Let's Talk Politics - crafthaus2024-03-28T10:23:06Zhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/forum/topics/let-s-talk-politics?groupUrl=reconstructing-our-second-skin-gender-in-contempor&xg_source=activity&feed=yes&xn_auth=noThis is very interesting. I w…tag:crafthaus.ning.com,2016-05-18:2104389:Comment:5455622016-05-18T06:48:11.249ZThe Justified Sinnerhttp://crafthaus.ning.com/profile/TheJustifiedSinner
<p>This is very interesting. I would argue that there is a dangerous thread in universities (and education generally) of stifling debate in the name of "not causing offence". In the UK, that bastion of 'free speech', the Oxford University Union, has denied platforms to people they see as 'offensive': by offensive, of course, they mean people who express views that some might find offensive. It is not hard to imagine where this could end. </p>
<p>In the 1980s, I was heavily involved in radical…</p>
<p>This is very interesting. I would argue that there is a dangerous thread in universities (and education generally) of stifling debate in the name of "not causing offence". In the UK, that bastion of 'free speech', the Oxford University Union, has denied platforms to people they see as 'offensive': by offensive, of course, they mean people who express views that some might find offensive. It is not hard to imagine where this could end. </p>
<p>In the 1980s, I was heavily involved in radical politics - I even had the privilege of visiting the Greenham Common Peace Camp, which changed my views of feminism forever - and I am thrilled to feel some of the same energy rising again, though this time round it is going to be far harder for people to make their dissenting voices count. (One of the curses of the internet: it is easy to be heard but hard to be counted!) </p>
<p>All artists and makers can contribute - my own work stems from a Marxist "dignity of labour" stance about the act of making and attitudes towards masculinity and gender - and, indeed, I would suggest that if we are not to merely make pretty baubles for the elite, then we MUST contribute to the dialogue, even if that means being cranky, unpopular or whatever.</p>
<p>As a side note to this, it has been really exciting over the recent years to see our international students from China become increasingly questioning of their regime at home and to feel empowered to express this in their work </p>