Gittoes Speaking Part 1 - How to survive in a warzone?

[Djambatj]

George is no hero. He is dangerous, does stupid things in hostile environments which puts his security detail at risk, stages his photos and footage to sell his snake oil and then has the temerity to pass himself off as a lone wolf crusader exposing injustices. Why is it that George never works or is invited to work with a military unit, go or ngo twice. Read his transcripts on Kibeho; you would think he was the only journo on site or that the photographic evidence was all his own...

[zulufantail]

"Why is it that George never works or is invited to work with a military unit, go or ngo twice." Gittoes was sent by the Australian War Memorial to Cambodia and Somalia. In 1995 he went to Rwanda as part of the Australian Army PR team. Facts please.

[Djambatj]

George has not done any representational work for the ADF since 1998 in Bougainville. What you are talking about is over 10 years old. And thats the facts...

[H3l3N3LIZAB3TH]

Djambatj: The Australian government has employed him as a war artist to travel with troops and peacekeepers. i believe that his art is confronting but has a different outlook to the media. Have you looked at his sketches and paintings? they are really amazing, and maybe they are 'staged' but to 'stage' the scenes as horrific as he portrays them, there must be some truth in the situation. You cant "make up" the images he shows us.

[Djambatj]

Look, Gittoes has not been in th employ of the ADF for over 10 years. He got the boot because he's a pratt. And yes you can make up scenes from benign situations to make it seem dangerous and comfronting. If you like his art thats great, but don't think its the truth or represenational of being on the ground.

[314noceu]

The first casualty in war is the truth. Gittoes fights against violence. I'm happy with his bias. What about you ? Would you prefer pro-violence propaganda?

[Djambatj]

Two points 1) Gittoes fights to make money, he uses the medium of violence and violent conflict as his topic for achieving this. He is no more invested or interested in positive outcomes in conflict regions than a contract security guard. 2) I would prefer to see his work presented as an unbiased approach to reporting on violent confrontation, if that is what he wants to claim he is doing.

[Djambatj]

and one final point I am confucsed about with your comment; how can you use a throw away line such as "the first casualty of war is truth" as if to say that George is revealing the truth and then say you are comfortable with his bias? Is reporting or proporting an occurrance with bias not lying or is this tilting at windmills?

[benofrozzo]

ha my name is ben gittoes

[isotopeofoligarchy]

My hero too. Puts Hugh Lunn to shame.

[RushwayProductions]

My hero. I met this guy in 2001 at an art exhibition in my home town of Wagga Wagga and he was already my favorite artist. His stories are intense and his passion is amazing. I wish I could find somewhere to see 'Rampage'.

[WolfWolf13]

Rampage comes out in Australia in May i have pre ordered it at Ezy DVD try and get it from there