I had the good fortune to see tap dance legend Savion Glover at the Mershon Auditorium last Tuesday night. Glover, aided by three other dancers and a small band, performed his original show, Improvoraphy II. The performance culminated with a piece called Stars and Stripes Forever. Not surprisingly, this title, combined with current events, sparked some thoughts about the relationship between democracy and artistic self-expression.

This has been quite a year for democracy. Between elections in Iraq and Ukraine, and a revolution in Kyrgyzstan, it would be impossible not to notice the extreme risks that some people are willing to take for the opportunity to live in a democratic nation. Glover’s work illustrates one of the most important tenants of democracy and why these people would struggle to achieve it: a belief in the importance of the individual and the right of all people to have a voice and form of self-expression.

Artistic censorship has long been a hallmark of dictators and oppressive regimes. Adolf Hitler was an adamant opponent of modern art. The German expressionist Emil Nolde enjoyed considerable fame and critical support before the rise of the Nazi party. However, Hitler’s official stance against modern art stripped German museums of Nolde’s work, and the painter was forced to work in secret during the Nazi regime.

In 2004, an art exhibition was held in the Dutch city of Rotterdam called The World According to Kim Jong Il. It was comprised of art generated by state- salaried artists in North Korea. Time magazine’s Judy Fayard reported that the pieces had been generated in state-owned studios and were done only in styles approved by the state. She quoted one of the museum’s advisers, professor Koen De Ceuster, as saying the art was “an image of what the regime is thinking about and what policies are being presented the people as priorities.” Art and self-expression are two unrelated things in North Korea, with the first being highly restricted and the second being highly illegal.

Oppressive regimes have good reason to be afraid of artistic self-expression. Art has the power to provoke, inspire, unite and innovate. Consequently, it thrives in democracy.

Madonna shocked the world with her performance of “Like a Virgin” at the 1984 MTV Video Music Awards. She pushed human sexuality into the public eye and sparked discussion about cultural norms and popular culture.

Keith Haring, the painter who began as a subway graffiti artist, covered an incredible scope of topics, ranging from racism and AIDS to simple expressions of human joy, and used his work to promote social change.

The emergence of hip-hop culture in the 1970s as a mix of music, dance and visual art gave a voice to urban youth. Over the past several decades it has created a constantly evolving artistic forum whose leaders and innovators, often despite humble beginnings, have influenced and continue to influence American culture at large.

This February in New York, Central Park was overtaken by a series of orange saffron gates. The latest installation of Christo and Jeanne-Claude, “The Gates” spawned public debate about its artistic merits. I can’t help but realize that while public art under Saddam Hussein consisted of perfunctory statues of the dictator, in our democracy it consists of controversial sheets of orange saffron and heated discussion.

This list could go on and on because democracy fuels artistic expression and exploration. Freedom of expression in turn encourages leadership, social action and public debate.

Next time you’re feeling patriotic, go see a Nolde masterpiece at the Columbus Museum of the Art (“Sunflowers in the Windstorm”). Take advantage of the discounted tickets to arts events from Explore Columbus, visit the Wexner Center for the Arts or enjoy a performance from the thriving Ohio State arts community. Write a poem, spend an afternoon sketching. Artistic self-expression is an integral component of our democracy, and we should take advantage of the opportunities that we have to benefit from it.

Laura Herbert is a sophomore in history and Spanish. She can be reached for comment at [email protected].