Activity Sheet 1

PHILO 23: Ethics

Name: Christine Cabrejas Date: June 5, 2021
Course and Year: BS Psychology – 2 Section: YN
Note: Number of pages depend on the substance of your answer.
A. Imagine a scenario in which an image of someone who is the object of religious
devotion (such as Jesus Christ or Mary, the Mother of Jesus) is placed side by side with a
phallic image.
1. Is this an ethical issue? Why or why not? (Write your answer directly below this question.)
Placing a phallic image beside a religious figure would be considered an ethical issue as
a number of ethical questions can be raised with regards to the meaning behind its features
as well as its representational content and it also builds conflict with the religious sector.
Indeed, it may elicit disgust or offense from the viewers especially if they are devout Catholic
members because it would appear that the image of God or Mary is being mocked and
disrespected. For them, God is conceived as a supreme being and a principal object of faith
so such exhibit would not only make them question the intent behind the act but it would
drive them to condemn the individual responsible for displaying it. An assertion that there are
boundaries to creative freedom would then surface and from their viewpoint, the artist
seemed to have crossed the line. As a result, the person would inevitably face the
consequences of one’s actions. It may be unethical for some but it is imperative to consider
that people from the art sectors as well as art enthusiasts may think otherwise. As opposed
to the religious masses, they would not perceive it as unethical but rather, a form of
expression. After all, art has its diverse set of styles and genres, and artists are not obliged to
set a good example for the entire world. Despite this, it is clear that the scenario would
definitely be presented as an ethical issue.
2. Does the question of the rightness or wrongness of this depend on which religion you
belong to? Explain your answer. (Answer directly below the question).
Yes, the rightness or wrongness of the aforementioned scenario would certainly depend
on which religion one would belong to. Since religion is so diverse, what is deemed acceptable
and unacceptable to one religious group may not necessarily apply to others. Religions may
differ in terms of the set of beliefs and rules which the people abide to. However, as a Catholic,
there is no denying that I’d perceive such act as inappropriate because I have personally seen
how others take extreme care to images, statues, figurines and other religious items and hold
them with utmost importance. For most, God is divine and sacred so placing a phallic image
near a religious image is expected to spark dissent and criticisms from the Catholic members.

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PHILO 23: Ethics
B. Look for another example of an artistic creation – a painting, poem, or song – that is a
source of either actual or potential conflict between the expression of the artist and a
sensibility that finds this offensive. Present the significant details and the reasons that the
conflicting sides might have on this issue. (Answer directly below this prompt.)

“Untitled #1”
I. Context
The painting, Untitled #1 by David Pulphus, a former Missouri high school student,
illustrates a street protest inspired by the unrest that took place in Ferguson on August 9,
2014. In May 2016, it was officially awarded during the annual art competition sponsored by
representative Clay (MO-D) and was selected to hang in the tunnel between the U.S. Capitol
and the Cannon Office Building alongside 400 other winning art competition entries (DeBonis,
2017). The civil unrest in Ferguson eventuated when a white police officer brutally shot an
unarmed black teenager named Michael Brown who had just graduated high school (Romain,
2017). The powerful work of art by Pulphus depicted police officers with animalistic features
of a pig or warthog pointing guns at protestors with distinct symbolic features on the
background. A group of people who are predominantly black and brown can be seen parading
through the crowded street at the center of the composition. There is also a marcher on the
front that is seen bearing a sign that says “history.” Several other signs are also evident in
Pulphus’s painting, one of which says “Stop Killing,” and another “Racism Kills.” On the upper
right, a man wearing a graduation cap is being crucified and each of his hands is holding a
platform on chains so it would appear that his body becomes a symbol of justice. A man
peeking through prison bars can also be observed at the back. The image itself delivers a
strong message to its audience but like every other good art, Pulphus’s artwork raised many
questions. The painting eventually sparked a controversy across the district and became the
subject of angst due to its portrayal of “beast-like” police officers.
II. Conflict
The artwork had been in the exhibit for nearly seven months until a group of
conservative news outlets took notice and decided to report it, resulting in a number of
complaints from lawmakers and police unions accusing the features of the painting to be

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Activity Sheet 1
PHILO 23: Ethics
"anti-police." With this, some members of Republican lawmakers, backed by law enforcement
advocates, engaged in an increasingly aggressive public clash with members of the
Congressional Black Caucus (Davis, 2017). The former took offense on the painting to which
House Speaker Paul D. Ryan described as “disgusting and not befitting the Capitol.” The
painting had been taken down by four different Republican members on three separate
occasions and dropped off at Clay’s office but Clay managed to put it back to its original place
every time. The St. Louis County Police Association advised Clay to take away the artwork but
refuted that the painting would stay in the tunnel as an expression of free speech stating “The
U.S. Capitol is a symbol of freedom, not censorship. The young artist chose his own subject
and the painting will not be removed” (Romain, 2017). Furthermore, the Los Angeles Police
Protective League, the Sergeants Benevolent Association of New York, and the San Francisco,
Oakland, and San Jose Police Officers Association, signed a letter to House Speaker Paul D.
Ryan stating that the painting is extremely disrespectful and reinforces a false narrative that
law enforcement professionals pose a danger to the very communities they serve and paints
them on a bad light. To summarize, the lawmakers and police unions urged the removal of
the painting due to its content as it made them feel attacked and disrespected. While some
may find Pulphus’s painting as a wake-up call to the inequalities of society, sectors of the
police and lawmakers were convinced the painting was inappropriate and repugnant.

References:

- Davis (2017). Student Painting Depicting Cops As Animals Sparks Tensions On Capitol
Hill. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2017/01/10/509168850/student-painting-
depicting-cops-as-animals-sparks-tensions-on-capitol-hill on June 5, 2021

- DeBonis (2017). Cops didn’t like a student painting hanging in the U.S. Capitol. So a
congressman took it down. Retrieved from:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2017/01/06/cops-didnt-
like-a-student-painting-hanging-in-the-u-s-capitol-so-a-congressman-took-it-down/
on June 5, 2021.

- Romain (2017). A Student Painting Depicting Cops as Animals Was Removed From the
Capitol. Retrieved from: https://www.teenvogue.com/story/a-student-painting-
depicting-cops-as-animals-was-removed-from-the-capitol on June 5, 2021.

AMDG +

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