Everyones A Critic

Last week, South Park, an animated film about censorship, opened while protesters outside the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art demanded the museum pull the plug on a Vietnamese art exhibit they charge is pro-communist.

Do you see where we're going with this?

Huyen Nguyen Age: 72 Occupation: volunteer at the Vietnamese Community of Southern California Residence: Garden Grove Interviewed: outside Bowers Museum Have you seen the exhibit? No, but from these paintings here [gestures to the five prints on display by protesters], I believe that under the Communist Party, the artist would not be allowed to make his masterpiece. Do you think there are some types of art that shouldn't be publicly shown? With other people who have not suffered under the Communist Party, I would not expect them to understand, but I've suffered, and now I've enjoyed the freedom that those in Vietnam have not. Those five pictures should not be shown. What was the last art exhibit you viewed? I had a chance to see an exhibit of free Vietnamese activist painters about a year ago here in Orange County. I don't remember the name of the gallery. Have you seen South Park?No. James Bachelor Age: 49 Occupation: masonry contractor Residence: Huntington Beach Interviewed: outside South ParkWhat did you think of South Park? I thought it was pretty good. It was really for the kids, but I'm here with them, so that's okay. It's definitely a parental-guidance thing. Do you think there are some types of art that shouldn't be publicly shown? No. What's your favorite movie? I don't know. The kids like Adam Sandler. How do you feel about the protest going on outside the Bowers Museum? I believe in freedom of speech and freedom of the press. Voice your own opinion within the law. Trung Nguyen Age: 58 Occupation: technician Residence: Huntington Beach Interviewed: outside Bowers Museum Have you seen the exhibit? No. The paintings out here I've seen. They've manipulated the religion with the Buddha and the rats. Some say that Buddha is friendly with all animals, but why are they only showing rats? Do you think there are some types of art that shouldn't be publicly shown? The Communists are promoting themselves with propaganda. What was the last art exhibit you viewed? I went to the LA Museum of Art. My favorite painters are Rembrandt and the Impressionists. Have you seen the movie South Park? No. John Duran Age: 16 Occupation: movie-theater usher Residence: Santa Ana Interviewed: outside South ParkWhat did you think of South Park? It's pretty good. Funny. Do you think there are some types of art that shouldn't be publicly shown? Art should never be restricted. The human mind should have no limits. What's your favorite movie? Besides South Park? Austin Powers. You mean in general? Something with a lot of action, like The Rock. How do you feel about the protest going on outside the Bowers Museum regarding Communist North Vietnamese art?If they want to live in the U.S., they'll have to recognize freedom of speech. If you start putting restrictions on what people can do, you start falling into communism and crap. Orwellian stuff. It sucks. Forest Slemmons Age: 45 Occupation: raises sterile fruit flies for the state Residence: Garden Grove Interviewed: outside Bowers Museum Have you seen the exhibit? No. From what I've seen out here—except for the picture of the lady—there's not much to see. [The artists] are trying to discredit the Asian culture. My daughter's half-Vietnamese. Do you think there are some types of art that shouldn't be publicly shown? [laughs] If it's badly painted, they should be ashamed of it. And I don't like my daughter's culture being discredited. The Asian people are very hard-working. What was the last art exhibit you viewed?I don't get into art that much. Have you seen the movie South Park? I've never heard of it. I've seen The Killing Fields.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *