National discussion on the controversial film ‘A Fire in My Belly,’ a video that explores art history from a gay and lesbian perspective, will come to Syracuse University this week.

Jonathan Katz, the co-curator of a Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery exhibition, will lecture about the censorship Monday at 6 p.m. in Watson Theater. The LGBT Resource Center and Hendricks Chapel are co-sponsoring the event, titled ‘Ending the Loud Silence: Hide/Seek the Future of Queer Exhibitions and Freedom of Speech.’

Katz has been giving lectures since the gallery removed the controversial 13-minute video ‘A Fire in My Belly’ from the Smithsonian exhibit ‘Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture.’ The gallery removed the video due to pressure from the Catholic League and conservative members of Congress, who claimed the video, which depicts ants crawling over crucifixes, perpetuates anti-Christian sentiment.

‘This is a manufactured controversy,’ Katz said. ‘You can go way back in history and see much more savage depictions of the cross. This is fundamentally about a resurgence of the right wing and them trying to reignite a culture war.’

The late artist David Wojnarowicz created the video as a response to the death of his close friend, photographer Peter Hujar, who died of AIDS. Light Work, an artist-run, Syracuse-based organization located in Watson Hall’s Robert B. Menschel Media Center, has been screening the video since mid-December.

The lecture aligns with Hendricks’ commitment to maintaining an open dialogue on issues of faith and culture, said Tiffany Steinwert, dean of Hendricks Chapel.

‘It’s very important for people who were offended by the video to have their voices heard and equally as important for artists and those who found meaning in the video to talk about their experiences,’ she said.

Steinwert said there has been very little conflict about Katz’s lecture, and she hopes it will help people engage in dialogue on issues of art, faith, sexuality and politics.

‘The video provides an opportunity to reflect on the way in which religion and art intersect,’ Steinwert said. ‘It generated a lot of controversy, and it’s healthy to talk about the controversy rather than to censor it.’

People at Katz’s recent lectures have been energized but also scared, Katz said.

‘They’re scared because there’s a real danger in this country,’ he said. ‘We could see a continuation of the status quo in which – let’s face it – international banking is more progressive than American museums.’

Katz said this is not the first time artistic expression regarding gays and lesbians has been censored. He recalled the 1989 Corcoran Gallery of Art censorship of gay artist Robert Mapplethorpe and said the current controversy is similar to that incident.

Jeff Hoone, executive director of the Museum and Arts Center, which runs Light Work, echoed Katz’s concern for free speech.

‘We joined the protest and dialogue right away because we’re very concerned about the issues of freedom of speech and discrimination,’ Hoone said. ‘Talking about the controversy is an important thing for us.’

Gay and lesbian artists are traditionally overlooked in art history, Hoone said, and the lecture will give the community a chance to look at how to move forward from here. The support of the LGBT Resource Center and Hendricks has been instrumental in coordinating the lecture, he said.

‘This is an important national issue,’ Hoone said, ‘and having an expert come to campus to talk about free speech and gay rights is timely and relevant to SU.’

ertocci@syr.edu

 

Published on February 6, 2011 at 12:00 pm