news.artnet.com: Andrea Gyorody, the director of the Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University, has resigned after an outcry following the school’s censorship of two works in a show there. The exhibition, “Hold My Hand In Yours,” which Gyorody curated, was closed early after the university, in Malibu, California, deemed two artworks to be “political.”
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In other classes, I have been following other cases of artistic censorship at the hands of museums, which is extremely disheartening, and of course seeing this doesn't help in the slightest. In this specific case, a higher up at Pepperdine visited the exhibit only to send in a request for two pieces to be removed for being ‘overly political’ in nature, which clashes with the school's truly ridiculous policy that avoids political ideas as a whole. This is truly dumbfounding to me, because what is the point of artwork if not to reflect upon the world around us? Especially at a tumultuous time like the one we are in right now. I am utterly shocked at this behavior from a university of all places, where innovation of artwork should be not only tolerated by the staff, but encouraged. Really, the act of censorship here really points to where the school stands, and politically what they support.
I think the article hit the nail on the head when it comes to connecting the current fears surrounding budget cuts made the the current Trump administration to both museums and universities. Although this blatant act of censorship is in no way justifiable, it makes sense that Pepperdine is being overly cautious. I mean with the federal funding cuts already made to the UC system, Pepperdine University is rightfully worried about their financial future. With that being said, more schools need to be willing to stand up to the current Trump admission’s attempts to censor and restrict our first amendment rights. Art is and always will be inherently political because art is a representation of our stories and experiences and we have all in some way or another been impacted and influenced by the political climates we inhabit. The current government is trying to censor art because they know how powerful it is. I would argue that one of the best forms of rebellion in this current political climate is to continue to make art that uplifts the voices around us and helps bring us together.
My friend goes to Pepperdine, and was telling me about this earlier this week. People on her campus are FURIOUS. They, as most, assumed that they'd be protected by their private institution. But nope! I'm honestly quite nervous for Universities and public institutions right now.` The Trump administration is attacking anyone who opposes them to any degree. We could even talk about what the fence says right now, and what it said during the AI summit. For an administration that was supposed to make this place "great" again (gross), all they've done is cause harm and fear, and the first real indications of fascism. The two things first attacked by authoritarian systems are educators and artists, and this is both! An attack to our most politically active spaces - college campuses - and most of the time, our most politically outspoken - artists - in one blow is devastating to see and hear about.
It's really interesting to read the justification behind why this university did it. Don't get me wrong, I don't agree with why they did it, or even think that they are justified with the reasoning that they give. However, it is interesting to look at what they're trying to use as a scapegoat. It's interesting to use the excuse that a non-profit organization such as the university should be kept rather a political, when a) art is inherently political, and b) you'd think that art that shows differing perspectives and encourages communication and understanding across party, state, class, gender, and race divides would be encouraged, as I doubt anyone, or at least very few people, go to higher education with the intention to remain in a bubble and learn nothing new about the world that surrounds them.I also have never heard that argument about a non-profit having to be neutral beforehand. I don't know a lot about the school to be honest, so it may be true for this particular school, but I do find it interesting that they go beyond accepting all walks of life and beliefs, to specifically stating that they remain neutral.
While this article was upsetting to read it was unfortunately not shocking due to Pepperdine’s incredibly Christian values. Censorship of art has always confused me as that is art’s purpose to be able to express your opinions of the world. Unfortunately I just know that these art exhibits got taken down because a conservative board member decided they did not like what was being shown. The part that really upsets me is the fact that these exhibits were “too political” because they had things portraying big parts of history that are currently happening including immigration laws and ICE raids. I also especially hate that part of the reason that this is happening is because of Trump’s crackdown on the Smithsonian museums and other museums for being too “woke”. I think that Universities need to be a safe space for free speech especially for those who are learning to navigate the world.
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