Challenges for Emerging Art Forms Under the Visual Artists Rights Act

INTRODUCTION ................................................................................ 431 I. THE MORAL RIGHTS DEBATE .................................................... 432 A. The Origins of Moral Rights .................................................. 432 B. The Berne Convention ........................................................... 434 C. The Limited Scope of Moral Rights in the U.S. ..................... 436 II. EMERGING MEDIUMS: PROBLEMS OF FUNCTION AND TASTE ....................................................................................... 438 A. Photography .......................................................................... 438 B. Public Art ............................................................................... 439 III. SITE-RESPONSIVE ART: CURRENT ISSUES IN VARA APPLICATION ......................................................................... 441 A. An Overview of Site-Responsive Art ..................................... 441 B. The Andy Monument ............................................................. 443 C. “Recognized Stature” and Limits on Emerging Mediums .... 444 D. A Proposed Solution for VARA Application to Emerging Mediums .............................................................................. 445 CONCLUSION ..................................................................................... 448