I've held off from blogging about the mob currently baying for Bill Henson's blood for a variety of reasons, not least because I've been sick since Saturday, the day after this furore erupted (which is also why I haven't blogged about some of the Next Wave shows I saw late last week, though I heop to get around to that later today or tomorrow). Having taken today off work to try and sleep through the worst of my current fog and fever, I thought it due time to catch up with things, Henson included.
The other reason I didn't blog about the situation is because I hoped, perhaps foolishly, that it would all blow over quite quickly. Far from it. Instead, it's only spurring on additional attacks on the arts and artists.
There are two main points I'm been thinking about as I read the papers in recent days. One being the fact that I feel truly sorry for people who can't seperate nudity from sex - and in this case, sexual abuse of children by adults. There is, to my mind, a vast difference between a photograph, painting or sculpture of a nude, and a pornographic image. Porn is created specifically to arouse carnal desire; it's invariably crude, simple, unsubtle stuff. A nude may be shown for an array of reasons: to comment on innocence, on the sheer poetic beauty of the physical form, or as perhaps is the case in Henson's work, to illuminate the emotional storm that swirls about us in our adolesence as we cross over from childhood to adulthood.
The other issue that haunts me as I type this is an awareness of how conservative our culture has become. Were a play like Shopping and Fucking to open this week, or another Piss Christ to be displayed, I don't doubt that there would be more obscenity cases waiting in the wings; more hand-rubbing conservatives waiting to lecture us; more media storms.
I also fear for the teenagers who have previously chosen - and I do not doubt that they had a choice, and that they considered their actions carefully, given the circumstances - to model for Henson. I do not doubt that the conservative crusaders baying for Henson's blood have done far more emotional damage to his models than posing for his work will ever have done.
Lastly, for a well-argued, well-reasoned and carefully phrased comment about the current situation, I recommend you visit Alison Croggon's blog, where you can read the open letter in support of Bill Henson signed by her and many of the other participants in the Arts & Culture stream at the Prime Minister's recent 2020 summit. And Alison, thank you for your valued contribution to the current debate that swirls around us - I lok forward to discussing the issue with you on SmartArts tomorrow at 9:30am.
11 comments:
Thanks Richard. And looking forward to chatting!
I seem to remember one of the famous American photographers (Annie Lebovitz???) had a similar sort of exhibition and it caused a lot of complaints too. However, I think that perhaps some people worry more that it creates an avenue for exploitation, rather than being bad in itself.
Alternatively, at least most commentaries I read about it were not about that at all -- and I agree with you completely about the conservative nature of things and the fact that people are confusing nakedness and sexuality. It would be interesting to know how such an exhibition would go down in countries where kids run around without clothes a lot.
It's also a culture of hypocrasy even when it comes to sexuality. If you want sexualize kids for a profit its fine, but if you want to make a movie exploring sexuality (think kidz, Ken Park etc.) you get censored. So don't talk about sexuality and kids unless you can make a profit.
I agree with you Richard but the point is that many pedophiles get charged for possessing nude photographs of 13 year-olds and younger. They don't need to be pornographic sex acts either so there lies the societal dilemma.
well said
Anon - but also in their possession will be catalogues of children's clothing - should we also ban the publication of children's clothing catalogues? An atmosphere of such fear does no-one much good, methinks...
Clothing catalogues? Why stop there? Those evil peeedophiles will find anything arousing. The only solution is to have everyone's eyes removed at puberty. That'll get 'em!
Ahem...seriously the most disappointing feature of all this is that the PM felt the need to spring onto the demagogic bandwagon with such alacrity.
G'day! I just wanted to quickly say that I love your blog, and have given a link to you on mine. Keep up the great work!
Bodhi
Sydney, Australia
http://itssydneybitch.blogspot.com
Perfectly put Richard, as usual.
(And no, I'm not sucking up because you're sorta a boss of mine :P)
Oh - last comment was me btw!
Thanks Sam.
And you're yet another blogger taking a break from blogging, I see - you, Ms Fits, so many others... is it something in the water?
I've lost all respect for Kevin Rudd, he's an idiot for making such personal sweeping statements. Plus where the hell is Peter Garrett?
Legal and right/wrong issues aside, Bill personally feels hurt for these allegations.
Ps. i knew there was something in the water once joe.my.god took a break from blogging!
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