Creativity happens to be one vast subject, encompassing all aspects of life, in so many different forms, that it is difficult to accurately define it as one specific type or form; for it is as unlimited as any thought being thought. The end result of creativity, a creation, is a much easier subject to take a look at, especially within the arts.It could be said that an artistic creation is either good or bad; destructive verses constructive, based on how it potentially harms, pleases or even helps the majority of us. Another common classification of art, is with comments and measurements on the skill or talent of the rendering; amateur versus master. Yet a third scale for measuring art is by how well it communicates to its audience; "I get it!" versus "Huh?". Note that the "Huh?" reaction happens either when the art had nothing to say and when the audience did not understand. Unfortunatly, by defining or even classifying creations we would then begin to narrow the types or forms of acceptable creations and inhibit creativity in those areas in general. With more and more creations becoming unacceptable, creativity itself would become less acceptable, maybe even a criminal offense, with new creations over a period of time becoming non existent or forbidden entirely. These are the issues involving art and artists.

Each time any art form is challenged because of content issues, even if we condone it or disagree with the art form entirely, we must maintain that right to freedom of expression for ourselves or suffer a fate far worse in the end. As legislative forces continuously bring to vote new laws that are attempting to curtail artistic creativity in one way or another, based on the dislikes or moral issues of a vast minority of the population, we damage the freedom for expression for us all. If however, the majority of the population does not like the art form, it disappears all by itself, in good time as unpopular or unacceptable, anyway. At least until the artist is dead, then it will reappear and be worth several fortunes. So then why do we need the laws to stop creative effort? Oh the evil works of the song or some displayed human form and how bad these things make us all behave. Really?

Or is it that some people have difficulty facing certain artistic subject matters; because of the reminders it gives them within their own minds? Like all those evil thoughts or ideas, that came about because of, well maybe, all their own past misdeeds or deviously creative minds. Oh we can't have those kind of reminders around, someone might find out about those thoughts or activities. But who put those thoughts in their head, in the first place, that were already there? The person created them and will continue to create those thoughts all by themselves; with or without the song or even a human form being used in art, that reminds them of their hidden dark secrets or thoughts. But they can help save the rest of us from their fate by keeping us from doing all their wrong deeds within their own minds. Right?

The apparency seems to be that the majority of creative pursuits are in those areas deemed taboo by our culture. The exposed human form seems to be one of these areas that has really never been an acceptable thing in our social history. Maybe the inspiration of using the human form is caused by it being such a hidden thing in our society? Or maybe not. The subject itself has always been an unacceptable social issue, which will probably remain that way; but continues to be a creative challenge in the revealing of the human form as art.

I personally do not agree with all subject matters displayed or written to song in the arts. Censorship and laws will not produce the proper results or answers needed for the problems at hand. Education and truth will be that freedom we seek, as we evolve through this confused era of growth.

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Donald A. Aaby
July '99