Prose

sexualization of children- the Bill Henson controversy

written by: alf hickey

http://larvatusprodeo.net/2008/05/28/questions-on-the-bill-henson-sexualisation-of-children-debate-continued/

While the law on this stuff is tricky, because there are real paedophiles, porn of children should be banned and more so child sex tourism must be policed, as the government tries to stop this- good on em.

But children innocent, I don't think so, children are exposed to and explore sexuality much younger today, younger than 12.

It isn't Bill Henson doing this, it is our normal society. Its this dark loss of innocence, that Mr. Rudd (while I like him) misses, and Henson portrays semi-well in my opinion- the truth is more graphic, dark and ugly, involves pregnancy, disease, suicide and death, drugs, forgotten children, adults before their teens !

As a society we have lost sight of the underbelly of what is happening to our youth, a very dark world. The denial of parents about this, because it might admit poor parenting is sad. Some of our families are more sheltered than others, but the moral depravity of our society, of which we are all members and partakers, is so dark.

Bill Henson's work seems to have a context. It is a dark picture of this sexualisation of youth and teens, (not sexualising- they are already sexualised by media generally and are aware of paedophilia young- so cannot be sexually innocent-sadly)

Henson exhibits a semi-accurate presentation of what is going on with kids. His work states the darkness of the underside of our "sheltered" western society.

Sexualisation ? The work itself is not sexual in nature, it does not evoke sexual arousal, or is aiming at that, it gives just enough information to indicate the age, sex, and state of the person presented. How can an artist tell a story of the abuse, innocence/lost innocence, the dark underside of what OUR SOCIETY is doing to children, without using children.

Nudity of the child has always been the norm for expressing the vulnerability of the child- remember that Napalm child from Vietnam for example:

http://www.gallerym.com/images/work/big/
pulitzer_nick_ut_vietnam_napalm_kim_phuc_
6872_L.jpg

While the law must sanction the presentation of underage children publically, art must also be given the liberty to present children as they are-vulnerable, lost, ambivalent, having lost innocence.

If Henson achieved this he might be doing society and our children a favour. If only this issue were framed that way.

As for the Wesley Anne (His studio is behind it), its probably that dark environment, which inspired the photos in the first place, its all their fault ! : )