The B-Word Project: ‘Defiant Gardens’ in Wartime

Banned, Blacklisted and Boycotted: Censorship and the Response to It (The B-Word Project) is the first campus-wide initiative at CSULB, led by the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, to focus attention on one broad topic through innovative collaborations with professors, departments, organizations, and off-campus entities. It will stimulate wide-ranging discussions and activities that examine what happens when a voice—whether in artistic endeavors, journalism, scientific research or other areas—is stifled through governmental, commercial, or social restraints.

The B-Word Project activities include significant participation by the performing artists known as the NEA 4 (Tim Miller, Holly Hughes, John Fleck, and Karen Finley); a talk by former NEA chair Bill Ivey; many new course offerings; a reconstructed dance piece by Bill T. Jones performed by CSULB students; creation of new digital music by students under the guidance of Negativland and Girl Talk; a major visual art exhibit on the Peace Press; a substantial look at newly-restored censored murals by David Alfaro Siqueiros; a film series on the effects of the Hollywood Blacklist and FCC Decency/Obscenity Rules; a visiting artist series focusing on visual artists with informal meetings and lectures; a residency by Sweet Honey in the Rock with performances and workshops on the music of American slaves; a project on Japanese internment camps of WWII and the inmates’ creation of gardens as a response; among other events.

The CLASsiC Blog will cover all future events as part of the B-List Series. The first event held as part of the B-Word Project will be held on February 25 by the CSULB Japanese Garden.