If Everyone Sees It, Consider Everyone First

I was in a vehicle traveling to another state when we slowed down at a busy spot, my eyes caught two paintings in the walls of the bridge we were close to. Most made me feel something, positive and negative and that's because one was well thought out before it was painted and the other seemed like it was triggering a certain feeling.

I don't want to say what the negative paintings was about but the positive one had me appreciating how considerate the painter was in his thought process to create it. I saw people staring at it but not many bothered to stare at the other for longer than just view once and move on. That said a lot about the impact of the paintings.

Left for me, I'd say the negative painting shouldn't stay, it has to be removed in anyway it can done. I think the world is filled with enough negativities already, having people do whatever they want in the context of "free speech" shouldn't mean they are free to spread more negativity using their creativity. I think that's even a waste of creativity.

Arts should be free, no doubt about that. I love arts and it's only fair to allow people who have passion for it to be free in expressing themselves in their art works. The limits comes in when their expression will be done in public spaces, where people with different thoughts and beliefs will see. Their arts will come off differently for each.

The most important thing to point out in giving limits to how far free speech should go in arts done in public places is that, even though it may not cause physical hurt, it can cause emotional hurts that could result in physical harm. People react a lot and targeted triggers are what causes the reactions to be mild or severe in each person.

I'm not sure about repercussions but I believe any art work in public spaces that will act as triggers in the wrong directions, they should be removed and not left to keep damaging the minds of people. Though, what might inspire one individual to good work may do the opposite for another. Words and images can shape beliefs, reinforce stereotypes even without physical harm done.

I don't think all arts in public places are free of hurting people so we should consider the ones that could hurt, especially emotionally or socially and be seen as offensive but putting in consideration the free speech rights that every person has, not just the artist. So instead of total freedom, let's think "nothing risky is allowed".

It should be more of public responsibilities if it's public walls, an artist has his or her own rights just as every other person does. It goes to say "If everyone must see it, then everyone deserves consideration" in the process of creating the art. I didn't even get to the aspect of artists actually targeting some people with these murals or arts.

_{Images used are AI generated.}