Assignment 3 - The Issue of Girl Models
This week we will continue to look at the issue of ethics - in the context of using children as models in photography. Please look at the discussion threads and ASSIGNMENT #3 on the blog: http://2011citvisualculture3.blogspot.com/
The issues raised by David Marr and Melinda Tankard Reist are all strong points that are being brought up time and time again with still no standard to what can be considered tasteful or exploitive. This is because photography as a medium can be interpreted in so many different ways by each individual based on beliefs and personal experiences.
I have a big belief in intent. I believe in life in general intent counts for a lot and particularly in photography. I personally view photography as an art from which has been developed through my years in college where art and photography were incorporated into the same class. The intent of Bill Henson's work in comparison to that of Vogue's publication are very different and have both been interpreted in many individual ways.
Bill Henson has taken images that are strikingly and technically beautiful. The context of these images I believe are to create art but art that displays a theme. The theme in much of Henson's work is dealing with young adolescents and the sexuality that comes with that age. 'The mad times we are living' is how David Marr describes his dissapointment in the reaction given to Bill Hensons work. He describes how Bill Henson has been demonised. It is understandable to see how people can react this way but it is also a shame that the public is not more understanding and open to others wiewpoints.
Another issue to be considered is what if these photographs were taken by a female not a man. Would there not be so much publicity surrounding the photographs? Would it be an issue at all?
http://www.roslynoxley9.com.au/artists/18/Bill_Henson/1222/43276/
Bill Henson's photographs bring up issues of agency and exploitation. Henson gained consent from both the parents as well as the young girls within his photographs and there fore did what is legally required. The uproar came from wether the young girl really understood the themes within the photograph and if she would later regret the photograph. It does raise issues of if someone did wish to retract a photograph it is a lot harder in this digital age with everything being distributed on the internet rather than just destorying a negative.
This then brings me to the 15 page spread of young girls that was featured in french Vogue. It is stated that the intent was to be a parody and I guess that raises a point as to the standard age of models these days. They just keep getting younger! It is all well and good to raise an issue such as this and to make a point through visual imagery the only issue is that instead of condoning it the meaning and intent is changed as soon as it was published with a fashion magazine. The audience is also then entirily different when published withihn this magazine and those whom are more likely to appreciate the beautiful clothes and perfection of the young girls as apposed to the otehr issues of how would the girls be trully able to understand this at such a young age.
http://faire-delamode.blogspot.com/2010/12/vogue-features-6-year-old-models-in.html
Being a photographer I can definatly see that there is a unique view and that the photographs are aesthetically beautifully constructed but it is hard to look past the age. I guess this can be similar to compassion fatigue in the way that there are so many sad images out there that the impact isn't as great, we have become desensitised in a way to the use of young girls because we see young females spread across the covers of magazines everyday.
