Michael,

You're absolutely right about the motivations behind this exhibit, and I am as disgusted as you are with these people and their cause. It's probably a distraction for us to be debating what art is and isn't here, as this topic has been kicked around for ages and to my knowledge there is not a satisfactory answer. The apparent aim of Tom's original post was to point out the lunacy of the exhibit, and my reply probably got us a bit off track.

The basic point is this: The content of a piece of art cannot disqualify it as art, no matter how offensive and ill intentioned it may be. There is a famous quote regarding art who's author's name escapes me that goes like this: "There is no such thing as bad content, only bad form. This explains the place of form in art." I believe this applies here.

The rise of antisemitism in Europe is indeed frightening, and should be opposed at every opportunity. But what would we all say if a gallery in New York denied the display of artwork glorifying the creation of Israel on the basis that it was too offensive and ill intentioned to be considered art?