Restricting freedom

Where is that fine line that separates the appropriate from the inappropriate? “[W]ho controls the conditions under which culture is represented and alienated?” (Comaroff and Comaroff, 2009: 24)

Although it is a vague term, creativity conveys the idea of freedom in the expression of ideas; however, it is also defined by the originality and appropriateness of the idea. In the art world, societies have always questioned the appropriateness. But if appropriateness is questioned and artists reinvent themselves to stay within societal expectations… is it still creative if the ‘freedom of expression’ component has been compromised?

Bill Henson is an Australian photographer who has worked with landscape and pre pubescent teenagers for decades. Henson’s subject matter has caused many conflicts but none were as controversial or as publicized as his 2008 show at the Roslyn Oxley9 Gallery, Paddington. The police seized his work and Henson was accused of child pornography. Although accusations were dropped, new laws were passed where artists must pay the Commonwealth Classification to insure against prosecution if they create images of nude children (Taylor. A, 2012).

Personally, I still feel unsteady about the use of nude children in works, however, my main concern in this blog questions why the 2008 exhibition was targeted? As previously mentioned, he has used this subject matter for decades and sparked little conflict. After, in his 2010 show (also in Roslyn Oxely9 Gallery), where his collection consisted of fewer nudes, it sparked different opinions.

 “He ignited controversy- now he’s ditching it.”- Miranda Devine, 2010

 “It very different from last time…They were almost all nudes last time … he should have stuck to his guns and gone against the critics.” – Jilly Gibson -2010 Mayor of North Shore. (Devine,2010)

So how does this relate to education??

Creativity has been incorporated into many areas of the NSW school curriculum, whether it may be a group project creating an enzyme reaction experiment, performing a play or writing a story.

Artists create from outside the box but are hindered by societal expectations. Students are “encouraged to consider issues from many angles (Kenway and Bullen, 2001: 128),” but are often hindered by the need to fulfill certain government requirements and exams.

Therapeutic culture or your true authentic self is detrimental to society (Hall et al., 2003). In an educational sense, creative projects that do not meet the standards risk lower marks and the possible degradation of a school’s academic identity. The NSW school curriculum can be seen as the traditional culture, suppressing true self-expression in order to retain an appropriate society or good academic standing. In doing so teachers may teach to the test and students appropriate their thoughts to meet expectations the same way Henson subconsciously included less nudes in his 2010 exhibition.

References

Comaroff, J.L. & Comaroff, J. (2009). Ethnicity, Inc. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press. Chapter 3: Questions of theory.

Devine, M. (2010) He ignited controversy- now he's ditching. Sydney Morning Herald, [online] 7th May. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/opinion/he-ignited-controversy--now-hes-ditching-it-20100506-ugwm.html [Accessed: 13th September, 2012].

Hall, J.R., Neitz, M.J. & Battani, M. (2003). Sociology on culture. London: Routledge. Chapter 2: Culture, self and society

Kenway, J. & Bullen, (2001). Consuming children: Education-Entertainment-Advertising. Buckingham: Open University Press. Chapter 5: Designer schools, packaged students.

Taylor, A. (2012) Henson delivers a fresh body blow in latest show. Sydney Morning Herald, [online] 13th september. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/art-and-design/henson-delivers-a-fresh-body-blow-in-latest-show-20120912-25ss5.html [Accessed: 13th September, 2012].