Arousing Sensation : A Case Study of Controversy Surrounding Art and the Erotic

Abstract

This book provides a case study of the controversies surrounding Much Sense: Erotics and Life (1992-93) – an exhibition of works by 18 artists, curated by Gilbert for the Walter Phillips Gallery. It contains essays by four authors who address a wide range of subjects in relation to themes of sexuality and eroticism. Gilbert’s first text offers a descriptive analysis of works by M. Connor, R. Flack and Kiss & Tell. Emphasis is placed on issues of the body, pleasure, desire, and the representation of lesbian sexuality/identity. Gilbert also outlines her curatorial intent: to show work that questions the representation of sex from diverse mediums (photography, performance, video) and different sexual orientations. Issues of pornography and censorship are considered in relation to how people responded to the exhibition. Waugh’s analysis of the 13 films and videotapes presented in the exhibition, foregrounds notions of gender, the body, gay and lesbian sexual identity, AIDS and documentary. Ditta addresses the issue of censorship in the visual arts by discussing the difficulties experienced by four Canadian public galleries/museums that exhibited artworks containing sexually explicit material. M. Kotash’s text on heterosexual and gay/lesbian erotica calls attention to feminist and artistic responses to issues of censorship and pornography. T. A. Harris presents a brief poetic text on themes of life, death and pain. Includes 18 transcribed newspaper articles written in response to the exhibition. List of works. Index. Brief biographical notes. Circa 160 bibl. ref