Guggenheim, Bowing to Animal-Rights Activists, Pulls Works From Show

[ProudLib72]

24. Would you go to China to view the art and then condemn it?

It's your right not to like it, even to be disgusted by it. But you have to judge the art based on the values of the culture that produced it. The post above about Chinese eating dogs makes a good point. I wouldn't eat a dog, and you probably wouldn't either. However, China has been eating dogs for two thousand years (look up the history of the Chow Chow). It is part of their tradition, their culture. The Guggenheim is bringing that culture over here. It is out of context, and that must be appreciated. In China no one would think this is torture or abuse of animals.

For instance, suppose you created a work of art that depicted a family sitting down to eat a steak dinner. No big deal, right? Take that work of art over to India to display and you will have a riot. Who is right? Americans eat steak all the time. Indians view the cow as sacred. Two cultures. Two norms. Two very different ways of viewing the art.