Calanen you were wrong buddie (Bill Henson 'obscenity' case close to collapse)

[Violet Fashion by Mindy]

No charges against photographic artist Bill Henson
Controversy over images of underage girls


POLICE will not prosecute artist Bill Henson over his photographs of naked teenagers, declared "mild and justified'' by Australia's Classification Board.
New South Wales police previously said it was "likely'' the artist would face prosecution after officers stormed Sydney's Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery last month, seizing 20 of Henson's photographs of a naked adolescent girl and boy in response to a complaint.
An investigation into the photographs by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has been completed and submitted to NSW Police.
NSW police today indicated charges would not be laid.
Central Metropolitan Region Commander Assistant Commissioner Catherine Burn said police were obliged to investigate the works following complaints from the public.
"Police did receive complaints and this has been a matter of significant public concern and debate. This is a complex area of law,'' she said.
"Matters involving the law and art are notoriously difficult and that is why police sought this advice.

"We looked at the possibility of breaches of the Crimes Act. The advice given to us is that a successful prosecution was unlikely.''
The Classification Board's latest review of Henson's work looked at a May 25 online blog which included a photo of naked adolescent female facing the camera, her genitals obscured by shadowing and her arms.
Her breasts were visible.
"The author refers to the image as the one 'that has created all the fuss amongst Sydney conservatives and led to their moral outrage,'' the board's report says.
"They are suffering deeply from a big disgust at the ******ised images of naked children. So here we go again on another round of banning and closing down art exhibitions'.''
The board ruled the image appears legitimately within the blog, but should be classified PG.
"In the board's majority opinion, the content contains an image of breast nudity that alongside text which includes references to child ****ography, pedophilia, child ******isation and exploitation, creates a viewing impact that is mild and justified by context,'' the board report said.
The works were expected to be returned to the Roslyn Oxley9 gallery, police said.
No charges will be laid against the gallery.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23819320-2,00.html

[Calanen]

I wasn't wrong.....I actually said that the Director is very sensible and if they are not to be tried, he wont try them. The Director has made a decision not to try them, and why the decision was made, we will probably never know.

But as to the wisdom of ever having pictures of und3rage people, whether considered 'art' or not, I stand by my comments - you risk being prosecuted and subject to heavy penalties. The fact that it was a risk, was demonstrated by the police investigation.

Whether a person will actually be found guilty or not, is always up to the jury. And to whether they are tried, to the Director.

That said, it is not necessarily over. The Attorney General can still try them, even if the Director says No.

[Bia]

I often feel many that cast stones.... especially in this arena.... need checking into themselves.

heh

[T3ngu]

Either way Min, 90% of the population thinks its inappropriate.

[PeterRJG]

Either way Min, 90% of the population thinks its inappropriate.

x2

I guess opinions are going to be divided down between those who have kids and those who don't.

I have kids, two girls, and I think this Bill Henson thing is sick.

[Eztyga]

I often feel many that cast stones.... especially in this arena.... need checking into themselves.

heh

Yeah, I seen 'em before they got pulled and I couldn’t really see much that was obscene or offensive about them. My only concern would be the ‘dirty mac brigade’ getting their jollies from them.

If I was wandering through the gallery and I saw some bloke giving it a shuffle through his happy pocket, then I would be obliged to give him a slapping.

Youth has long been a subject for artists. Just look at the painting Chloe at Young & Jackson’s in Melbourne as an example.

I guess artists are just a bunch of wanky old pervs…

Ezy

[PeterRJG]

I often feel many that cast stones.... especially in this arena.... need checking into themselves.

heh

Or they have kids of their own they don't want rock spiders perving at. So, I will cast stones. Big fvckers too.

[Eztyga]

Or they have kids of their own they don't want rock spiders perving at. So, I will cast stones. Big fvckers too.

You have to look at the circles these 'arty' types move in. I know, I surrounded by the feckers in Potts Point and tossers that drive three suburbs just to eat at resturants near where I live, just so they can say they have been there. I usually pass by them with pizza box in hand...:)

Anyway, I get invited to a lot of poncy bullsh#t events by one of my neighbours, I only go so I can scoop handfuls of canapes into my gob and swill their piss for nix. Mate these pricks have no idea of reality, it is like another world. I think it is a load of wank, the Bill Henson stuff is seen by them as pushing 'artistic boundries'. I can understand why mainstream Australians are offended, but this lot don't.

Would I buy one of his photos? No, not really my thing. I wouldn't want it on my wall, most of the birds I pull have kids, so it might be difficult to explain that I'm not some dirty old pervert. :oops:

In any case I wouldn't buy one, but on the other hand I can't really see why people got up in arms about it when this sort of stuff has been shown on a regular basis for decades.

Ezy