The Shock Value of Art-Orlan

Orlan likes to go for the shock value of art. Her work encompasses many things that people would find shocking, especially conservative Americans. She uses her own body in her art in ways that many people might say is degrading and irreverent. I'm pretty sure the Catholic Church would not like her at all. She is expressing herself and her work definitely provokes a reaction in her audience. I think the one area of her work involving surgeries might be considered by many to be a little over a line between art and absurdity. Of course, it is fairly shocking to have surgery done as a work of performance art. But for her it's kind of just an extension of the use of her body in her art. Some though, would see it as a desperate cry for attention. If a person were to go sit on a street corner or other public place and proceed to hammer nails into their feet or saw off a toe it is very likely they would end up getting locked up for a psyche evaluation. If that same person were to do the same thing in a gallery with witnesses and a camera rolling and call it performance art, does that make it art? One might say that Orlan did not cut off any appendages but many would see the things she did have done as a mutilation of a type. It's all a matter of perspective which is influenced by ones own moral values and life experiences. I choose to believe that a person has a right to do what they want with their own body and if they want to offer up themselves as an expression of art then they should do it. Some will see it and view it as art and others will see it and view it as shocking or possibly disgusting. Either way it will get attention and illicit a reaction and if provoking thought and reaction is the goal then it is a success.