Practical Photography

Bill Henson, renouned for his nudes of adolescent like models, is now to be studied in Australian schools. Hensons photography has been loved and hated by the critics for years but it was not long ago police investigated the photographer as he exhibitednude teenagers in Sydney. No charges were laid but his photography is most certainly questionable as a curriculum subject.

Henson looks at lightness and darkness in his subjects but his subjects often prtray relationships between young boys and girls and his nymph like images of young adolescents caused his Sydne show to be cancelled after 8 days.

Is this really the sort of photography that young impressionable minds should be studying?

I’m all for artistic interpretation and pushing boundaries but I think that malleable minds should be kept innocent for as long as possible. There are other great photographers who do not provoke such controversy so why pick someone who has only recently been dropped form investigation?

I think art teacher and boards do not realise the implications of their actions a lot of them are failed artists themselves and crave the scandal assosciated with certain pieces of art, but they must remember they are in a position of responsibility to protect the children in their schools and classes.