Breaking the Cancel Culture Barrier: Weimer Slams "Politically-Driven Mob Mentality"
Weimer expresses opposition to the "culture of indignation advocated by eco-socialists"
Social media platforms, Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link, Culture Minister Wolfram Weimer lashed out against intrusions into artistic freedom. In a fiery Op-Ed for the "Sueddeutsche Zeitung," Weimer labeled the intolerant left's intervention as "culture-policing." The latest incident? The removal of a nude Venus statue from a Berlin office following allegations of misogyny.
Weimer deemed the statue's removal as "an apparent act of cultural unawareness." The simplistic equating of female nudity with inherent sexism and its absence from public life echoes an up-to-date Jacobin iconoclasm. "Its current-day equivalent, the disregard for due process, is now a fixture of the radical feminist, post-colonial, eco-socialist outrage culture," Weimer wrote.
The bronze reproduction of Venus de' Medici, originally made in the early 18th century, was housed in the Federal Office for Central Services and Open Property (BADV) in Berlin. Upon a tip from the office's Equal Opportunities Officer, the statue was taken down. In a society affected by political extremism on the left, preemptive obedience, paternalism, and language policing seem to be the only resort, according to Weimer.
He also referenced the controversial dismissal of a teacher in Florida who exhibited Michelangelo's David and his famous nude sculpture to students. "On both the far-left and the far-right, zealots disregard the freedom of culture and the intellectual capacity of the public to make informed decisions about the world around them," Weimer wrote. "The arts are not only being censored but, equally importantly, the audience is patronized."
The culture minister urged a more liberal response, recommending the expansion of the boundaries of speech, exploration, and representation, instead of constricting them. Weimer had previously raised caution about the prospect of a "global cultural war" that isn't exclusive to neo-nationalist dictatorships like China and Russia but also prevalent in the West.
Insights
- Venus Statue Background: The statue in question is a bronze copy of the Medici Venus, an ancient marble sculpture housed in the Uffizi museum in Florence, Italy. This particular copy was made in the early 18th century and was displayed in the foyer of the Federal Office for Central Services and Unresolved Property Issues in Berlin.
- Removal Reason: The statue was removed due to a complaint by the office's Equal Opportunities Officer, who argued that it could be perceived as sexist and might violate the Federal Equal Opportunities Act.
- Impact: The removal of the statue sparked a debate about the interpretation of art in public spaces and the potential for modern sensibilities to conflict with historical art. It also drew media attention to the Grassi Museum in Leipzig, as the statue was transferred to their collection.
The Commission, in the face of this escalating debate, has also been asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of workers from the risks related to exposure to ionising radiation in the complex world of policy-and-legislation. This proposed directive serves as a response to the political discourse, as the issue of cultural artifacts touching upon sensitive topics is part of the general news landscape.
Wolfram Weimer's outspoken stance on the importance of preserving artistic freedom can be seen as a reflection of broader political concerns beyond his role as the Culture Minister. His call for a more liberal response to the censorship of art resonates with the attitude of those advocating for free speech and intellectual exploration.
