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willsonmax

Fair enough, if what Bill Henson was doing involved any sort of sexual implications, let alone hardocore erotica scenes, yes then jail the man, but the human body as an object of art is something to be admired. Isn’t that why parents of newborns get intimate photos of them cradling their young bundles of joy on their shoulder professionally done?

Besides, it goes to show societies perceptions on what is acceptable. Nudity is taboo, even though its just skin and bones at the end of the day, nothing more. And shots of violence and blood and gore are acceptable and shown at 8.30 at night when it is well known that not all kids sleep that early.

Finally, in regards to Fred Nile and his comment that it’s hard to get turned on by X-Rated movies, seriously, at least admit to having some sort of libido. I’ll admit myself that I have looked up porn. Pretty much every guy I know has looked up porn at some stage. Even if it is only on rare occasions, in this day and age, pretty much any computer literate male with warm blood and a couple of hours with nothing else to do is going to “dabble” in it, even out of curiosity just to see what the fuss is about, and so what? As long as it isn’t something illegal (ie. child porn, beastiality and snuff) then what is wrong with it?

Look, a book which compiles his work can be bought on Amazon.co.uk.

There’s always nudes on Antiques Roadshow

“I’m not surprised he was sneaking around primary schools.”

Only in the same way talent scouts for TV, sporting institutions, and people representing many other reputable businesses and passtimes you probably wouldn’t bat an eyelid at “sneak” around primary schools. That is to say they all do their “sneaking” after attaining permission from the proper authorities and looking around the school in a completely supervised way. None of them approach children directly and all subsequent contact is made through the parents of the children involved.

Honestly, you can’t think you’re holding a reasonable debate with comments like that.

I’d argue that most people defending Bill Henson don’t give a crap about his art. What they are defending is society’s right to approach matters of free speech and censorship with a clear head and reasoned debate rather than letting the fickle whims of moral panic decide what is acceptable or not.

So, with that in mind, as long as no parent and no subject of Bill Henson’s work has alleged abuse on his part can we please stop demonising the man himself and just talk about the content and the context of the art work?

Also:
“If you can’t sell it in England, is it art?”

That’s the weirdest definition of art I’ve ever heard. It’s definitely a good laugh, but I don’t think the measure of somethings artistic merrit has ever been defined by it’s appropriateness as a commodity in England before.

Fetish? based on what evidence?

You know it’s okay to say you don’t like Bill Henson’s work without writing vicious lies.

@Matt: I’m waiting for it also.

@Bob: Fred Nile’s best work undoubtedly.

@Stush: Yeah, the ‘next’ worried me as well.