Nan Goldin's 'Art' Photography of her daughters

[NadineBaggott]

has been removed from an exhibition in Newcastle and is now in the hands of the police.

It depicts her daughters playing - one standing clothed astride her naked sister on the floor, leg akimbo facing the camera.

Comment on BBC news just now 'what parent allows their child's genitals to be depicted as art?'

I have a certain sympathy with that.

What do you think?

and I fully agree with this:

By kitsandbits on Thu 27-Sep-07 22:50:56
So if this is 'ART' a man can have this on his PC because it was taken by an artist??

But if he had another picture of a naked childs genitals - he can be done for possesing indecent images of children??

sorry fail to see the difference.

sorry just read happynows earlier post...

I think it is disgusting, i read in the times that Elton John owns that particular peice of "Art".

I think that this woman should be ashamed of herself, her own children and she is exploiting them for a reaction. I don't think of it as porn, because i just cant imagine somethign so sordid. But the artist must have known that people would be looking at her daughters and at best, wondering about the porn aspect of it. This is not a naked baby in the bath or splashing around in the swimming pool, this is an image of children effectively engaging in some sort of dance, that could, by some, be constude (sp!) as erotic.

It sickens me.

Also, mayb ethis is to controvertial for here - but does it do the girls any harm if a photo of them is on a sick man's computer? will they know about it? will ti effect them in any way shape or form? or will they not have the faintest clue it is happening???!!!

No, because its shite.

The naked child is the only thing about it that would raise any kind of reaction,

otherwise it would be boring

and how would their mum be famous then?

Child exploitation, no?

lucyellen, if you are being sarcastic psml

if you are serious

THIS IS NOT A THREAD ABOUT WHETHER THE PICTURE IS SEXUAL OR NOT, IT IS NOT ABOUT WHETHER IT IS PORNOGRAPHIC OR NOT

IT IS ABOUT WHETHER IT IS APPROPRIATE TO PUBLISH PICTURES OF NAKED GIRLS' GENITALS (MOST PROBABLY WITHOUT THEIR CONSENT)IN THE NAME OF ART AND MOST PROBABLY PURELY TO GET A REACTION

oo i don;t know, i;m just not that exorcised by it at all , i just think its ok. perfectly ok.

Littlebella - i am apalled by the ethics - or destruction of ethcics - in the showing of children in Supernanny, Wifeswap and many many relaity TV shows. I absolutely would not alow DS to be subjected to what children undergo in Wifeswap or the public humiliation of SuperNBanny.

But.....there are actually images of Ds as a baby in collages by a known artist - Ds is not naked, but he is surrounded by many pics of penises! Shock horreur.

that is why any pciture is pubolished - to get a reaction - and this one is getting a reaction - so that is good - its getting us thinking, which is what art should do, you don't have to agree with it, but we are debating it. perfect art.

if sexualisation and pornography don't come into it, then why on earth would it matter whether there is nudity in it or not?

doh.

Agree with all of sophable's posts

Nell - yes, i do think the question of consent is highly relevant.

Great we have reacted

Now how will those poor girls cope???

blu you disgusting excuse for a mother, how could you let your lickle ickle baby be used for the titillation of perverts in that manner. i'm calling the police and social services as I type.

cope with what?

Agree with PCS about art, BUT this is the privacy of the girl in question that's more of an issue.

Blu, am similarly appalled and will secnd sophs calls to social services. fankly surprised you have lasted this long without him turning gay.

how will they cope??

are you serious?

is this akin to, what, a bereavement, being abused, what? because you're making it sound like it!

I just dont understand how a mother could consent to this, whether she be the photographer or not.

so all those who think it's perfectly ok-

would you be happy for naked pictures of your child to be broadcast worldwide?
Would you be ok if they were found on a known paedophiles computer?

maybe I am overprotective, I don't know. I can kind of see your side of the argument- just can't agree totally with it

seriously saying we, as MN police as better placed to decide on consent issues for the girl than her own mother?!

I would be really annoyed if MN had to start providing consent for my kids to do things.

but the privacy issue applies to any child used for any means in any media. at all.

so where are the moggling mums??? lets string em up.

this thread goes too fast. help.

what do you think will happen to these girls if the paedos get their picture on their computer?