Kevin Rudd on Bill Henson

[strangebugger]

If I were serious - that would be hilarious, however, unfortunately I am merely obtuse. Strange like a banana and salami sandwich.

[strangebugger]

what's this got to do with the muppets, or that Henson bloke?

[poltoons]

@strangebugger: are you serious, or just being a strangebugger?

[AnniieBObanniie]

did u know that even during the renaissance nudes were controversial.. so because this artwork is outside the mainstream now, it does not mean it will be in say.. 10 years time.

[JustaThoughtInMind]

Right now this sorta thing is a issue because its change. This in the future will be no big deal but right now alot of people dont kno how to handle it. Well that is my load of worthless words remeber nothings sacred

For those who are wondering wat exactly im talking about Bill Henson

[JustaThoughtInMind]

Try to not cloud your mind and limit yourself by perceiving everything in such narrow minded ways. Truly the people who find this disgusting are the perveted ones for looking at it as if it were porn. Why o why do we keep getting shitty conservative prime ministers. There are those who believe in traditional morals those who believe in todays morals the silent majority and those who believe in progression and change emerging values.

[liber8me]

excuse me? i think labors a bit more conservative wanting to censor the net.

[Gefilta]

I thought this was a funny video about Kevin Rudd ??? He doesn't know about art, but he knows what he likes. Personally I bathe my children in head to toe bathers so I never see them naked, nude or STRIPPED BARE AND EXPOSED!

[Gefilta]

What I meant to say was: I think this is a funny vid about Kevin Rudd, not reason for people to get hot under the collar about Jim Henson, or was it Bill Henson?

[poltoons]

Bill Henson's photographs aren't meant to be warm and fuzzy... what did you find disturbing about it?

[jake4561]

Too be perfectly honest the painting was disturbing :(

[PoetPerson]

Mr Swagonwheels is a wowser, just like a religious fundamentalist who will not concede to logic or reason even if spoon fed it.

Your animation is interesting on several fronts. Rudd is the second PM in a row whose ignorance of and contempt for art became obvious very early in their reign. The "I don't know anything about art but I know what I like" position has been around for years and exposes the type of ignorance book burnings are made of. Rudd made a direct appeal to the Swagonwheel brigade

[poltoons]

Yes Poet,but I can understand the position of those who cannot accept that an image of a naked underage girl or boy could be acceptable in *any* context.

I just wish that they - Mr Rudd included - would consider all of the arguments before reaching this conclusion. Heaven forbid they actually try to engage with the work!

In my opinion, a society that cannot, through art, explore some of the deepest existential and philosophical questions, is a diminished one.

[PoetPerson]

I can understand how underage nudity can be unacceptable to some too - especially those who've experienced child abuse - and until I heard the context of the photographer's work from the mouth of the artist himself and one or two supporters, I initially had some questions too. The contradictions - corporate and organized pedophilia vs anti pedophilia/ moral outrage - cloud judgements and put anything even mildly connected into the same basket of reaction - esp. to art. Chilling.

[liber8me]

so long as they arent sexualised i dont see a problem in dude pics of kids. otherwise why not ban parents from taking pics of the bubs in the bath?

[poltoons]

You ought to call me 'Sir', not 'Madam'.

You make a lot of assumptions in your posts, and I have no further interest in entertaining your blinkered assessment on this issue.

You're not interested in discussion, you just want a platform to trumpet your bias and bunkem.

Good luck with your crusade.

[swagonwheels]

Madam, I have plenty more to say to anyone who tries to brush this event under the carpet.

Hensen's behaviour would, under any other circumstances, by any other person, be classified as that of a child abuser.

No way could any other Adult do what he did, and walk away Scott free.

I will be keeping this issue alive until I see the law changed to ensure the laws that apply, apply to all, without any exceptions.

Hensen stepped over the line of acceptability, and he knows he did.

[swagonwheels]

It's got nothing to do with porn, art, sex or nudity, it's about the abuse of children by parents and perverts who call themselves Artists or Art lovers.

It's about the rights and privacy of children at the most sensitive age of their lives.

For Pete's sake, we are talking about human beings who have been exploited because of their age.

It's paedophilia, it involved child abuse, in that it betrayed trust.

