Guidelines for Free Speech and Creative Freedom in Wartime

Solidarity, Creativity, and Rules of Discursive Conduct: Q&A

• How can free speech and creative freedom be maintained in this time of crisis?

  To exercise freedom of expression to create and ensure an academic environment that facilitates the professional and personal development of all its members, we must act both together and individually to ensure that all our members f‍eel safeguarded and safe. On the one hand, we must develop the ability to contain a complex reality with divergent views, as unsettling and unpleasant as these may be, and on the other hand we must denounce every expression of violence, threat and persecution. Each one of us has the responsibility and ability to contribute to such an environment.

• What are the dos and don’ts of free speech?

  Free speech is the cornerstone of every democracy. It is an essential condition for creativity, expression and academic and artistic work. Free speech applies to both conventional and unconventional opinions, to congenial exchanges as well as harsh criticism, to the pleasant and obvious and to the irritating and infuriating, to verbal, visual and performative expressions. Having said that, note that free speech is not absolute, and that in rare and extreme cases it is weighed down by other values, particularly when the expression in question constitutes a real and immediate threat to an individual or a community.

  Do:

  Express a political view.

  Express one’s individual identity, among other things using national, religious, or cultural narratives, symbols and representations.

  Identify and empathize with the suffering of innocent people, Israelis, Palestinians, or others.

  Don’t:

  Express support for the injuring and killing of innocent civilians, as in the October 7 massacre. Such expressions represent a severe offense to the dignity of each of the community members, and is forbidden by law.

  Act violently, including verbal violence.

  Call for or incite to violence – it is forbidden to threaten any person or call for damage to the life and property of individuals or collectives.

  Express support for a terrorist organization.

  Express racism and/or incite to racism. Avoid all generalizations that attribute negative qualities or inappropriate acts to individuals based on collective characteristics such as religion, nationality, or gender, and do not call for action against people based on such collective characteristics.

• Is it OK to express political opinions in Bezalel?

  Yes! Academic space is essentially one of asking questions and examining ideas. This is why it must be as free as possible. In an academy of arts and design that strives for innovative and even norm challenging work, broad and profound thinking, and a discourse capable of containing complexity, diverse expressions and ideas must be enabled. The law allows faculty members, students and management to express their personal opinions and discuss politics. Moreover, contents and discussions relevant to Israel’s socio-political reality are of academic value and are sometimes essential in the academic context. In environments where learning takes place in the presence of a faculty member, the decision whether to discuss political issues is subject to their discretion.

• How should I express myself freely and responsibly in Bezalel?

  We all have the right to express our thoughts and feelings honestly and directly, so long as we do so within the boundaries set forth by Israeli law. Spaces of expression include all spaces of learning and creation at Bezalel: classrooms, studios, and campus workshops, as well as digital spaces, WhatsApp groups and social media.

  At the same time, we must be aware that in periods of escalation and tension, there is a tendency to converge into one’s original ingroup, to radicalize one’s views, ignore nuances, and have difficulty empathizing. We must therefore be mindful of the way our messages may be interpreted in various contexts, in various spaces and with different identities, and be prepared to provide explanations as required.

  In particular, the nature of communication in WhatsApp groups and social media tends to radicalize statements and foment disagreements and conflicts whilst that it is liable to lead to harsh and even illegal expressions. In certain cases, attacking a person verbally in social media may even place their lives in danger. We must be aware of these pitfalls when posting and sharing views and comments, and express ourselves in our name rather than under the guise of anonymity, thereby taking responsibility for our words.

• How to interpret controversial expressions and performances?

  The learning outcomes and artwork produced in Bezalel, as well as its teaching processes, encompass a wide range of verbal, visual, and performative forms of expression. These include complex, multilayered and sometimes challenging content. The encounter with the diverse learning outcomes in academia invites a broad range of comments and interpretations, according to the various contexts and the spaces where these expressive artwork and performances have been developed and presented. Accordingly, sometimes, artwork, statements and expressions can make some people feel unpleasant and even be interpreted as violent and threatening.

  While recognizing the fact that messages may be interpreted in different ways and indifferent contexts, we must assume that others fundamentally mean well, and that they do not deliberately intend to harm us. Whenever we feel discomfort or threat, or encounter what we believe is a call to violence, we must talk with the creator of the expression, share with them, the way we interpret their messages, and listen to their explanations.

• How to respond to an expression that undermines our sense of security?

  At this time of crisis, verbal, visual, and performative expressions can undermine our sense of safety. When we feel a certain act or expression threatens our safety, we should respond level headedly and factually, and address the explicit content of the claims and messages, as much as we may find them difficult to accept. We should try and understand the intent, context and background of the expression. If it is possible to address the creator of the expression directly, we should seek clarification. If this does not assuage our sense of threat, we should contact the Dean of Student and/or the relevant Department Head and file a complaint. The latter will refer the complaint to Bezalel’s professional academic team who’s responsible for the clarification of complaints on suspected support for terrorism, racism or violence. In any case, it is forbidden to threaten violence or act violently against another member of the community, even if you find that they have expressed themselves illegitimately. Shaming, vilification, incitement and excommunication are violent, illegitimate acts themselves.