A Word Of Caution

Art can be a touchy subject. Images, writings, and music that one person finds offensive may constitute another person's (the artist's, for example) burning vision, which they needs must express or they collapse in some melodramatic heap of ennui.

As a writer, I am way out there on the front lines in the battle to protect freedom of speech and expression. That does not, however, mean that there are not things certain artists choose to say or express that do not offend me. A case in point: I love to use Google's "image search" feature to scan the web for interesting images. When I find something that I like, I will often attempt to contact the artist and ask permission to use the image, either as a desktop background, or as an avatar on a writer's message board that I frequent.

I was searching through images related to a certain computer game that I enjoy when I came across a stunning piece of "fan art" related to the game in question. I contacted the artist, and was very pleased to receive his/her (the artist's pseudonym does not give me any indication of gender) reply indicating that I was more than welcome to use the image. I took a particular interest in this artist, mostly because I very rarely receive such a quick or generous response.

So, armed with my trusty Google, I began to do more research into the artist and his/her work. I'm glad that I did. It turns out that a portion of this artist's work involves the nude portrayal of what I would consider pre-teen girls. I will leave it for others more qualified than I to debate the issue of what is or is not appropriate in this area. I do not know where the legal lines are drawn—either in this country (America), or in the artist's country (not America)—between what is art, and what is exploitation. I draw my own lines on such subjects, and this artist's work went well beyond them. I decided that I was not comfortable using his/her "fan-art" images (of which there is nothing exploitative), or doing anything that would promote his/her work.

A word of caution, then. If you wish to use material that you find on the Internet, it is not enough that you contact the creator of the material and ask their permission (although you should certainly do that). Investigate further. Much further. If you don't, you risk inadvertently attaching yourself to, or promoting, the works and ideas of someone whose values, and vision, may be substantially different from your own.