'Trigger Warnings' for 19th Century Art? - Boson Museum of Find Art Features William Blake (Arts Boson) 2 Oct 2019

In Boson's only 'fine art' museum, has reportedly found it necessary to warn visitors about a newly opened exhibition of copies of prints by William Blake.  

“The art of William Blake contains strong and sometimes challenging imagery, including some depictions of violence and suffering,” the warning says. The placard advises distressed art lovers to seek out museum staff if they require further explanations .

The museum regularly 'mirrors' the world renowned Tate Museum in London by displaying high quality copies of whatever the Tate Museum is featuring.  

Museum curator Hugh Tate, who is from the UK and claims his cousin works at The Tate, said that museum goers can't tell the difference between a very expensive original graphic art work, and an accurate copy commissioned by the Museum of Find Art.  "So, why pay all the money for the original?" Hugh Tate said.  

"If a painting is going to 'change your life,' a faithful copy of the work can do the same thing.  The insurance is a lot cheaper, in fact, we don't even insure our copies of our works of art.  We help local artist, too.  We have most of our works done by Mary Sue Welsh."  

Mary Sue Welsh is a noted local artist who Mayor Welsh's niece.  Her works can be see on the walls of Boson's Orwell International Airport, and the Poorchester Greyhound Bus Terminal.  

The 'trigger warnings' were added after Liberal Democrat City Council President Ema Strickland objected to the 'shocking' nature of the William Blake print copies.  

Images on spread on social media like Twitter, Pinterest, and Deviant Art show a cautionary message that greets those who are brave enough to survey the 300 copies of the London Tate's original prints and paintings by William Blake, described as the largest collection of the British artists work in 20 years.  

 .

The best commercial for an exhibition ever. 😜 pic.twitter.com/CYtkSoCdFH

— Rembrandt's Room 🖌 (@RembrandtsRoom) September 12, 2019

The warning, it seems, did not sit well with those who came to see some priceless art – and not be treated as if they were victims of 'sight crime' for looking at forbidden images.

“Suffer, snowflakes, MELT!” wrote one miffed Blake fan. “Great art is free to shock. May such beautiful lines and gorgeous hues ever be the greatest of your worries.”




An equally peeved netizen expressed amazement that there are actually people who are so fragile that they require content warnings at art museums.

"Are we really so surrounded by snowflakes and wilting lilies who take offense at everything that such labels are necessary in art museums for artists like William Blake?"

 Councilor Ema Strickland pointed out that the print that displayed a naked man with his legs spread was obviously encouraging 'rape culture.'


"No one wants to see a man's penis when they go to an fine art museum," a visibly angry Councilor Strickland said.  "What were the museums curators thinking when they organized this show? Saying that they were simply copying the London Tate museum is not good enough.  What are they going to do next?  Copy some perverted French museum like the Louvre.  We don't need that in Boson, we don't need that in American." 

The Museum of Find Art's bizarre hand-holding even caught the attention of art critics. One review of the exhibition noted that the museum “thought it necessary to warn us that one vitrine contains an image of ‘the brutal treatment of an enslaved person.’”


At this rate, one might expect similar cautionary messages to accompany paintings of famous battles. After all, who will shield us from the horrors of canvas-based violence?

The urge to safeguard grown adults from content that might not be suitable for elementary school students has a long and proud history.


Some of the first English colonist to Massachusetts were austere Protestants who were called Puritans.  The Massachusetts Puritans once had separate Religious Police who went through colonial towns looking for sinful activity like singing in taverns, or celebrating Christmas.  No artwork remotely like William Blake's was tolerated by Massachusetts Bay Colony Puritans.  But, the town of Boson was founded by a more free-thinking group of settlers like Higginson Boson who helped set up the nearby 'free love' community of Merry Mount which tolerated all kinds of freedom and welcomed the Native American Indians into their commune.

Boson, Massachusetts has roots in both traditions, so the struggle for freedom of expression continues daily.

 If you have crayons and scrap paper you can sit on Boson Common and draw what you like - unless Ema Strickland and her ilk see what you are doing.  The price of freedom is eternal vigilance, and sometimes crayons and scrap paper.

(CAUTION - The ART of William Blake - (23:44 min)  - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAYI27bbzAU)

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