Freedom of Art and Hypocrisy

Recently in Greece there was an art installation that was attacked to be destroyed by a far right MP. This issue divided the greek people, making them form factions either praising or condemning the actions of the MP.

Let's clarify who, in essence, were the two sides in the dispute: on the one hand, the supporters of the MP's movement, mainly conservative and religious people. On the other hand, progressives and people indignant at the Church's so prominent position in domestic affairs.

In general, the first considered the paintings as a desecration of the Holy and insulting to Christianity, while the others spoke of obscurantism and censorship of Art. There are serious arguments on both sides. But you don't destroy art. No matter how much you disagree, no matter how much it offends you. Perhaps, especially if it offends you. Because, for a painting to be able to induce so much emotion, it reveals more about the audience than about the work itself. Obviously, many works have the goal of baiting reactions (as, let's be honest, this one did); but despite their provocative nature, such works provide a window into the soul of society and what ultimately makes it react.

This reaction is what we will focus on: because the fact is that this controversy is a lie. It is a false dilemma because the roles could easily be reversed; however much both sides deny it. There are desecrations that the progressives would also not accept. This is not a theoretical scenario but the reality of cancel culture that dominates these progressive circles and is a form of silencing similar to the destruction of works of art. Anything that opposes the progressive agenda may be labeled as hate speech and is attacked by cancel culture through boycotts and other means. For every destruction of works of art, and every canceled performance (like this one by Christophoros Zaralikos) from pressures of the conservative agenda there are many similar incidents on the side of the progressives. Thus, for those of us who consider ourselves progressive, it is hypocritical to overlook what is happening on our own side.

So, are we all hypocrites? No. But we understand that absolutism is rarely right. It is easy to defend Art and its freedom when what it criticizes does not interest us or even we ourselves reproach it. It is radically different when the opposite happens. We are possessive and protect what we believe in. There are few who truly defend the freedom of Art in every case. Such people are either truly virtuous or they do not truly stand for anything.

Η λύση δεν βρίσκεται στη σίγαση της άλλης πλευράς. Δεν βρίσκεται στην καταστροφή του «αντιπάλου» και την διαπόμπευσή του. Η λύση – όσο τετριμμένο και κοινότοπο κι αν ακούγεται – βρίσκεται στο διάλογο. Γιατί ο διχασμός μας κάνει ευάλωτους σε χειραγώγηση από λαϊκιστές που κάνουν τα πάντα για να βγούνε μπροστά. Οι μεγάλοι νικητές της διαμάχης είναι ξεκάθαρα ο καλλιτέχνης και ο βουλευτής της Νίκης. Ο μεν σκόραρε πολιτικούς πόντους με την ομάδα ανθρώπων που τον εκλέγει, ο δε, κέρδισε μεγάλη διασημότητα τόσο για τον εαυτό του όσο και το έργο του. Έχασε, ωστόσο, ο ελληνικός λαός, ο οποίος για άλλη μια φορά βρήκε ένα θέμα στο οποίο να διαφωνήσει και να διχαστεί.