Art? Or Peodophilia?

[flubdub]

Here.
Where do they draw the line?

Also unethical.

No no no -these are NOT the same as photo spreads in 'nuts' - they're entirely different. It's completely arguable whether or not they are sexualised: I don't find them titillating or sexy at all, for example.

I wouldn't object if my child wanted to collaborate in a project like this. Truthfully.

But I have been brought up around contemporary art and don't fly into hysteria at the sight of a naked body.

My child doesn't have enough experience of life to give consent.

I can't ethically give consent for her in such a context.

Therefore, its exploitation.

Its a no-brainer.

"no excuse for a middle aged man to be taking photos like this of pubescent children, none at all"

Whats the fact that he's a middle aged man got to do with it? Or are you demonstrating your own prejudices?

Perhaps his "excuse" is that he is looking to create something artistic? Same reason any normal person takes a photo of something and exhibits it in public. Why must there be some sinister ulterior motive to it?

Taking it at face value, as I am, explain to me why the fact that he's a middle aged man is relevant? Explain why there must be an ulterior motive to these photos, and why we shouldnt be able to take them at face value?

I'd say its a breach of their human rights

I didn't say that they were the same. I just mentioned that men get arroused over those photo's which is fine. The women are concenting. They go into the shoot wit that in their minds. That's fine good for them.

These pictures may not have been designed for the same purpose but i am sure will get miss-used. That's what gets me.

I thought these photographs were disturbing and made me feel very uncomfortable.

Don't think they are appropriate.

I agree Camellia. And even if we do live in a society that is 'hysterical', would any of YOU lot want to use your 12 yr olds to push back the boundaries?

NObody has come forward and said they'd allow their own child to be an exhibit in this exhibition.

I wouldn't care who took the pictures could have been their Gran. It's the fact that they are public which is wrong.

Oh my God, Umbrella.

Umbrella- you would be happy knowing that there was a possibilty that someone was getting sexual arousal over you naked child!!!??

Yes littlemissbliss, there is an inference that anybody who objects to the context of these photos must 'fly into a hysteria at the sight of a naked body'

Rubbish. My own children love prancing about naked, and I have a photo of them naked in the bath. I took one of my son in his buggy naked apart from his shoes the other day, he looked so cute. But that is for me, to remind me of what they looked like when they were that age. I would never even show them to their friends!

I think me and umbrella said we might.

" and don't fly into hysteria at the sight of a naked body"

Neither do I. However, I still feel uncomfortable about these photos. It doesn;t make me strange. I just don't like them. It doesn't sit right with me. I don't find the photographs beautiful TBH. I find them intrusive and too intimate. The children IMO look vunerable.

it's getting a bit shrieky on here
shame
it's an interesting topic and has made me consider several things I hadn't thought about before

Well I'm so glad that I am my children's mother. I may not be perfect, but I wouldn't USE them to push back boundaries or whatever the fcuk in the name of art!

I actually thought the children in those photos looked unhappy, worried and sad. I don't the photos were beautiful at all.

I missed out the think after don't there

Franny- just out of curiosity what are they?

I think it's a shame it's getting shrieky too! Have given my point of view though and I'm happy with that so I think I'll leave it there.

I find the most depressing line of this thread so far by missbliss

'There is nothing wrong with nakedness. You see it everyday on the pages of nuts etc. '

I am not familiar with 'nuts' etc. Am familiar with nakedness, as I have a body and I know other people with bodies too, we all have them, and under our clothes we're all totally naked.

The fear seems to be that paedophiles may use these images or be aroused by them. So any image of a child could potentially be arousing to someone - and if this somehow is damaging to the child ,then it should not be possible in this society to photograph a child - I don't really see an answer to this, it's depressing and worrying.

I think if you start with the assumption that we're not all dangerous predators, and we only take pictures of children where they're not being forced, coerced, shown in an indecent or sexualised way - then there should still be room for seeing an image of a child without finding it problematic.