Comments on: Henson: out of touch artist or evildoer?

By: Generic Person

Generic Person — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 12:41:31 +0000

There is no complexity in this issue. It is not right for any artist to canvass potential naked models in school playgrounds. Simple as that. The headmistress should be ashamed for allowing Henson the freedom to roam playgrounds!

It is not the same as a theatre company or advertising agent search for talent. Why? Primarily because they are not seeking subject for the purpose of photographing them in all their nude, prepubescent innocence!

You got one thing right: artists are totally detached from the concerns of real people.

By: Catherine Bannister

Catherine Bannister — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:00:43 +0000

The thing that has annoyed me about this argument is that it’s all emotion and moral outrage – and that’s on BOTH sides. There are those who will not countenance the slightest nudity of children – Rudd and Hetty Johnstone, for instance. Then we have the “all censorship is evil” brigade, likening any sort of restriction whatsoever as equivalent to Hitlerian book burning. Both stances are probably wrong, and emotive. If we as a society really want to get to the bottom of this argument, as I’ve suggested in my letter, then we need to do a survey of many children who have been the subjects of nude photography, and determine how and whether any have been affected. Do any regret it? Or conversely did it increase their confidence in their bodies? Treating the issue calmly, rationally and scientifically is the only way to come to a valid conclusion.

So, who’s up to it? My vote goes to David Marr, but then it might make an interesting honours project.

By: shane

shane — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 03:04:31 +0000

This whole episode is an excercise in finding the gray line. As was mentioned there is no porn accusations for Anne Geddes who photographs babys naked and no accusations for photographers photographing tasteful adult nudes, so where is the line? Is it at 16, is it at 18 or does it even matter if the shots are tasteful and with parental consent?
These are personal judgement calls best left to the people involved,we need to have enough faith in people to raise their children with the values they themselves hold and stop interfering.
If the childrens wellfare is the true concern, these moral dogooders should think about how this media storm has effected the children at the center of this.

By: zoomster

zoomster — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 09:52:54 +0000

Actually, the bit that got me most was him saying to potential sitters that they didn’t have to be paid if they didn’t want to.

I hope he takes the same attitude to his clients – “Oh, yes, you can pay me money for that photo…or you can just take it, I don’t mind.”

If you are going to make money out of somebody else, then there shouldn’t be any question about it – you should pay them. If they then give the money away, donate it to charity, don’t bank the cheque, whatever, that’s their business.