This whole Irving thing makes me wonder about the difference between putting a book on your shelf and pinning a poster on your wall. Most people assume posters indicate approval even if books don’t, but aren’t they both about presenting & performing ourselves to those around us?
Perhaps the issue is we are always judged by other people’s criteria and other people see our lives in their own context. If it’s OK to display the work of an antisemite even if you loathe him, is it also OK to hang a Soviet propaganda poster for historical or aesthetic interest?
Weirdly I’m not entirely sure what I think about this comparison, but if the pubs ever reopen and there’s a gap in pretentious chat I’ll keep it in reserve
