Britain's artists are now self-censoring to avoid offending Muslims. Is this proof that terrorism works?

From the London Times Online:

Britain鈥檚 contemporary artists are f锚ted around the world for their willingness to shock but fear is preventing them from tackling Islamic fundamentalism. Grayson Perry, the cross-dressing potter, Turner Prize winner and former Times columnist, said that he had consciously avoided commenting on radical Islam in his otherwise highly provocative body of work because of the threat of reprisals.

Perry also believes that many of his fellow visual artists have also ducked the issue, and one leading British gallery director told The Times that few major venues would be prepared to show potentially inflammatory works.

鈥淚鈥檝e censored myself,鈥?Perry said at a discussion on art and politics organised by the Art Fund. 鈥淭he reason I haven鈥檛 gone all out attacking Islamism in my art is because I feel real fear that someone will slit my throat.鈥?

Full article: http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/t...

It should be noted that this Grayson Perry character has no compunction about skewering Christian icons. He routinely creates "art" that would be offensive to Christians.

Yes. And in China & Russia they self censor to avoid offending the government & in the US they self censor to avoid offending African-Americans, etc., When artists lack courage they self censor. So does Yahoo!

it shows how stupid people can get when they aren't allowed to speak their mind.kinda sad and a prime example of why socialism will never work period.

Artists always create in a political atmosphere. That is what makes their work important - the ability to politicize it. Not creating a work and then publicizing it is a kind of another way to politicize as well.

Folks like Salmon Rushdie have been on both sides of hat equation - his name is synonymous with the issue even though few have read his books. so has he been a successful artist because he published some books or because he has publicized the issues he cares about?

I conclude, as an art lover, this is a non-issue. Artists will find a way to create, it just might not be what you expected from them, or indeed what they expected from themselves.