This gets better Ludwig, if this report is true:

-=-=
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23797460-2,00.html

Artist Victoria Larielle to stage nude kids exhibit

"A MELBOURNE artist will exhibit a series of nude photographs of 11-year-old children to protest against the recent censorship of the work of photographer Bill Henson. "
-=-=

Perhaps she can do this because she is female, photographing two young boys naked.

Ludwig: "Again I express strong dismay at the lack of concern over Henson's photographs being reproduced in newspapers, with the 'naughty bits' exposed, in a manner that is obviously in violation of just about everyone's interpretation of common decency."

The pictures have been cleared by the Classification Board for the media to use. ""The board does not find that the images have been sexualised in the way they've been reproduced on these media website because of the context that they relate to reporting about this matter and also because any nudity in the photos has been obscured." Claire Bowdler, from the Board.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/06/03/2263468.htm

However, as we've all seen, The Age did not obscure the nudity. I still can't get any proper answers on this. It's very interesting, from a media law perspective.

Paul: "The original complaint comes from Hetty Johnston who has a lot of experience in the realm of child welfare. I don't accept she is in a moral panic.

Hetty Johnston? Not in a moral panic? Lordy be.

Paul: "This is not a black and white issue and we do ourselves, and honest, open debate, a disservice to proceed as if it is."

Well said.

Paul-'This is not a black and white issue and we do ourselves, and honest, open debate, a disservice to proceed as if it is.'

You are absolutely right.

Ludwig: << What do you make of it CJ >>

Actually, I don't have any problem with the media publishing the images, since they aren't pornographic. And as Vanilla said, it seems that the images were cleared by the Classification Board (although it's unclear to me whether these were the censored or uncensored versions).

An interesting angle that I don't think has come up here is raised by tigtog at the Larvatus Prodeo group blog [ http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/30/do-the-right-thing-mainstream-media-disguise-the-faces-of-the-minors-in-your-reproductions-of-the-henson-images-now/ ]. She points out that while it's debatable whether or not the images that appeared on mass media websites should have breast and genitals obscured, the models' faces certainly should have been.

If there are any negative consequences for the adolescent models involved, it is far more likely to emanate from the mass exposure of their faces on these websites than from the act of modelling nude for the artist. It is the hysterics and the media who are abusing these kids, not the artist.

Cj: "If there are any negative consequences for the adolescent models involved, it is far more likely to emanate from the mass exposure of their faces on these websites than from the act of modelling nude for the artist. It is the hysterics and the media who are abusing these kids, not the artist."

There are not big enough capitals in existence or numerous enough exclamation marks available for me to say YES, EXACTLY!

The very people who tried to protect her have damaged her, because they did not appreciate that she did not need protecting in the first place.

I am angry.

CJ & Vanilla

"The very people who tried to protect her have damaged her, because they did not appreciate that she did not need protecting in the first place."

Abso-bloody-lutely.

Haven't much time, but I agree that the media has a lot to answer for with its complete overreaction to these photos.

Interesting that no-one has commented on child actors, they may not have to appear nude, but are often required to act in adult dramas. What say the wowsers on that? Exploitation or art? Example, A young Jodie Foster in Taxi with Robert de Nero.

A quick link on the increasing sexual repression in the US of A.

http://www.alternet.org/sex/87015/?page=entire

Vanilla & Yvonne - saw your comment in the Languages thread am very interested.

Bye for now