Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2003/06/14
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]In a message dated 6/14/03 12:08:43 PM, bdcolen@earthlink.net writes: << Since you don't know what happened - other than the reported facts that a 19-year-old female died under suspicious circumstances in the studio of a 56-year-old male photographer, don't you suppose you might be a bit premature wailing about the patriot act and other unrelated crap.>> Wailing? How come if someone disagrees, they're portrayed as wailing, whining, hysterical or the like? I'll try and clarify my point, and just you understand my emotional stance, I'm typing rather calmly, and not hysterically.... I offered the observation that because the man was older and was known for taking nude photos of younger women, that there is "hightened" scrutiny, perhaps suspicion, opportunity for scandal for people in his classification. Maybe you disagree with that observation, but not only do I photograph lots of nudes, I know a number of photographers who shoot in a wide range of nude photography (from cheesecake, to "fine art," to fetish fashion, adult content and the like.) There's a different kind of scrutiny and reaction to this type of work (and perhaps certain types of journalistic/political work) then if you simply shoot flowers or happy photos of people sipping espresso. Disagree with the observation if you wish. <<Of course other young women, whose deaths we know nothing about, have died in the last few days, but that's hardly an excuse for somehow rationalizing what happened to this young woman, whose death we have heard about.>> I ended my post with whatever the legal or casual reasons for this young woman's death, it was nevertheless a tragedy. I'm finding it hard to see how this is rationalizing. My point about the hundreds of other young women who have died in the span of the last few days is that you're not likely to read about it in the press, because the circumstances of their equally as tragic deaths are considered less scandalous because they weren't necessarily pretty, and/or nude or glamour models. << Would you be expressing such outrage at the prurience of society, and vindictiveness of prosecutors who may or may not be up forre-election, and would you be as quick to offer plausible 'innocent' alternative theories about the case if rather than photographer Bob Shell, the 56-year-old man had been a Republican member of Congress? Some how I doubt that you would>> Well if you were a member of the LUGFORUM you'd understand that I'm not too thrilled with sexually repressive democrats anymore than I am republicans. I have the personal observation that repressed sexual energy often comes out in the form of warfare or agression, but that's not the point I was making here. What I thought I made relatively clear is that none of us really know the facts of the case. Bob could be a big evil perv or he could be innocent or somewhere in between. In cases that involve sex, I don't particularly trust the media in their reporting of alleged events, nor do I trust press releases from prosecutors. I tend to like to wait until some sort of independent fact finding (i.e. less emotional, hysterical ) information has emerged from the haze of scandal. <<And Sally Mann, pornographer? I don't know about that, but I'll certainly buy 'Sally Mann, who advanced her career on the naked backs of her own children who were unable, as any young child is, to refuse to participate as subjects for their Mom.' ;-) B. D. >> Well, I guess the topic of adults taking (and publishing) photos of their children (nude or not) without their children's consent is a different topic isn't it? I was simply referring to the fact that photos of naked children, even your own are considered pornographic in some regions of the United States. I thought my original post was pretty clear and not too (at least for me) controversial. But then again, the LUG can be a pretty cranky place when veering from the staid topics of collector's edition M6's and Tilley hats. ; ) - -kim - -- To unsubscribe, see http://mejac.palo-alto.ca.us/leica-users/unsub.html