It's an old-ish controversy but there's still some debate in where the boundary between pornography and art lies when it comes to nudity.
Artists like Bill Henson are continuously facing threats for their works because of government censorship.
" Artists are being used as scapegoats for the State Government's inability to stem the tide of child pornography, says a visual arts lobby group."
But I ask, where does the difference lie in Art and pornography?
Personally, I think Bill Henson is an amazing artist, but many others disagree.
His works are here:
[er.. they are kind of explicit.]
The two most controversial photos are:
[url]http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://photography-collection.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/03/Bill-Henson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.photography-collection.com/%3Fp%3D285&usg=__PGHGy9X2GCjQH0h6a_QL5oGiZNs=&h=443&w=300&sz=20&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=c6zC83U4S3KOFM:&tbnh=151&tbnw=101&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBill%2BHenson%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D651%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=rc&dur=471&ei=3MR4TJ-UK5CisQPs3dnsCg&oei=3MR4TJ-UK5CisQPs3dnsCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:0,s:0&tx=77&ty=52[/url]
[url]http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/images/galleries/HENSON_2008/008.jpg[/url]
Some of his other works include:
[url]http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l3olqkePsn1qbl03vo1_500.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/bill%2Bhenson&usg=__Qx2RP-Me5C-HNl0Qx8V2NdoADHw=&h=350&w=500&sz=18&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=u-kcIBGgZhHReM:&tbnh=151&tbnw=198&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBill%2BHenson%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D651%26tbs%3Disch:1&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=255&vpy=133&dur=431&hovh=187&hovw=266&tx=152&ty=58&ei=3MR4TJ-UK5CisQPs3dnsCg&oei=3MR4TJ-UK5CisQPs3dnsCg&esq=1&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:1,s:0[/url]
[url]http://www.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.colectiva.tv/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/bill-henson.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.colectiva.tv/wordpress/lang/es-es/bill-henson/&usg=__M7ShiOzq6sRE8iabxM9xVGGLmco=&h=334&w=500&sz=90&hl=en&start=0&zoom=1&tbnid=jT8CgTBcCxe19M:&tbnh=134&tbnw=200&prev=/images%3Fq%3DBill%2BHenson%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26biw%3D1366%26bih%3D651%26tbs%3Disch:10,48&um=1&itbs=1&iact=hc&vpx=454&vpy=79&dur=510&hovh=183&hovw=275&tx=136&ty=125&ei=JMV4TJS8KYuosQOs563tCg&oei=3MR4TJ-UK5CisQPs3dnsCg&esq=4&page=1&ndsp=18&ved=1t:429,r:2,s:0&biw=1366&bih=651[/url]
[url]http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/images/galleries/HENSON_2008/008.jpg[/url]
[url]http://pics.livejournal.com/the_grynne/pic/0059760h[/url]
[url]http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/images/galleries/HENSON_2008/008.jpg[/url]
There are heaps more, so just google image it.
The Bill Henson Controversy started at his Roslyn-Oxley exhibition in Sydney,
[url]http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/18/Bill_Henson/1098/[/url] (after the controversial works were seized by police)
Where do you think the difference lies?
Opinions are welcome and I thought that posting it here would be better than asking asking Australians since many of them has taken an offence to his work (since Bill Henson is also an Australian).
Which is funny.
If you haven't heard of Bill Henson before, perfect! If you're an artist? Even better. Personal/Professional research based opinions, please.
I'd think if the image was in some way portraying a sexual act, then it would be pornography. I don't think nude photos, while erotic, classify as pornography.
Boobs are a work of art. I don't mind. Power to this man!
Being an artist-ish I can say, that tits are fun to draw, so nudity in art is A-ok.
naked babies (cherubim) in paintings at my church creep me out.
Of course, the links to the pictures in the OP could be completely different from that, but it gives me even more reason to believe that priests are pedos.
as long as the focus of the nudity is of the following, it shouldn't be something controversal:
-of beauty (not pornographic, more like "art" beauty)
-not of children with wings surrounding grown men
-on body structure
-perspective
Only naked adults in art!
if it isn't something overly sexual like a chick pointing her ass in the air, having the image focus on her vagina while she's in a provocative pose or a zoom in on a dude's cock or then I'd say it's art. You have to be insane to think something like a nude girl wearing a mask with most of the image being taken up by her face is porn.
also makes a great trolling subject.
pornography can be art too, you know?
