American Family Association found distasteful. They described it as obscene, hate-filled, anti-Christ and bigoted. They wrote protest letters to the Congress and NEA showing their displeasure in use of their money (Stokstad and Cothren). In essence, it was an insult to them. Secondly, there is need for observation of general standards of decency as well as respect for the diverse views of the American population. America is a large country with a population that subscribes to diverse beliefs and views. The whole population pays taxes regardless of its diverse nature. Consequently, respect of that diversity is paramount. Artworks that display mockery of other faiths, special population groups should not be funded by public money to which the population groups contributed. Case in point is Chris Ofili’s drawing of ‘The Holy Virgin Mary’ displayed at the Brooklyn Museum of Art which angered Mayor Rudolph Giuliani and Catholic leaders. Giuliani considered the art sick and disgusting as well as promoting religious intolerance (Stokstad and Cothren). In view of this, art works should respect the diverse views and religious standings of the citizens. Using taxpayer s money