Naked Girl Sparks Anger
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
A seaside photo gracing the cover of a magazine creates a wave of controversy.
The long-standing debate of what constitutes art was ignited yet again when this photograph appeared on the cover of the highly respected Art Monthly Australia magazine on Monday. The photo, published in response to last May's censorship of Bill Henson's exhibition of a shirtless young girl in Syndey-- depicts a nude 6-year-old sitting demurely on a seaside backdrop. The image probably wouldn't raise an eyebrow if it weren't for the little girl's exposed nipple.
"We're talking about the innocence of little children here. A little child cannot answer for themselves about whether they wish to be depicted in this way." Said Prime Minister Rudd in response to the cover, "It's disgusting."
One might wonder how a mother could let such a photo be taken. In this case, the photographer, Polixeni Papapetrou is the mother of Olympia, the pretty dark-haired subject. Olympia, now 11, doesn't know what all the fuss is about, "I was really, really offended by what Kevin Rudd said about this picture. It is one of my favorites-- if not my favorite--photo my mum has ever taken of me."
Maurice O'Riordan, editor of the magazine, says she hopes the photo will restore "dignity to the debate" about art censorship.
What do you think--is it art or abuse?
See Also:
|
previous: Moms Are Talking About...
|
Email12 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
i think 15 20 years ago it would be fine. we would not even be asking but in this day and age when there is so much evil and child molesters out there and that now its wroung .people arent what they seem they could take this and use it for bad .now more then ever we have to protect are children for the same reason they cant play out side any more with out a parent watching over them .. in short you have to keep pics like this of children who are to young to know realy what there doing .. i say pics like this are a no no
- Anonymous
This photograph is completely innocent. Only people who equate nudity with sex would find this offensive. I feel sorry for people who constantly worry about “predators”. Can we have a story on Mom Logic about the realities when it comes to child pornography and child sexual abuse? Really. As far as my reading goes…there are no more child abusers/abductors now than 20 years ago. Most kids are hurt by people they know. The media feeds us these scary tales and we eat it up.
- Nicole J.
It IS art to the people whose creative efforts went into it, and to the people who are interested in art, but to pedophiles, it is more than likely simply a new slice of porn. Creating art will in no way make it art to anyone who is not looking for art. This piece is truly beautiful, but sadly, I wouldn’t advise putting a child in the spotlight in this way — not for the sake of art or anything else.
- MiMi
I don’t know what the big deal is here? The girl is not acting sexual in any way so how is it child porn. I agree with Nicole in that there will always be predators of one type or another and you should be watching your kids at all times no matter what. Is the problem that this is a little girl and not a boy? Porn is subjective anyway, if all things that could be remotely arousing where banned, sears catalogs would have bitten the dust a long time ago.
- L.J.
L.J. wrote: “I don’t know what the big deal is here?” It’s not a big deal, but we’re making it into one. Why can’t we refuse to be victimised? We talk about how kids shouldn’t be sexualised, but then we put all this focus on sex in the name of debate. Why can’t we just let our kids grow up without all this negativity? While paedophiles are out there looking at suggestive photos of fully clothed kids that will never be banned, we’re publicising non-erotic child nudes by putting them in the spotlight. Fear doesn’t protect children. Raising happy, healthy children and looking after them does.
- Nathan Jones
It is a pro-pedophile stunt, the arts folks in Oz have been sliding towards Oriental rejectionism of western values for a while. They just don’t see a dynamic future in being intrinsically judeo-Christian. ‘While paedophiles are out there looking at suggestive photos of fully clothed kids that will never be banned, we’re publicising non-erotic child nudes by putting them in the spotlight.’ It was a Japanese schoolgirl porn issue this month. ‘Call me particular, but I don’t find images of semi-naked, bound women with protruding sex organs all that dignified. I looked really hard, but I couldn’t see much dignity in the photograph of a Japanese schoolgirl trussed in rope and suspended with her skirt raised to reveal her underwear. Torture porn just doesn’t stir my soul.’ (cite) Melinda Tankard Reist They’re rattling the cage of the local cops, telling the AFP that they know the child porn laws don’t work. They’re pro-pedos, they love it when they are on a winning streak. They’re not shy about it. Gregory
- Gregory Carlin
I’ve followed this one rather closely and will say only that people who make things up with no basis should keep their problems to themselves, Mr. Carlin. “but in this day and age when there is so much evil and child molesters out there” There ian’t and there aren’t. All the statistics I’ve seen disprove what law enforcers and media lead you to believe. They gain by making you fear a “fact” that’s false. Does anyone not realize how insane it is to say that you can’t have a piece of art with a female nipple visible? With respect, Momlogic, censoring the Henson invitation photo image vandalizes it, is patronizing to readers, and protects no one. Your discomfort I understand, but it shouldn’t affect the evidence.
- Dr. Paul Rapoport
You know, without going into a whole thing about this… I appreciate art as I, myself am an artist. But what’s the absolute necessity of having a child (or anyone) appear naked on this magazine cover? Art must be protected, obviously, but as an artist I often face the internal dillema of “how far does my art need to go?” Do I need to arbitrarily choose something inflamatory like a naked kid or can I convey my message some other way? Just food for thought.
- Anonymous
“But what’s the absolute necessity of having a child (or anyone) appear naked on this magazine cover?” I respect your position, Anon.; everyone must decide for herself. But the way you put it means to me, “I can’t see why anyone would do that, so no one should.” You’re arguing from a position of professed ignorance. If art is only about necessity, then in most countries in the anglo world, it wouldn’t exist at all, because it’s officially perceived as no more than a decorative frill.
- Dr. Paul Rapoport
I admit it, when i was a kid, my mom took a pic of me naked in the bathroom for keepsake purposes only, the one in the magazine has exposure of sexual genetials. It would be better if the kid wore a bikini(without the T-back panty)
- princesspeachfan2008
Its art and tastefuly done,But theese Days Whith All The different ways kids can get hurt from bad people,And people gets offended Very easly it might have been smarter to keep it to themselves than out it public
- T.H.
you shud put butts on here and the frunt part
- gyhgftkjb
 |
 Get the scoop and latest giveaways delivered right to your inbox!
Subscribe to the Momlogic newsletter! |
 |
|
advertisement
|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
The Momlogic Community
