Overview
This book analyzes the broad range of Supreme Court cases that concern the protection of art and free speech under the First Amendment. Finding that debates about free expression (whether in speech or art) swirl around sex and cultural blasphemy, Randall P. Bezanson tracks and interprets the Court's decisions on film, nude dancing, music, painting, and other visual expressions. Showing how the Court has dealt with judgments of art, quality, meaning, and how to distinguish types of speech and expression, Bezanson explores issues as diverse as homosexuality in the Boy Scouts, gay and lesbian parade floats, 2 Live Crew's alleged copyright infringement, National Endowment for the Arts grants and diversity, dangerous art, and screenings of the film Carnal Knowledge. In considering the transformative meaning of art, the importance of community judgments, and the definition of speech in Court rulings, Bezanson focuses on the fundamental questions underlying the discussion of art as protected free speech: What are the boundaries of art? What are the limits on the government's role as supporter and ""patron"" of the arts? And what role, if any, may core social values of decency, respect, and equality play in limiting the production or distribution of art? Accessibly written and evocatively argued, Art and Freedom of Speech explores these questions and concludes with the argument that, for legal purposes, art should be absolutely free under the First Amendment--in fact, even more free than other forms of speech.
Full Product Details
Author: Randall P. Bezanson
Publisher: University of Illinois Press
Imprint: University of Illinois Press
Dimensions:
Width: 15.20cm
, Height: 2.50cm
, Length: 22.90cm
Weight: 0.626kg
ISBN: 9780252034435
ISBN 10: 0252034430
Pages: 328
Publication Date: 11 August 2009
Audience:
Professional and scholarly
,
Professional & Vocational
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Active
Availability: To order
Stock availability from the supplier is unknown. We will order it for you and ship this item to you once it is received by us.
Reviews
""Enormously stimulating and useful, this work reaches beyond legal theory to explore the role of art as a human product, its production, consumption, and meaning. Art and Freedom of Speech represents a brilliant mind at work--in a lovely, intellectually playful tone--on a very important human and political issue."" Linda R. Hirshman, author of Get to Work: ... And Get a Life, Before It's Too Late
Enormously stimulating and useful, this work reaches beyond legal theory to explore the role of art as a human product, its production, consumption, and meaning. Art and Freedom of Speech represents a brilliant mind at work--in a lovely, intellectually playful tone--on a very important human and political issue. Linda R. Hirshman, author of Get to Work: ... And Get a Life, Before It's Too Late
Bezanson writes in an accessible styles that engages even the uninformed reader and uses case studies to present a wide range of core issues and topics involving art and free speech... Highly recommended. --Choice
Author Information
Randall P. Bezanson was the David H. Vernon Professor of Law at the University of Iowa. He is the author of How Free Can Religion Be?;How Free Can the Press Be?; and many other books.
