Defanging the Cobra

     Fuck obscenity. I’m not saying to lay off obscenity. I’m simply mocking the notion that art can be obscene. The idea of self-censorship is preposterous. If your art has to get a little “vulgar,” then so be it. That’s how the art was meant to be. Sometimes art is unsettling, unnerving or downright appalling. A lot of critics will say there’s no need for art like this to exist. I respectfully disagree with those critics.

     Granted, there are times when some people make “shock art.” Typically, this is just a ploy for easy press and free attention. It’s not art for the sake of art. It’s rarely insightful or poignant. But, it is a fairly simple process to get something intentionally vulgar seen.

     For the more traditional artist, nothing is taboo. Therefore, vulgarity is impossible. The reason why is obvious: art is a representation of reality. If art is vulgar, then reality must be vulgar. That being true, art will not be perceived as offensive by the society that spawns it. Does that make sense?

     If you’re worried that you may be pushing the envelope, don’t worry. That sentiment is entirely natural. Sometimes you will find yourself skimming the line between poor taste and insightful social commentary. That’s merely a byproduct of the process. You’re going to have doubts sometimes. Inevitably, you’re going to wonder if you’ll upset anyone with some off-color words or ideas.

     When you’re really stumped on what to do, go to sleep and look at in the morning. Sometimes it’ll look better the second time around. Maybe it’s just such a strong statement that it does bring a lot of emotion out of the reader. Isn’t that part of why you write? Shouldn’t your writing be provocative?

     Some people say that the use of curse words is a sign of ignorance. Those people give words far more weight than they bear. However, there are some occasions where cursing is obnoxious. If you overdo it, then the words lose any teeth they may have had. And if your characters do nothing but swear, they’ll come off as unbelievably ignorant and flat. There cannot be any sense of dynamism when your character is running at full the whole time. No one is that high strung. It makes for a boring read. Shouldn’t your writing be provocative?

     Make it as provocative as you can. But, remember, don’t go overboard!