Melbourne City Council to pre-approve artwork, keep sex mild
August 27, 2008 – 8:19 pm
Here I was thinking Queensland was going to be the only State to flex its censorship muscles this month, but now Victoria has entered the ring.
Curators and owners of Melbourne City Council funded galleries will need to alert the council to potentially controversial pieces ahead of schedule for approval by a review panel before going on public display.
MCC wants art containing sex to be mild, violence to be non-threatening and drug use to be discreetly implied.
The public artwork protocol report ruled depictions of sex should only be “mild”, drug use “discreetly implied” and violence should have only a “low sense of threat or menace”.
“What it does is give a clear direction to artists and management about what is acceptable and where it is acceptable,” Cr Brindley said.
“Politicians shouldn’t be moral guardians, they should just set standards and ensure they are adhered to.“
Setting standards is playing moral guardian when those standards are based on morals Cr Brindley.
Council minutes suggest the review panel will not require a complaint to investigate and can address controversial issues as they arise.
Their 2004-2007 art protocol stated that council in no way defines a role for itself as a censor, but after the Henson and Olympia Nelson cases, the Van Thanh Rudd rejection and pictures of a naked man near Flinders St Station, MCC looks to be worried.
Van Thanh was invited to submit his work for the Council's Ho Chi Minh City exhibition, but event organisers didn't approve.
I’ll leave you with a quote from John So. In the meantime, keep it mild down south.
‘Melbourne is Living the Arts every day. The City of Melbourne is committed to fostering an environment where the people of Melbourne can participate in the arts, where artists and creative industries are encouraged and where Indigenous art and culture is valued and respected.’
3 Responses to “Melbourne City Council to pre-approve artwork, keep sex mild”
Don’t worry, I’m sure there is plenty of room in the themes of “views of the Blue Mountains” or “well-muscled diggers standing under a waving Australian flag” for the artists to explore their creativity.
By Colin on Aug 27, 2008
I’m reminded of a line in Mel Brook’s “To Be or Not To Be”.
When the Nazi’s censored his play: “Without fags, Jews or Gypsies; there is no Theatre.”
By Stevian on Aug 28, 2008
Colin: Too bloody right. ‘Fence post in bush’ is always good as well.
Stevian: I’m sure we could sex up one of the above mentioned themes. ‘Sexy views of the blue mountains’?
By Mike on Aug 29, 2008