Are full frontal naked photograhps of a 13 year old girl, in an Art Gallery "Pornographic" or "Art" ? Why ?

Question

In Australia, much of the community has been sickened by the Decision of the High Court to deem 76 naked full frontal photographs of a 13 year old girl as "Art" & not "Pornography".

What makes the difference ? Even our Prime Minister Mr Kevin Rudd PM, deemed the images "revolting", so are "Artist" like Bill Henson above the law, wouldn't most decent people find those images disgusting, why are many so called privalidged people or "Arty types" above the law ?

Answer 1

ART the human body is beautiful

You add beauty and innocence together you have Art and the Australian police agree with me.

Mr Rudd had not seen the pictures when he made his statement he was generalizing.

Remember Chloe in Melbourne a painting of a 16 year old girl that hangs in the Bar ???? now that is a great painting that was nearly destroyed by stupid people the same people that put a fig leaf on David  

I intent to buy copies

Answer 2

The fact that 70 people were yesterday arrested for child p**n crimes in Australia gives you some idea of the level of "interest" in sexualising young children. Henson may have genuinely seen his work as art (ie he was not stimulated sexually by being with and photographing the children involved) but you can bet your boots the pedophiles would have queued up to see the exhibition. That's the reason I agree it should be shut down.

Answer 3

you have phrased this question obviously from the viewpoint of one of the "decent people", which is why it sounds so self-righteous. The picture isn't pornographic the same way artistic photography of a naked 60 year old isn't pornographic.

The response from society is both justified and unjustified. Our society is very sensitive about the issue of child abuse, which is why this type of art is unwelcome in our day and age. And yet, people are unable to have a sense of perspective and separate what is a social issue of our time from what is a historic art form. In a way it is important that Henson has created this art because it has made a lot of people think about why they don't like it. Unfortunately, most people have gone with knee-jerk reactions rather than really critiquing why this type of subject matter, this traditional art form, is causing this type of reaction in australia. Your comments about artists being 'above the law' fails to take into account the motivation for why people create art. You have shown a lack of critical thinking because you haven't even questioned why the PM would call it 'disgusting'. He may say it because he is a Christian, who are generally art philistines, but also because he has a political agenda - to accommodate the Australian population. And as the majority of people are quite stupid anyway, he needs to associate himself with the opinions of the common-denominator.

Answer 4

naked pictures of people have always either been controversial or works of art. To me I believe in the freedom of expression and others should respect that