Monday, October 06, 2008
Bill Henson School Controversy
The controversial Australian photographer Bill Henson is making news again down under. Earlier in the year he had his Roslyn Oxley9 exhibition in Sydney raided by police with several nude photos being seized (and later returned). Henson was labelled everything from a pornographer to a paedophile and even prompted the Australian prime minister to call the photos revolting.
Henson now has the school teacher Sue Knight in trouble after she allowed the photographer to search for models at the St Kilda Park Primary School when she was the principal of the Melbourne school.
Here's some more from the Canberra Times.. "Parents of children at the primary school where photographer Bill Henson scouted the playground for models have supported the artist and the principal's decision to allow him into the school. St Kilda Park Primary School council president David Myer said the school backed former principal Sue Knight who escorted Mr Henson around the school last year."
I must confess that if I had an 11 year old daughter at school, I wouldn't like a middle aged man scouting the school for possible nude photos. The matter is still being investigated but it seems that the media is making the incident sound much scarier than it actually was.
Bill Henson remained silent during his controversial Sydney exhibition earlier in the year, but has spoken to the Age's David Marr about the latest media frenzy/witch hunt. Here's some Bill Henson quotes from the interview..
"Sometimes it's a friend, or the kids of a friend, or a friend of a friend. Sometimes it can be a friend of a relative. Sometimes you are walking down the street or you are in a restaurant and you see someone. There is this face. All you can do is give them a card and say: 'Look, just Google me, and I'd be very interested in photographing your daughter or son.' "
Bill Henson
"I went in there (the Melbourne school) just wandered around while everyone was having their lunch. I saw this boy, and I saw a girl too actually, and I thought they would be great and the principal said, 'Fine, I will give the parents a ring and let you know.' So the ball is always in their court. The girl's parents went, 'Oh no, we don't think it's for us' and the boy's parents said, 'Yes, sure.' So … that is how I started working with him."
Bill Henson
>> Bill Henson Nude Teen Controversy, Controversies, Photography News ¶ 1:19 AM
The controversial Australian photographer Bill Henson is making news again down under. Earlier in the year he had his Roslyn Oxley9 exhibition in Sydney raided by police with several nude photos being seized (and later returned). Henson was labelled everything from a pornographer to a paedophile and even prompted the Australian prime minister to call the photos revolting.Henson now has the school teacher Sue Knight in trouble after she allowed the photographer to search for models at the St Kilda Park Primary School when she was the principal of the Melbourne school.
Here's some more from the Canberra Times.. "Parents of children at the primary school where photographer Bill Henson scouted the playground for models have supported the artist and the principal's decision to allow him into the school. St Kilda Park Primary School council president David Myer said the school backed former principal Sue Knight who escorted Mr Henson around the school last year."
I must confess that if I had an 11 year old daughter at school, I wouldn't like a middle aged man scouting the school for possible nude photos. The matter is still being investigated but it seems that the media is making the incident sound much scarier than it actually was.
Bill Henson remained silent during his controversial Sydney exhibition earlier in the year, but has spoken to the Age's David Marr about the latest media frenzy/witch hunt. Here's some Bill Henson quotes from the interview..
"Sometimes it's a friend, or the kids of a friend, or a friend of a friend. Sometimes it can be a friend of a relative. Sometimes you are walking down the street or you are in a restaurant and you see someone. There is this face. All you can do is give them a card and say: 'Look, just Google me, and I'd be very interested in photographing your daughter or son.' "
Bill Henson
"I went in there (the Melbourne school) just wandered around while everyone was having their lunch. I saw this boy, and I saw a girl too actually, and I thought they would be great and the principal said, 'Fine, I will give the parents a ring and let you know.' So the ball is always in their court. The girl's parents went, 'Oh no, we don't think it's for us' and the boy's parents said, 'Yes, sure.' So … that is how I started working with him."
Bill Henson
>> Bill Henson Nude Teen Controversy, Controversies, Photography News ¶ 1:19 AM
While not quite pornography, his photographs are far from innocent. Except in marking them as prey. They do not celebrate youth, the beauty of young humans, but the desires of an adult put on the child. The lighting and deep emotional poses, somethings kids these ages dont possesss, reflects the desires of the "artist'.
They are abpout as pure as the flag waving and cross carrying of the far right, using supposedly pure subjects for ones own twisted passions. A coverup, while uncovering our children.
Yes, quite creepy.
Definitely,
Art collegia delenda est
A cover for all things self absorbed. And therefore decadent.
They are abpout as pure as the flag waving and cross carrying of the far right, using supposedly pure subjects for ones own twisted passions. A coverup, while uncovering our children.
Yes, quite creepy.
Definitely,
Art collegia delenda est
A cover for all things self absorbed. And therefore decadent.
# posted by 
: 10:05 AM
: 10:05 AM
I have a major problem with the principle allowing anyone, including a controversial photographer, to use a school as a means to scout for personal purposes. So putting aside what anyone thinks of this particular photographer, I find her behaviour as a guardian of a educational institution extremely questionable.
I don't know why the principal still has a job. In the US you can get fired for far less. Are schools in Australia locked down like most US schools are?
I wouldnt say schools are "locked down" in Australia, but the fences of schools seem to be getting bigger each year.
I guess it's a matter of time before they look like prisons and people are searched before entering. Which is good for student safety, but I think it reflects badly on society.
I guess it's a matter of time before they look like prisons and people are searched before entering. Which is good for student safety, but I think it reflects badly on society.
