Censors never think they are censoring...
From: M
To: Frank Moore
Sent: Monday, September 20, 2010 7:55 AM
Subject: Decency Clause
Dear Frank,
The panel was a lively discussion about censorship and self-censorship! Afterward at dinner I sat next to Bill Ivey, Chair of the NEA from 1998-2001. He nixed several grants, “In order to preserve the agency.” Maybe at the time this was the right decision.
How is your health? I hope you are OK.
All best wishes,
M
Subject: Re: Decency Clause
From: Frank Moore
Date: Mon, 20 Sep 2010 17:39:50 -0700
To: M
CC: Frank Moore/E-SALON
Well, that's the common rationale that most censors use in his position... And it's also the rationale that most use who sign loyalty Oaths [the "decency clause" is really a loyalty oath to the established order]. Such rationale allows censorship a mask of reasonable airs which allow censorship and loyalty Oaths to take hold. The price is too high! Artists should be unreasonable, refusing to be the lap-dogs/pussies of the established order. The NEA was destroyed for individual subversive artists like me. When I got my NEA, it was based upon my past work. I could use the money anyway I want. If I had to hand over the control of the art to the NEA /government, I couldn't/wouldn't do that. So I find other ways to do the work. After all, ain't that a part of the artist’s job?!
In Freedom,
Frank Moore