Art Exhibit Controversy in Alingsås, Sweden

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An exhibition featuring graphic sex photos by American photographer Andres Serrano has sparked controversy in Alingsås, Sweden, where the Christian Democrats are pushing to shut it down, citing concerns over public decency. In contrast, the Liberal Party argues that art should remain uncensored. The situation escalated when the neo-Nazi group Nationalsocialistisk Front (NSF) began protesting the exhibition, distributing fliers against it. The discussion highlights the stark differences in political climate between Sweden and the United States regarding public funding for controversial art. While the Christian Democrats hold a mainstream position, their alignment with the NSF in this instance raises questions about their political identity, as they typically do not share extreme views. The debate reflects broader societal attitudes toward art, censorship, and the intersection of politics and morality in Sweden.
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http://www.thelocal.se/9824/20080130/

An exhibition of graphic sex photos have caused a political row in a Swedish town. Christian Democrats in Alingsås want to close down the History of Sex exhibition at the town's municipal art gallery. The Liberal Party, usually allied with the Christian Democrats, says art should not be censored.

The photos, by American photographer Andres Serrano, depict scenes including a man performing [graphic] himself and a woman clutching a horse's [graphic].

The controversy over the exhibition has been taken to a new level by the involvement of the neo-Nazi Nationalsocialistisk Front (NSF), which has been distributing fliers protesting against the exhibition.

I'm always so surprised how far from the political climate Sweden is from the United States. Besides the neo-Nazis, the only party opposing it was the far-right Christian Democrats (6.6% in latest elections). Most others where thrilled.

Do you think such an exhibition would fly in, say, the United States? :biggrin:
 
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In a private gallery, there would be no problem. But if public money is given to controversial artists and exhibits, yes, you can bet there would be a problem with some people.

Just curious - do the neo-Nazis and Christian Democrats there agree on many issues?
 
Moridin said:
Do you think such an exhibition would fly in, say, the United States? :biggrin:

Like, right next door to the Creationism Museum?
 
lisab said:
Just curious - do the neo-Nazis and Christian Democrats there agree on many issues?

I believe one of the things about the Neo-Nazis is that they want to abolish any semblance of Christianity and go back to their "true" roots.

Then again, I am learning all of this from learning about Black Metal, so I might be completely off hahaha.
 
I would go to the exhibition. I would also certainly need to cross a picket line of protesters to do it.
 
lisab said:
Just curious - do the neo-Nazis and Christian Democrats there agree on many issues?

Not really, the Christian Democrats is a mainstrem party that belongs to the same "family" as e.g. CDU in Germany (Angela Merkels party). They do not really have many "extreme" views, except for on issues like the proposed law on gender neutral marriage, they are the only ones opposing it of allt the parties in the swedish parliament.
However, since it is the only party with a "religious identity" in Sweden it also attracts people on the christian right wing (which is a very small minority in Sweden), and sometimes these end up representing the party at the local level. However, if these representatives do something that is really embarrasing to the party at a national level they get expelled pretty quickly.

I suspect they find it quite embarrasing that they happen to be on the same side as the neo-nazis in this case.
 

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