A Dilemma: Should There Be Censorship In Art?

What is art? In educational terms art is an activity in which paintings, sculptures, and other pictures are created. However, for some art isn't just an activity but a passion. A passion in which people can express a certain thought or feeling. In my opinion only those who take art as a passion know the true meaning of art, otherwise for some it is just painting a few lines just to get an assignment done. Art is really about expressing your thought in whatever form you feel is right. The fun part about art is watching someone observe your work and actually think hard about what message you were trying to get across.

What can the message be? A message in art can be any thought the artist wishes to express. Any point they wish to tell the world about. How can this message be brought about? The message in art work can be brought about however the artist wishes to express because that is what art is about. However, there is a bit of problem when it comes to how an artist should express art. I don't know about others but sometimes when I see certain paintings I feel that the audience this is being shown to must be appropriate.

Now this doesn't apply to all type of art work. I am specifically speaking of paintings in which the human body is revealed. Now I understand that a certain message is being brought across but lately art has been attracted by the youth and it is necessary to think that is the youth appropriate for these paintings. Majority of the youth may take the art seriously because of their maturity level but as I see it the new generation seems to lack in maturity, in some cases, and it is a thought of whether they will appreciate it or not.

Another thought is, whether it is alright for an artist to use the human body in art while revealing it? Artists may be free to express their ideas but if nudity is censored in certain cases should it be censored in art?

An example of such art is Frida Kahlo's "The Broken Column" in which a women's breast are openly painted.

So I wonder, should art be censored as certain areas are in entertainment or media? Or is art free enough to express anything we wish?

Expressing Love and Pain...

When it comes to expressing our love and pain everyone has their own way. Some people express love easily and tend to hide their pain. Some tend to hide their love but their pain shows in their actions. Some can easily express their love and pain. And sometimes people hide both. However it doesn't matter what we express, pain or love, it matters how we express it.

Sometimes people have difficulty expressing their love to their loved ones. Some want to express it in a special and unique way. When lovers have difficulty expressing their love in some scenarios they look to poetry to express their love. Poetry is a beautiful form of literature which expresses a poet's feelings in the most unique way. Poetry is usually a form of literature that lovers use to express their love. When a loved one reads their lover's feelings expressed through love then it makes the feeling of love even more wonderful.

However not only is love expressed through poetry. Sometimes pain can also be expressed through poetry. When pain is expressed through poetry then, in my opinion, someone reading it can really understand the depth of the writer's pain. I myself have written poetry many times and I believe when you express your pain through poetry another person can really understand what you are going through. Plus it becomes a fun challenge to read between the lines.

Whether you are expressing your love or pain in poetry it is not that easy unless you have inspiration. Sometimes your inspiration can be a person, an experience, or even your own personal feelings. Whatever the case may be once you write out poetry and read the finish piece not only are you proud of your work but also of how your feelings were expressed so beautifully. I can say so from my own personal experience.

From what I've written it may seem that I am a fan of poetry, but let me tell you ever since I was little I always hated poetry. I would hate it when we had to read poems in schools. I wouldn't even care what I was reading and I didn't even take the effort to read between the lines or see what the author was trying to tell us. But now, now I love poetry. I love the way poets express their feelings and thoughts and I never miss the opportunity to express my feelings through poetry. I like reading English poems but I also love reading Urdu poems. I usually write Urdu poems but I also enjoy reading English poems.

Whenever I'm in the mood for reading poetry I always search Urdu poems. The thing about the websites online though is that no one credits themselves for writing these poems. It upsets me that they don't because I would never want people reading my work and not knowing that it was me. However, they do it by choice. Recently while bored I read a really nice Urdu poem and I feel I should share it. Although the poet did not credit themselves I'll provide the link so that some credit goes. (And yes I'll translate)

"Aankho mein aansoo aaye na hote, Jo piche mudakar muskuraye na hote, Unke jane ke bad ye ghum na hota, Kash vo zindagi mein kabhi aaye na hote."

In other words...

"Tears wouldn't be in my eyes, If he had not turned and smiled, There would be no pain after he left, If only he had never come into my life."

Link: http://smsmasti.50webs.com/sadshayari.htm

So lovers, those in pain, or those wishing to express themselves it never hurts to express yourself through poetry.

A Different Cultural Aspect...

From what I know many of my friends listen to and appreciate American music. I have nothing against American music and I'm open to listening to it but I am more interested in music from the Pakistani and Indian cultures. It is a habit of mine and for some reason Paki/Indian music really touches my soul. Recently I listened to a song from a 1996 Bollywood (India's Hollywood) film. A few lyrics that touched me were as followed:

Todoge mera dil ; You'll break my heart,
Muhje barbard karoge ; You'll destroy me,
Na chain hume doge ; You won't give me peace,
Na dard ki zanjeer se azaad karoge; You won't free me from the chains of pain,
Dil phir bhi tumhe deinge ; Yet I'll still give you my heart,
Kya yaad karoge ; What will you remember.

The reason I chose this particular song is that I believe it really expresses love. Love is a wonderful emotion and I think it is beautifully expressed through music. In fact that is what attracts me to Pakistani and Indian music. The main objective of song composers is love. A song about love is always peacefull to listen to, especially when it touches the soul.

I decided to give everyone a different cultural aspect of music to see what most people would think. Being a Pakistani I would love to spread my culture especially if it is music since music is a cultural aspect in our everyday lives.