The Current controversy surrounding Dana Schutz’s painting The Open Casket, which is currently on display in this year’s Whitney Biennial, is an excellent opportunity to respond to, and discuss the issues regarding race in the United States. Dana Schutz’s painting depicts a scene inspired by the funeral service of Emmett Till, a man killed by lynching during the Civil Rights Movement. Shortly after the show opened, British Black artist Hannah Black wrote an open letter demanding the removal and destruction of Schutz’s work given that Schutz, a white woman, was co-opting an image of violence against a Black man in her work. Schutz and the Whitney museum have resisted said call, with Schutz arguing that the work was her attempt to show empathy with Mamie Till over the loss of her child and that the work was never meant to be sold.
The issues regarding Dana Schutz’s painting The Open Casket is completely infuriating when you think about it in regard to a person right to free speech and freedom of expression. It is being argued that Schutz does not have the right to respond to this horrific incident simply because Schutz is a white woman. Race should not, and does not make anyone ineligible to express their emotions on any event or topic. Race is simply a characteristic of a human being that can provide a differing perspective than someone of another race. Hannah Black, in my opinion, is completely out of line for saying that Schutz is adopting an image of violence against a black man in her work. The painting in no way supports the events of Emmett Till or glorifies the violence he endured. Schutz, as an artist, and as a human being, as every right to respond to the event regardless of the color of her skin.
The work should definitely be included in the exhibition, as it provides a perspective on an event that progressively changed the United States during the Civil Rights Movement. Yes, what happened to Emmett Till was horrible, and people have a right to respond to the events in the way they wish to. I am a strong proponent against censorship and do not believe that any work should be censored unless its subject matter creates an immediate danger to someone. The Open Casket does not create harm, nor is it glorifying a violent event in the sense that it is offensive or promoting harm towards black people. It should not be censored, simply because Black people do not believe a White woman has the right to comment on a historical event. It does not matter that the event was violence against a black man; white people still have every right to have emotions and respond to the event because it affected United States history, not just the lives of Black people. In addition, since the work does not promote violence against Black people, it should not be destroyed. Hannah Black is completely out of line and is being discriminatory towards Schutz.
I see nothing wrong with Schutz’s work and I am glad it is displayed in the Whitney so that a variety of perspectives are showcased within the exhibition. The piece was not about race at all, it was about responding to a historical event and connection emotionally to the mother of the deceased. Every person has the right to emotionally respond, or comment on something that happens around him or her. Race does not disqualify anyone from the ability to speak their minds.
To bring this issue to a broader context, an Islamic person has every right to create an artwork in response to the terrorist attacks on 9/11. A straight person has every right to create and artwork or respond to violence against gay people. It does not matter where you come from, what your race is, or your background, you are allowed to have a voice. Unfortunately, there are people who will not like what you say and will attack your work on the basis of their own beliefs. Despite this, I view race and culture as an element of one’s opinion that allows them to share their unique perspective and experience. Everyone will have a unique perspective worth sharing because no one’s background is the same. Rather than break people down, and telling them that their opinion is invalid because of their race or background, people should be celebrating their unique perspective on the situation.
