When people are offended by your controversial art...

Take Botero. He's a man widely known for his stylish paintings and sculptures. The above painting is from his series on the Abu Ghraib.

As long as you know why you're doing it, you can't let the critics get in the way. Stay true to yourself and to your muse. You'll be a better artist for it.

(BTW, Botero hasn't received a penny for his work on Abu Ghraib.)

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If your art is controversial it will offend someone. It's pretty much in the definition. Lots of art that is now considered standards were controversial back in their day (i.e. Manet's "Olympia" and the ballet images by Degas). You should take it as a compliment. Your art should be about whatever is in your heart, be it flowers or domestic abuse or belly button lint. If people are talking aout it you are probably on the right track.

A friend of mine told me "My sister was abused while pregnant and I don't enjoy seeing that as a joke."

My response:

"I'm definitely sorry you felt that way but I wasn't really meaning for any of that to be humorous. I didn't really get to say this at brunch but what I was intending for that scene to do is more because it does hit people personally.

I put scenes like that into my films because they really kind of make viewers assess their viewing of the film in question. Some do laugh when they see him get out the blender. A lot of others cringe. Still others don't know what to think. Something like that really hits people on a gut level and makes the film more personal for them. And you don't have to go for an easy shock like having him bring out the blender at all in every (or any) film you make.

I am sorry that you felt that I was going for a cheap and easy laugh with that because that certainly wasn't my intention at all. I think a lot of really horrible violence in films nowadays is just kind of shrugged off with the whole "it's all a joke!" defense, you know? "Sure it's horribly violent and grotesque and disgusting but it's all for the sake of a joke!" That's not what I was intending with this movie at all. I was trying to capture the mindset of a man with no confidence in himself, no confidence in his ability to raise a child, no confidence in his ability to be a loving husband to the point where he fantasizes about murdering his wife and child in this horrible horrible fashion. I didn't completely succeed, I think, but I'm glad I tried to handle difficult subject matter in this fashion.

I'm glad we made amends and I'm sorry this film gave you such a bad feeling. "

Steal a page from George Burns and reply to criticism with:

"I'm so sorry- perhaps you'd like to **** my sister, Trixie?"

I'm not even sure you had to apologize, Cruel.....

Nitsua.....that is only one small part of Botero's work. He is a God......at least we can agree on something

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"(BTW, Botero hasn't received a penny for his work on Abu Ghraib.)"

They are not for sale.

I have to go out now, but when I get home I'd like to start a thread about Botero's Abu Ghraib work. We discussed it briefly a while ago, but I'd like to hear more opinions.

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"Hence why he hasn't made any money."

Let's not forget that many artists are commissioned to do their work for an institution or other venue. Hence they make money that way and not from sales!

I plan to start a thread in a little while. I just got in.

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