"Art, Ethics and Responsibility: An Intriguing Case of Guillermo Vargas's Exhibit"

In 2007, an artist named Guillermo Vargas showcased an exhibition where he tied a dog, Natividad, to a wall while displaying the phrase "You are what you read" and playing the Sandinista anthem in reverse. The fate of the dog was controversial, leading to an ethical quandary regarding the role of the artist and the audience.

Artist vs Audience Responsibility

Vargas argued the responsibility was on the audience for not taking action to feed or free Natividad. This poses the question, who is more responsible: the artist for creating a potentially harmful situation, or the audience for not intervening?

Real-world example: Imagine a film director creates a highly disturbing movie with a violent scene. If viewers watch it and don't express concern or demand change, who's more responsible: the director for creating the scene, or the viewers for not protesting?

The Truth's Ambiguity

Reports varied on Natividad's fate. Some claimed it died, while others, like the gallery's director, said it was well treated and released. The truth here is unclear, which adds another layer of complexity to this ethical dilemma.

Real-world example: You might hear different versions of a story from different friends. Whose account do you trust? How do you determine what really happened?