small minded neo conservatism still exists concerning the arts
Saturday, May 31, 2008, 11:44 AM - General, Relationships, Politics, Art/Design, Photography
I have been following the astonishing story this week of the photographer Bill Henson and the confiscation of his work from the Rosylyn Oxley Gallery in Sydney due to its "obscene content". I feel like we have descended back into the age of putting big, white bras on the African Ballet in the 1960s or the problems Max Harris had with his publication "The Angry Penguins" spurred by the Ern Malley Affair.
Bill Henson has been working for over 30 years taking similar photographs, I don't understand why all of a sudden he is the focus of such an attack. He is no stranger to controversy, but it still makes me wonder if the neo-conservative ideas and the censoring of artists which was put in place with the Howard Government and the Anti-Terrorism Act still exists even with our newly appointed Labour Government. Maybe, as artists we still have to be wary in Australia.
To read more about this:
SMH: Full Frontal Attack
SMH: Snapshot of a small-minded people
Henson exhibition shut down
He calls the shots, and lets audiences decide
and a new one by Germaine Greer:
The Age : Through a Lens Darkly
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"we all need Uncle Sam..." oh dear...
Friday, May 19, 2006, 11:08 AM - General, Politics
Oh dear, I wish Johnny would shut his mouth, in fact to have him permanently removed would be a fabulous idea.
This was lifted from The Sydney Morning Herald.
We all need Uncle Sam: PM
By Phillip Coorey Political Correspondent in Chicago
May 19, 2006
THE Prime Minister has launched a tirade against anti-Americanism, saying the world needs US influence as much as it ever did, if not more.
In an address to the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations John Howard aimed his comments at those inside and outside the US unhappy with the Bush Administration's foreign policy direction.
"To the voices of anti-Americanism around the world, to those who shout 'Yankee, go home', let me offer some quiet advice: be careful what you wish for'," he said.
"None of our global challenges, from defeating terror, to widening economic opportunity, to building a world order based on mutual respect, can be secured without American power and American purpose.
"It is vital, for America's interests as much as those of the rest of the world, that America not retreat.
"No dominant power in history has brought to bear the righteous force or generous countenance of the United States of America."
His speech followed a theme he had been warming to during his five-day visit to the US. He was to leave yesterday for Canada, and was then to travel to Ireland.
His talks with the Bush Administration reaffirmed Australia's solid support for the US in Iraq and Afghanistan and its desire for a United Nations-brokered solution to the Iranian nuclear issue. He also backed the US push for Europeans to drop their farm subsidies and embrace global free trade.
Mr Howard said that if the US retreated into its shell, darker and more sinister forces would start influencing the world.
"Without American leadership, the trials and tragedies of recent years could be but a prelude of darker days to come," he said.
Reasserting the value of free and open societies was the most effective response to terrorism and tyranny, and this was why Australia had joined the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan without hesitation, he said.
"I share your President's resolve to prevail in Iraq. Australia is with you. We will stay the course. We will finish the job."
To critics of the Administration, he said its effort had led to Libya renouncing weapons of mass destruction and Syria backing down, including reducing its influence in Lebanon.
Other concerns - the Taiwan Strait, the Korean peninsula, Kashmir, South-East Asian terrorism and the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction - all needed US leadership and engagement to be resolved, or even managed.
The rapid emergence of a global middle class, as evidenced in China and India, was "history's vindication" of US leadership.
"A global middle class would not have been possible without American power and purpose in the last 60 years," he said.
Mr Howard said the US was leading the way again in helping those still impoverished by promising to cut its own trade barriers, and he urged the Europeans to follow suite or the forthcoming world trade talks would collapse.
oh dear, we have been brainwashed haven't we!
"Not me" says the monkey!
Something along the same lines, if you are worried about the way the government thinks they can behave, especially concering anti-terrorism, this is a really good program: Writers at Como: "Global Justice" (All those "Writers at Como" programs are a reall interesting listen, you just need a little time).
My favourite quote out of this program was about "why hasn't the American government not appointed an ambassador? ... Because they don't need to".
I would like to point out I have nothing against Americans per se, it is just their bullshit president and his evil ways.
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illustration friday : e is for
Saturday, January 14, 2006, 07:34 PM - General, Politics, Music/Books/Film, Art/Design, Illustration Friday
So, above is my submission for illustration friday.
To explain.
It is an old illustration that I did for a christmas card; as my name is actually Emma and my husband's name is Eugène... we have the topic "E is for...".
As you can see there is an ee is the background, behind my crazy fish.
I went to the silkscreening studio again this morning, not prepared to do anything, which was kind of silly of me, but I have an idea now, I believe. To sum it up a bit, even though I haven't really told anyone what I am thinking of doing, I have been a bit disturbed by the fact that in Australia (I mentioned it near the start of my blog) there has been put in place the restriction of a type of freedom of speech that is happening due to anti-terrorism laws. What has pushed me over the edge of worrying about it and how low the authorities can stoop, I was listening to the Veganfreaks (again) yesterday and they had an interview with one of the Shac7. He was talking about what he did to get himself charged with being a "terrorist"... frankly, without going into it, it appaulled me so much, I am thinking of doing something about being watched. I have an illustration I have dug out from a year ago I never used and I am going to use it to illustrate, subtly, my disgust that people cannot express their beliefs because they might be supposedly inciting terrorism, which, in 95% of the cases, I am sure is far from the truth.
Apart from that I have a couple of purely visual ideas, so I take it all next week and we see what he thinks is a good starting point.
On a lighter note, have managed to finally sort out my Howiezine submission, it is done, ready to print... fabulous.
I also received my CDs from Asaurus Records, so I am pleased.
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long living glossary
Thursday, December 22, 2005, 06:07 PM - General, Relationships, Politics, Art/Design
Today, I dug out my long, forever still not finished glossary for terms to do with graphic design, printing, restoration, typography, bookbinding and (it seems) whatever else takes my fancy, for stuff I would like to know as a "designer" or whatever I have become here in France. It was started due to the fact I would go to interviews and have not a clue what the name of that was in French. Kind of embarassing really... "and this is a... a... I don't know the word in French... (smile wanely)"
Great! That would be a letterhead (papier en tête) or a brochure (same word) or perhaps even a business card (carte de visite)... see I have learnt something in the past year or so!
So, I thought a few weeks ago that I had lost the version I was doing in the week after returning from South Africa (yes, in August), as we had overhauled the computer and gave it a new life... but I found it again, so I have kicked myself in the butt basically. Enough teaching people English and not doing much but illustration, I cannot forget how to use the applications I was extremely fast in using before.
There was a reason that instigated this little outburst, but, I am not going to write it down and give it
power ...yet.
I did spend the day at the fabulous Prefecture, the shame of it all, they wonder why the foreigners riot! All day, didn't work. All for picking up my ten year residency card, true, I don't have to go back there again, but still ALL DAY (or close).
Aren't Mormons supposed to be God loving all compassionate creatures? The conversations these boys were having in the Prefecture were typical 18 year old stuff, except no girls, all blood and violence and stupid television. I guess they're allowed.
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cronulla riots
Sunday, December 11, 2005, 09:00 PM - Politics
I am really disappointed.
I find it hard to comprehend when people stop treating people according to their actions, and go directly to their race... lumping everyone into the same category. Why can't people look at cases where someone did something wrong and punish them for their actions, instead of inciting race riots? What type of world do we live in? We are all going to be heading for fast destruction if people just can't get along!
A Day at the Beach Becomes a Nightmare : Sydney Morning Herald
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