As we consider the world we live in to be modern times, I am amazed that art can be considered such a threat to society, Russian society in this case, that artists are now being sent to trail and possibly prosecuted for their work.

The following link will explain: 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/09/world/europe/09iht-russia.html?_r=1

This is a very serious situation for the arts.  Once again artists are persecuted for their art due to the biased opinions and in most cases incorrect interpretations of their work. 

There are a lot of ugly pieces of art which I am affended by, but that is my opinion.  Which is what makes art ART.  Art is supposed to make you think, ignite emotion, create wonder.  If everyone was comfortable with all art what fun would that be?  And how boring our world would become.   

In an age where an artist can be given a one way ticket out of China for showing an image of the Dali Lama in one of his paintings and two Russian artists are on trial and possibly jailed for their paintings which evoke negative religious images according to the church, makes me wonder if we haven't forgotten that we are supposed to be living in modern times.  I realize that I'm talking about Russian and Chinese governments here, but could this be coming our way? 

I say beware!  And rebel against this type of suppression.  When the government gets involved in religous interpretations of art, everyone is at risk, not just the artists.