Discussions on this topic lead me to think about censorship and self censorship
in creative activity. If 'shadow aspects' are also part of humanity, why should
they be excluded from literary representation and artistic expressions? why
should any subjects/themes be excluded? who is to decide what should be
included or excluded in the artistic or literary sphere? why should creative
artists/writers/poets justify what they write or paint?
On the one hand, a civil society needs only to punish crimes (however
problematic the term is) but not writing about crimes from whatever
perspective. One may dislike artistic reflection of crimes in certain way and
or is entitled to criticise it but one should not think about how to STOP the
related expressions. On the other, the power of arts and literature to excite
the 'shadow aspects' of humanity or to improve humanity has often been
exaggerated.
Wang Yiyan
University of Sydney
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