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with these categories.
jeangoodwin@nwu.edu
Last updated
The Free Speech website, http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/commstud/freespeech/
Manured Madonna |
Case Type: |
Actual
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Exigence: |
An exhibit of recent British art called "Sensation" was set to open in the Brooklyn Museum in early October, 1999, when the City threatened to withhold its subsidy of the museum. The specific cause was one collage in the exhibit: Chris Ofili's "The Holy Virgin Mary," which represented a black female figure with a ball of elephant dung attached to her chest, and with pictures of buttocks and vaginas cut out of magazines also attached. The museum in reply filed a lawsuit to prevent the city's action, claiming that a funding cut-off would be in violation of the First Amendment. The city then counter-filed a suit to evict the museum from its city-owned building, claiming a variety of defaults on its lease. The museum won in the district court, obtaining an injunction against any city interference; the case is now on appeal.
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Audience: |
The federal appellate court; you, the general public.
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Possible |
A reproduction of the painting in question; and a virtual tour of the exhibit.
One of the precedent cases in this area: Finley v. NEA (1998), holding that inserting a "decency" requirement into the decision-making process of the National Endowment for the Arts is not unconstitutional.
More facts, primarily collected from the New York Times reporting on the case.
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Decision: |
Open
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Related |
Offense Other special places Art |
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Notes: |
None.
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For help
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Copyright © 1998 Jean Goodwin. All rights reserved. jeangoodwin@nwu.edu Last updated The Free Speech website, http://faculty-web.at.nwu.edu/commstud/freespeech/ |
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