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AIR DATE: May 17, 2011
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An exhibition of art by serial killer John Wayne Gacy is on display in downtown Las Vegas. A controversy has sprung up surrounding the art, some gallery operators say it's wrong to profit from the sale of the art because of the nature of Gacy's crimes. But others in the art community say it's good to have high profile outsider art come to Las Vegas and despite Gacy's crimes it's good to get people talking about art in Las Vegas. We talk with one supporter of the exhibit about why the exhibit is good for Las Vegas and a professor from Northeastern University who has studied why art by serial killers interests people.
GUEST
Wes Myles, owner, The Arts Factory
Jack Levin, Irving and Betty Brudnick, Profsof Sociology and Criminology, Northeastern University
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Hey Mike,
Hope you're well today. I was actually on hold to respond with a much needed comment, but time is not on our side in the honorable and tough role of being a producer. I feel like S.O.N. - exists because topics like artwork from a serial killer can be discussed in a healthy & safe environment. Artful mudslinging never got anyone anywhere worthwhile; it's seldom a "win/win" scenario.
My comment was thought of to give peace to the contentious feelings some might have at this business-man's decision. "I FEEL THAT IF GACY OR ANY OTHER MURDERER HAD HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES IN THE PAST, BEFORE THEIR BELIEFS WERE FORGED WITH EVIL - THEY MIGHT HAVE HAD A DIFFERENT PATH IN LIFE.
To me, it's always about our choice and freewill; and no one can really make us "feel" a certain way. There's a way to act and think independent of our circumstances & the disposition of others.
Maybe all a murderer is guilty of, is believing their own thoughts. Sure, they took it to the extreme but maybe they felt powerless. Let's work together in our beautiful LV, NV to inspire our youth. Some of them might have thoughts about where else to take the pain inside. LET LOVE RULE
Troy –
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Thanks for your comments Mike. As we mentioned in the program, we did reach out to several critics of the exhibit, but all declined to join us. We assumed (rightly) that there would be people in the community who would have strong feelings and who would call in.
Sorry we didn't have a chance to air more discussion on this. Perhaps we should have given the segment more time.
But thanks again for expressing your thoughts here.
Adam Burke –
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In this conversation, it is important to define the word "art." My unabridged Webster's says that art is "The quality, production, or expression, according to aesthetic principles, of what is beautiful, appealing or of more than ordinary significance." You'd be hard pressed to find any serious art critic who would remotely consider Gacy's amateurish drawings to rise to a level of aesthetic significance. The interest in this "art" is derived solely from its attachment to one of the most notorious murderers of the 20th Century. People who collect Gacy muderabilia do so for psychological or financial reasons, not because they think that these drawings are aesthetically important works of art.
Mike –
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