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A taboo is a strong social prohibition (or ban) against words, objects, actions, discussions, or people that are considered undesirable or offensive by a group, culture, or society. Breaking the taboo is usually considered objectionable or abhorrent. Some taboo activities or customs are prohibited under law and transgressions may lead to severe penalties. Other taboos result in embarrassment, shame and rudeness.[1] [Apr 2007]

Taboo and art

Many contemporary artists deal with taboo images and ideas, or known to exhibit or discuss taboo subjects and issues, including:

• Pedro Almodóvar
• Matthew Barney
• Lenny Bruce
• Luis Buñuel
• Maurizio Cattelan
• Dave Chapelle
• Cheech and Chong
• Sasha Baron Cohen
• Ellen Degeneres
• Andrew Dice Clay
• Larry Flynt
• Hugh Hefner
• Damien Hirst
• Derek Jarman
• Herschell Gordon Lewis
• Madonna
• Marilyn Manson
• Joel-Peter Witkin

Examples

Taboos can include dietary restrictions (halal and kosher diets, religious vegetarianism, and the prohibition of cannibalism), restrictions on sexual activities, gender roles and relationships (sex outside of marriage, adultery, intermarriage, miscegenation, homosexuality, incest, animal-human sex, pedophilia, necrophilia and paraphilias), restrictions of bodily functions (burping, flatulence, defecation, urination, masturbation, nosepicking, and spitting), restrictions on state of genitalia such as circumcision or sex reassignment, exposure of body parts, pornography and nudity esp. in the US), illicit drugs, substance abuse, alcoholism, bodily pain, medical surgery, satanism or devil worship, restrictions on the use of offensive language also known as obscenity and vulgarity, and other topics/subjects that provoke emotional angst or may disturb people to discomfort. Some taboos originated by acts of authority, be it legal, social and religious, over a period of time.Template:Fact

The list of "common courtesy" taboos more having to do with western etiquette and respecting others, include topics on sexuality, religion, death, disease, natural disasters, divorce, politics, crime, justice, money issues, gender, race/ethnicity in order to avoid discriminatory and prejudiced attitudes, human rights, oppression, animal abuse, child abuse, domestic violence, abortion, miscarriage, pregnancy and childbirth, personal issues regarding one's age, income, height, weight and appearance, and a variety of religious sins are taboo, depending of their faith. Environmentalism, other ecology-related issues and scientific controversies (human evolution, eugenics, in-vitro fertilization, human cloning and stem cell research) are often treated like a taboo by their controversial and divisive nature in the realm of politics, morality and religious belief. When not in "polite society", discussions on taboos are allowed in humorous expression, such as comedy and satire.