Sober Philosophy: Boiled Angels (Joe Presents)

Mike Diana was the first person criminally convicted for artistic obscenity in the US, in 1994 in Florida, for a series of underground comics called Boiled Angel.

While the comics contained grotesque themes and imagery and may have offended some in the community, normally works of creative expression are not censored and artists are not punished criminally. The First Amendment to the US Constitution provides for freedom of expression. Although some types of expression, including indecency or obscenity, are not constitutionally protected, courts have long held that works with artistic, literary, scientific, or political value cannot be legally declared obscene, however offensive.

Where do we draw the line between artistic or political expression and purely prurient works that widely offend the public and lack any redeeming value?

Or should we not censor or punish any writings or artworks merely because many people find them offensive?

Isn't art meant to be provocative? Isn't much of mainstream culture (videogames, Internet sites, movies, TV, song lyrics, etc.) filled with sex and violence?

Is exposure to horrific images cathartic and a healthy outlet for our id impulses (as Aristotle claims), or does constant exposure to such material desensitize us and lead to crime and antisocial behavior?

2-minute YouTube video:
https://g.co/kgs/FR3tKQG

Symptom-free (of potentially contagious disease) people with the capacity to listen considerately to diverse viewpoints are invited to attend after successfully RSVPing.

We begin the discussion at 7:30 pm sharp in the mezzanine of the Graduate Hotel. Feel free to come up to 30 minutes early and hang out with us beforehand. After you come down the stairs we may be in either the main room on your left or in the conference room around the corner on your right.

OPENING ROUNDTABLE FORMAT (ORF):

1. The topic presenter begins the discussion by explaining why they are interested in the topic and some introductory thoughts on it.
2. Each participant in turn going clockwise from the presenter describes their general thoughts on the topic.
3. If one is not ready to speak they can just say “pass” and the next person speaks.
4. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to comment.
5. Once everyone has given opening remarks or passed twice, Opening Roundtable is completed and the meeting shifts into its main format.

TIMED DIRECTION FORMAT (TDRF>5):
If there are more than 5 people present we will use the format below.

1. We will divide up the timed direction discussion time by the number of participants plus one (for a buffer). A timer will be set for this amount of time.
2. Each participant in turn will become a Discussion Director and lead the group discussion.
3. If one is not ready to direct they dimply say “pass” and the next person becomes the Discussion Director.
4. Anyone who arrives after step 1 (above), may participate but will not get a turn as Discussion Director.
5. The Discussion Director can make statements or ask questions, or interrupt or redirect the discussion at their discretion.
6. The discussion participants can state their own opinions only when asked by the Discussion Director, not Interrupt others and accede to the Discussion Director’s interruptions or redirections.
7. When the timer goes off the person speaking finishes their thought and then the next participant clockwise becomes the next Discussion Director.
8. After we've gone around once anyone who passed will get a second chance to direct.

At the end of the meeting, participants will have an opportunity to vote on the topic and format for the following meeting.