"Art requires neither complaisance nor politeness; nothing but faith -- faith and freedom."

Gustave Flaubert, the French novelist, may have thought so, but sometimes art also needs an advocate and perhaps even something of an explanation.

At Penn State, there's a team of art, history and communication experts ready to snap into action when next that dreaded (and courted) thing arises in our corner of the art world: controversy. Or at least the next time some people here turn their noses up at a display of painting or sculpture -- or instance of performance art -- they'll have somewhere to turn.

The Arts Task Force sounds like a good idea, and could definitely be the conduit for some interesting discussions.

The professors and administrators chosen for the team have reiterated that this won't be a censorship board, but instead a way for students with objections, concerns or questions to get the kind of dialogue -- or just plain answers -- they're looking for.

We like the fact that the task force will be flexible in its handling of each case of artwork and complaint, but the team members should be aware that it might be hard to bring such imagined discussions to fruition. Sometimes, people are reluctant to enter into any public conversation about a "piece of expression" they may find repugnant. This doesn't mean the marketplace of ideas shouldn't rule the day, only that not everyone wants to actually show up on market day.

Still, as occasions arise, we look forward to seeing what kind of ideas come out about works of art created and displayed by students here.