~~ art censorship, responsibility, things I generally don't think about.

I'm not sure if I believe this: "Art isn't an action," I told lunulet in regards to her post saying she feels cast in the dominant position when people view her Harry/Snape chan fanart (with a sub Harry). It's a very novel concept for me, participating directly with one's audience this way. When I make something, I go through a period of incubation, a period of angst and semi-painful separation, and then it's gone-- we're two different entities, the piece and I. Whatever happens through it, to it or because of it may please me or upset me, but ultimately I don't feel responsible for it.

Do I have some sort of responsibility to my viewers or readers, as an artist?

I've seen this question raised often enough, and I've always brushed it off. It's ridiculous, really: how can I ever control people's possible reactions and potential actions, and why would I want to? When this question is raised in regards to children, it doesn't make it any easier for me. And I'm talking about personal ethics here, not whatever stupid arbitrary laws some particular country feels like erecting. I'm a law-abiding citizen as far as that goes, but it's not because I actually -believe- in "the law". Mostly, the law is general common sense, and when it isn't, I can't be bothered to care more than half the time, so.

I will come out and say, however, that I don't believe in the concept of protecting children from ideas or from any sort of imagery whatsoever. Children have their own filtering methods-- generally consisting of simply ignoring or misinterpreting what bothers/boggles them-- and they also have parents and peers to give them necessary context. I am who I am and I do what I do-- I cannot possibly worry about all possible effects my very existence may have on some Puerto Rican boy 2 years from now who's got homophobic tendencies or something. Like, whatever, man.

( I think maybe I reiterated that last point a few times too many, btw, heheh. )

    So no, art isn't an action, if only because it cannot be fully defined. It is both a verb and a noun and an adjective-- art is creative & creation & created. It has a different sort of life in different contexts within different people. Art is a virus, perhaps, and the creator is simply the original carrier. Does that make us responsible? No, because transmission depends on compatibility~:) Nifty how that works, isn't it :>
~~

Needless to say, I am avoiding finals-and-things like a mofo, therefore this ramble. I've gotten to the point where I have a good working knowledge of the actual timeline behind dracolicious & boywholives, which is just sad... and... sad. Apparently, I have this nasty case of addiction to H/D RPGs. Not all, but some, and oohhhh when they get me, they get me good. But anyway, er. Wanted to fangirl, slightly, heeee. <3333333, etcetc. I can never get tired of a good soap opera, man. So sad. But you guys are So Good! Squeeeeee!! >:D *melts*