(strong)AR: Political Comments/strong and gt

It takes alot of courage on top of my 6 pack abs for me to place a Daily Deviation for a political or military artwork here on deviantART. In February, a Daily Deviation (or DD, in short) of Hilary Clinton was awarded. Anti-Clintons were quick to bash the work up. A month later, to ensure that we deviants and Gallery Directors do not take sides, another piece of Barrack Obama was up. The same trend happened. Even any military journalism piece being awarded a DD also fell victim. On rare occasions, a few religious-based DD were also flamed and trolled.

Why is that?

While there's still new DDs that feature either subgenre that's being placed up, and even a bolded text asking you guys to refrain from giving malicious comments (Example: Please refrain from placing your personal political views in your comments), it's never a walk in the park to make everyone happy. Yes, some refrained. Others sent a note to the suggester, artist, or even to me, asking if there's ever such a "ban" or directive in place that disallows user to give their political two cents into the artworks.

Why is that again?

That last question comes in two tiers. One is asked by me. Why is this happening? And another one comes from you, asking me why I am enforcing this. No, it's not exactly an enforcement policy that disallows anybody to place such comments. For instance, the Hilary and Obama DD, received so much hate comments against the politician, it indirectly involved the artist as collateral damage. We chose artworks for DD solely on the merits that it is artistic, has the look and feel that makes us relate, and in the cases of Photojournalism works.. something that I see can be placed in a newspaper, magazine, blog, etc. Standing in the point of view of the said artist who posted such artwork, it's an opportunity worth taking that may or may not happen again in the future in front of you. In the point of view of the flamers however, I don't see the point or reason to why such works should be bashed up.

Yes, there's definitely gonna be leftist, rightist, republicans, democrats, etc etc who would be out there supporting their own common cause and causalities. But here on deviantART, I have no political affiliation with anybody especially between the donkey and the elephant because I am Asian, which is proly for the best to have a non-American being a Photojournalism GD. I do not take sides. I do not judge (except for contests). I do not stereotype (as I'm already being stereotyped enough). I do not criticize. I am an artist. I respect fellow artists. I expect others to respect their fellow brothers and sisters behind the lens.

So please, keep your political views in forums, and keep away from straying such comments into artworks. "Advance Critique Encouraged" does not mean criticizing the politics behind the picture, but rather the composition, the tonality, the texture, the lighting, the typical stuffs you'd write about some beautiful flower, conceptual stuffs, or even street photos. And even though the artist him/herself has the rights to Hide your comment, taking it personally and bash up all those who supported such photograph isn't only mean, it's childish. Be mature. Be devious. This is deviantART. This is not deviantSPACE.

For more information on Photojournalism on deviantART, click here: AR: Photojourna-wut..?

For information related to this article:
FAQ #873: What do I do when I disapprove of a Daily Deviation feature?


Please read: AR: Your Miscat Reports.


Note me with "DD suggestion" in the subject line
Post the note with the :thumbxxxxxxx: code
Include your reasons if possible
FEEL FREE to suggest yourself!
No restrictions
While all suggestions are looked at and considered, not all suggestions will make it as a DD
Suggester will be notified if the DD is selected via Note.
Keep the Suggestions coming!!

What's in today's Daily Deviation? Check it out Here!


Here's more inspiring links for you to check out:
The Press Photographer's Year
Pictures of the Year International
Getty Images' Orchard Photographers
Pulitzer Prize for Photography


Add me: www.facebook.com/people/Evange…