[QUOTE=Ayra;24403979]pornography can be art too, you know?[/QUOTE]
Yeah, if they fuck on a statue or some shit.
"It's not porn, it's just nude art" is the best excuse ever
[QUOTE=phill977;24404014]"It's not porn, it's just nude art" is the best excuse ever[/QUOTE]
^ clearly does not understand the point of this thread.
[QUOTE=Ziron;24403976]if it isn't something overly sexual like a chick pointing her ass in the air, having the image focus on her vagina while she's in a provocative pose or a zoom in on a dude's cock or then I'd say it's art. You have to be insane to think something like a nude girl wearing a mask with most of the image being taken up by her face is porn.[/QUOTE]
there can actually be art in those things, just society would label it porn contextually.
i think the first image is CP
[QUOTE=Hendo;24404070]i think the first image is CP[/QUOTE]
But why?
[QUOTE=3picFail;24404049]there can actually be art in those things, just society would label it porn contextually.[/QUOTE]
what qualifies as porn or w/e is wayyyyy more complex than what i made it out to be. tbh the only way to determine if something is actually porn or art is an a per-case basis. what i posted are what i usually think of as clear pornography, tho im sure there's a few artistic pictures doing the same thing.
[QUOTE=phill977;24404014]"It's not porn, it's just nude art" is the best excuse ever[/QUOTE]
oh look, someone that doesn't understand that there's a big dif between something that's just to make you aroused and something that uses nudity to illustrate a message.
[QUOTE=Hendo;24404070]i think the first image is CP[/QUOTE]
Clearly someone who saw "nudity" in the thread, came in, opened the first image link without reading anything else, and then posted his thoughts. You do know who Bill Henson is, don't you?
[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;24404112]Welp...
Saw the first image and i'm out...
Hopefully the FBI won't start knocking at my door :raise:[/QUOTE]
Please, if this didn't get Henson arrested in Australia, the FBI wouldn't bother.
[QUOTE=LoLWaT?;24404112]Welp...
Saw the first image and i'm out...
Hopefully the FBI won't start knocking at my door :ohdear:[/QUOTE]
It's legal art.
[QUOTE=Hendo;24404070]i think the first image is CP[/QUOTE]
i think her tits are just small.
[QUOTE=3picFail;24404138]i think her tits are just small.[/QUOTE]
Also, does not get the point.
She's pubescent.
That's just obscene :\
:flashfap:
[QUOTE=Mizzy;24404159]Also, does not get the point.
She's pubescent.
That's just obscene :\[/QUOTE]
naw i think it communicates an interesting message about teenagers and society, tho its kinda hard to put in words atm :s
[QUOTE=Mizzy;24404159]Also, does not get the point.
She's pubescent.
That's just obscene :\[/QUOTE]
i'm sorry, what point am i missing?
i was referring to the fact she doesn't have large breasts, and that doesn't mean she is prepubescent.
And what is obscene? Don't be to quick to assume that i don't realize that it is art.
So, is the website metart considered art or porn
[QUOTE=Ziron;24404177]naw i think it communicates an interesting message about teenagers and society, tho its kinda hard to put in words atm :s[/QUOTE]
The whole point of Bill Henson's work is to explore the purgatory between childhood and adulthood where innocence is subjected to society.
This is reflected in the public's opinion,
if you think it's child pornography, it's reflective of your state of mind.
[editline]06:55PM[/editline]
[QUOTE=3picFail;24404195]i'm sorry, what point am i missing?
i was referring to the fact she doesn't have large breasts, and that doesn't mean she is prepubescent.
And what is obscene? Don't be to quick to assume that i don't realize that it is art.[/QUOTE]
I just thought that your reference to her chest as 'tits', which is something usually connotative with pornography, was a little obscene.
[QUOTE=Mizzy;24404204]The whole point of Bill Henson's work is to explore the purgatory between childhood and adulthood where innocence is subjected to society.
This is reflected in the public's opinion,
if you think it's child pornography, it's reflective of your state of mind.[/QUOTE]
ya i figured. i dont think its kiddy porn at all; it makes good points.
[QUOTE=Mizzy;24404228]Just....
.... What.[/QUOTE]
lol he's so WACKY!
I think everyone considerers this art. Everyone knows Bill Hensen is not a pedophile. But it would still be horrific for family voters if Kevin Rudd at the time allowed the art show to go on.
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