Controversy  

From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia

James Whistler's painting Symphony in White, No. 1: The White Girl (1862) caused controversy when exhibited in London and, later, at the Salon des Refusés in Paris. The painting epitomizes his theory that art should essentially be concerned with the beautiful arrangement of colors in harmony, not with the accurate portrayal of the natural world.

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A dispute, especially a public one, between sides holding opposing views. Since the dispute is held in public, the controversial issue touches the mainstream, as when shown - in the case of film - to a general audience in a theatrical release.

Etymology

contra - version

Related

banned - censorship - offensive - opposition - public - shock value - succès de scandale - subversive - taboo - transgressive

Examples

sex in film - violent films

Contrast

mainstream - normal

Wikipedia article

A controversy or dispute is a matter of opinion over which parties actively disagree, argue, or debate. Controversies can range in size from private disputes between two individuals to large-scale disagreements between societies.

Perennial areas of controversy include religion, philosophy and politics. Controversy in matters of theology has traditionally been particularly heated, giving rise to the phrase odium theologicum. Controversial issues are held as potentially divisive in a given society, because they can lead to tension and ill will. Some controversies are considered taboo to many people, unless a society can find a common ground to share and discuss its people's feelings on a certain controversial issue.

Benford's law of controversy, as expressed by science-fiction author Gregory Benford in 1980, states "Passion is inversely proportional to the amount of real information available."