The law must be changed to stop this sick behaviour.

[poltoons]

..and yet department stores and others are able to sell their clothing ranges by using child models to pose for their advertisements. Are these children not also being exploited? Or do they just really dig David Jones' latest range of kids' knickers?

[swagonwheels]

If a child who is "fully clothed" in "age appropriate" clothing, then models those clothes, it's perfectly acceptable.

When a child is made up to look like a much older woman, that's perverted, and I agree with the criticism that kind of things gets.

This little girl was photographed naked by a man who was not one of her parents.

Under any other circumstances, that man would be facing charges, and we all know that.

Children must be responsibly protected, their life is still ahead.

[poltoons]

As a parent, I would personally not like my child photographed in girly knickers and the image sent out to a million domestic mailboxes, age appropriate or not. These catalogues are a source of titillation for paedophiles.

Anyway, that's by the by re: this video. The video was commenting on Kevin Rudd having made the comments he did as a man who admittedly was so drunk at a strip club he couldn't remember any of the details of his outing.

Thanks for the comments, by the way.

[swagonwheels]

Poltoons,

You have made two comments here, neither of them are relevant to the subject of so called artists taking naked pictures of some one Else's under aged children.

No body has stated they approve of children being put at risk, be it with an Artist or on a pamphlet, and as for Kevin Rudd's totally legal, adult behaviour, what on earth has that got to do with child abuse?.

[poltoons]

Bill Henson is not a 'so-called' artist, he is an internationally renowned artist. Nor are his images child abuse, else he would have been prosecuted. As it is, the controversional images have been returned to him and are free to be displayed at exhibition. Your observations are predicated on the fact that you think he is guilty of such abuse. My satirical observation is entirely relevant and entirely valid regarding our PM's conduct.

[swagonwheels]

You are being misleading, just as the charges that were attempted to be brought against that pervert Hensen were.

The charges alleged pornography, the photo's weren't pornographic, but they did show an innocent, under aged child naked.

That's what the majority of people are opposed to, not art, not nudity, not pornography, not sex, nothing like you've tried to imply.

Child abuse, ie, abuse of that child's trust by adults, that's what this is about.

The little girl has been betrayed.

[poltoons]

He hasn't been brought up on child abuse charges either.

I'm not being misleading at all - I'm a satirist commenting on one aspect of this episode.

If a photograph of an 'innocent, underaged child naked' is child abuse then I guess Anne Geddes is also, by your measure, a pervert.

[swagonwheels]

I don't care what examples of inappropriate behaviour with children you want to refer to, children are entitled to be able to trust adults.

Any adult who strips someone Else's 12 year old child naked, then displays that poor unfortunates photo's publicly, is a child abuser and a pervert.

You'd be the first to complain if someone violated you like that.

Show some humanity.

[poltoons]

You obviously have your opinion and it's different from mine - but don't lecture me about humanity or pretend to know what I have experienced as a child.

This is obviously a black and white issue for you, the intricacies of which you have no interest in.

Thanks for commenting and offering your opinion. I don't think you have anything further to add though.

[philjquitt]

Good news. No charges have been laid. The police have got it wrong, as per advice from the director of public prosecutions. It's in the paper this afternoon June 6 2008. Rudd the Dudd.

[chaiTV]

Um.. ok.. yeah, bit lame but on the right track. If I could animate, I'd make one of Rudd insisting he go and see the photos for himself.. next scene he is in the gallery inspecting the Henson images just a little *too* closely. He ends up buying the photos and gets cops to deliver them to the Lodge. Puts them in his bedroom above bed (maybe this last part not needed or changed.)..but you can have that idea for free!

[poltoons]

Your idea might be free, but it isn't even worth that much ;)

[rodstarr2001]

Hi cock sucker, how long have you been a pedaphile for? you sick fuck

[poltoons]

Right, so you're a commercial pilot who can't spell. This is a worry. On the other hand you are also a drummer. I bet I know which comes more naturally.

[rodstarr2001]

Oh it's you again, the sucker of many cocks!!

Art people are evil and satan worshipers

[poltoons]

..hey, I thought musicians were artists. Oh that's right, you're not a musician, you're a *drummer*.

[stinkoid]

Oh Lucien, you crack me up. :D