from www.examiner.com – Bumbershoot, the huge music and arts festival rolls into Seattle over Labor Day weekend. The event gives Liberal Seattle-ites a broad spectrum of entertainment choices. At least one event might make one wonder just how far the arts establishment will go to be “transgressive” and “shocking.”
Attendees can choose from numerous mediums and genres including music, comedy, film, dance, theater, visual and literary arts. There are over 120 different musical performances including Sheryl Crowe and the Black Eyed Peas. There are 18 literary events, 15 visual arts events, 36 comedy events, 9 dance and performance art pieces, 25 films, and 12 theater performances. This tally does not count what is happening in the Market or events wedged into the “Spectacle” category.
The festival might have something for everyone, including porn aficionados.
Among the literary events is artist Zak Smith,[pictured] who stars in adult films when he isn’t making art inspired by adult films Mr. Smith is promoting “[h]is latest book, We Did Porn.” This work “follows Smith from the New York art scene to Los Angeles’s seedy world of alt porn. Through memoir and drawings, Smith narrates his foray into pornography and gives his readers a new understanding of the industry.”
The Left embraces a sexually libertine ethic, where the good is that which satisfies one’s immediate desires. This leads to embracing art that is increasingly exhibitionist in nature. Lynne Munson, discussing her book Exhibitionism: Art in an Era of Intolerance, noted that today’s art world is saturated with “exhibitionists, baiting public sensibility in order to call attention to themselves.” This is so prevalent throughout universities, museums, and the media that “[t]hese ‘shock’ artists are actually the new academy.”
While sex for entertainment is embraced among avante garde Seattle-ites, smoking is not. While smoking is allowed on Seattle Center grounds, it is strictly controlled and limited to the furthest extent of the law. “Washington State law (RCW 70.160) prohibits smoking in all public indoor places, all workplaces, near all doorways, windows and air ventilation systems associated with any public building.” This means that if you are in a theater, standing near a door or vent, or are in the Beer Garden it is No Smoking for you. Furthermore, if you’re a smoker attending Bumbershoot and wander the grounds with your cigarette, the staff asks, “that you try and be courteous of fellow Festival attendees” with your filthy disgusting smoking habit.
Apparently, there is nothing discourteous about promoting pornography in an environment were children are present. At Bumbershoot, “[a]ll performance venues and exhibition areas are ‘all-ages.’” The event’s website does caution parents and guardians to “use their own discretion” as to what programming is deemed suitable for the little ones. If only Bumbershoot had used some discretion before extending an invitation to a self-proclaimed “punk” porn star. Unfortunately, one cannot expect an exhibitionist-devouring leopard to change its spots.