Category Archives: Society

Political, Popular Culture, Society

Pedophilia – Or Pedophilia Phobia?

18 Comments

Just what do you make of the raid by police on the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery in Sydney and confiscation of 21 photographs immediately prior to the opening of an exhibition by internationally renowned artist Bill Henson? Or the stated intention to bring obscenity charges against, presumably, the artist and gallery?

When the State starts brandishing the Arts censorship cudgel my reaction is usually reflexive and unequivocal condemnation. I say ‘usually’, because there are some cases that challenge the validity of a black and white stance on censorship. Freedom of artistic expression is vital to any society that calls itself democratic – except, I’d argue, where that freedom erodes democratic principles and/or the founding laws that uphold them.

In snuff movies, for example, the lives of those who involuntarily ‘star’ in them are extinguished – who but a fellow psychopath would march under placards of protest in defence of a director who claimed artistic license to murder? In my own rhetorical interests, this example is about as extreme as it gets. However, while I have not heard of any recent defence of snuff movies as ‘art’, the historical precedent exists in literature.

I refer to the works of the Marquis De Sade. Sade is said to have pushed the boundaries of hedonistic libertarianism to torturing and killing prostitutes for sexual gratification, and to have drawn on this experience in his pornographic writings. Continue reading Pedophilia – Or Pedophilia Phobia? →

Popular Culture, Society

Happy Birthday From Who?

4 Comments

Yeah yeah, I know it should be “from whom“. This is the web, baby. Where you write emails in smaller case without punctuation, don’t start with the name of the person you’re emailing (seems rude to me…sorta like addressing someone you know well with “Oi you!”), and don’t put your name at the end (also seems rude – but that’s web etiquette).

Lookin’ at yas over a half-full glass, ’twas me birthday a few days back, and I’m thrilled to report that I received more birthday greetings this year – 7 – than I can remember receiving before (that covers the last 8 – 10 years, I suspect…you never can be sure exactly when that short-term memory mule kicks in). One was via Facebook, the rest emailed. And 4 were from sources I am only vaguely familiar with: Wishlist, Birthday Alarm, Astrology.com and Web2mail. Must have signed up with them some time. None sent presents, but it’s the thought that counts.

Cheers.

The Birthday Boy

Blogging & Internet, Media, Perth, Political, Society

Troy Buswell Quokka Soccer Blogger A Flogger

5 Comments

For those who have not bothered to google for the blog where the Troy Buswell quokka-kicking rumour originated, click here for the home page of the offending blogger, Matt Hayden.

Further down in my post (in blue) I’ve published in its sorry entirety this wanker’s stupid and thuggish quokka-soccer post incriminating Buswell, but for those who want to see it in its original context, it can be accessed here.

I am an active blogger, have long supported and promoted the cause of the citizen journo, and look upon the mainstream media with general disdain (and the Libs, for that matter). Going by the content and general timbre of his posts, the same applies to Matt Hayden.

But he has undermined the credibility of bloggers everywhere with his Buswell quokka post, which amounts to an act of blogging vandalism. The most outrageous instances of foul play can sometimes be saved by humour – sometimes – but Hayden’s quokka post was not remotely funny as it was written, and I do not believe it was intended to be. The tone of the post gave no indication that it was tongue-in-cheek as Hayden is now claiming. Continue reading Troy Buswell Quokka Soccer Blogger A Flogger →