Here in Long Beach, at Poly HS, home of Snoop Dogg and many other rappers, there is only one entrance into the school after the bell rings, and only four before that. One must sign in and out, but this is for gangbangers. Anyone who trys to molest a kid there would be deader than McPalins chances at being President. And our economy.
# posted by : 7:32 PM
: 7:32 PM
Donald, I don't think the race has been won yet. If American voters were rational, I would say the race was over, but you guys voted for George W Bush twice, so I won't be surprised if McPalin wins.
I just watched the debate. McCain is a master piner. He's an emotional vampire that makes me laugh everytime I hear him say "my friend."
All politicians lie, but it would be nice to have a change after 8 years of insanity.
I just watched the debate. McCain is a master piner. He's an emotional vampire that makes me laugh everytime I hear him say "my friend."
All politicians lie, but it would be nice to have a change after 8 years of insanity.
Yeah, the Bradley factor ahs yet to take effect, only when white voter enter the booth does that come out. Polls can be meaningless, as was shown when lAs Mayor Bradley lost for governor when entering with a 10% poll lead on election day.
But McCain is old as hell, will beolder than Reagan if elected, and losing it. Already lsot his dignity and honor with his lying despearate selfish beleiving only he can save the world. Ahole. He was a decent guy, but he no longer has earned respect.
The rust best is key, he bailed from Michigan, losing Pennsylvania, if Ohio goes it could be a wipeout, but all depends on the last weeks before teh election. Any crazy alQaeda stuff and it could turn, Americans are cowardly lemming now. Gotta suck it up and do what is best for America, not our own pocketbooks adn fears controlling us.
It will be close, but bad news wil continue economicaly which favors the Dems, though they arent facing reality either. Huge interest rate cut today further guarantees inflation when this cap ends in a year or two. Gotta raise taxes on the rich, even jsut getting them back to Clinton era taxes, at first, wil help emmensely. But taxes are the boogie man of voters now, or politicians think so. Gotta get them ready to face the truth, gotta pay for what you get.
Ooops, sorry, on my political rant again, better stay away from history or you are doomed.
Sending you my latest in a day or so, but started and got the preliminaries for my Judgement painting done in one weekend, and going to redo my old one as the Trial, its ballanced and in suspension, this one is not. All nudes other than that, the wonderful and the horror, now thats ballance. And goes about defining who we are, and our feelings of God. Michelangelo did it all on one ceiling. Now THAT was art. He fought teh Church for his own view to be seen, and won.
Se the Catholic church is seeking art now, goina try them. Can they handle it? The wife says I nailed it, we will see. But this Henson guy represents that other force, self absorbtion and all the sins, as he puts adult feelings on children. Quite unnatural. And twisted.
But McCain is old as hell, will beolder than Reagan if elected, and losing it. Already lsot his dignity and honor with his lying despearate selfish beleiving only he can save the world. Ahole. He was a decent guy, but he no longer has earned respect.
The rust best is key, he bailed from Michigan, losing Pennsylvania, if Ohio goes it could be a wipeout, but all depends on the last weeks before teh election. Any crazy alQaeda stuff and it could turn, Americans are cowardly lemming now. Gotta suck it up and do what is best for America, not our own pocketbooks adn fears controlling us.
It will be close, but bad news wil continue economicaly which favors the Dems, though they arent facing reality either. Huge interest rate cut today further guarantees inflation when this cap ends in a year or two. Gotta raise taxes on the rich, even jsut getting them back to Clinton era taxes, at first, wil help emmensely. But taxes are the boogie man of voters now, or politicians think so. Gotta get them ready to face the truth, gotta pay for what you get.
Ooops, sorry, on my political rant again, better stay away from history or you are doomed.
Sending you my latest in a day or so, but started and got the preliminaries for my Judgement painting done in one weekend, and going to redo my old one as the Trial, its ballanced and in suspension, this one is not. All nudes other than that, the wonderful and the horror, now thats ballance. And goes about defining who we are, and our feelings of God. Michelangelo did it all on one ceiling. Now THAT was art. He fought teh Church for his own view to be seen, and won.
Se the Catholic church is seeking art now, goina try them. Can they handle it? The wife says I nailed it, we will see. But this Henson guy represents that other force, self absorbtion and all the sins, as he puts adult feelings on children. Quite unnatural. And twisted.
# posted by : 8:28 AM
: 8:28 AM
Yeah, some of Bill Henson's work is creepy. Not because he photographs young people nude, but because of some of the things that his pictures infer. A lot of his work is very beautiful and innocent too though, so maybe it all evens out.
Also, Americans, like all countries, but especially Americans, seem to be easy to manipulate. The McPalin crew will use fear and pride to get their way with voters. McCain just has to crank up the fear factor to code red, wear TWO American flag pins on his chest (and point out that sometimes Obama isn't wearing his flag pins on his chest..lol), and tell a few more sad and/or heroic war stories and he'll win. That my friend is how McCain will win, my friend.
Also, Americans, like all countries, but especially Americans, seem to be easy to manipulate. The McPalin crew will use fear and pride to get their way with voters. McCain just has to crank up the fear factor to code red, wear TWO American flag pins on his chest (and point out that sometimes Obama isn't wearing his flag pins on his chest..lol), and tell a few more sad and/or heroic war stories and he'll win. That my friend is how McCain will win, my friend.
McCain is self destructing, but Americans are incredibly scared of everything and weak. It will be close, but damn we cant afford more of the same, he knows absolutely nothing, and admittedly so, about economics. He will bring in the clowns. God help us.
ACDE
Post a Comment
ACDE
# posted by : 11:15 AM
: 11:15 AMSee our comments policy Comment spam will be deleted
<< Art News Home
