'Beautiful architecture' prompted cemetery shoot for television
The photographer of a controversial fashion shoot at the Addolorata Cemetery was granted permission because he claimed he wanted to highlight the beautiful gothic architecture, the Department for Environmental Health said.
The department defended the decision to grant a permit for the shoot and insisted it was done in good faith while abiding to several conditions.
The photo shoot, televised on the weekly TVM programme Venere, has been criticised for being in 'bad taste' as the two female models sometimes had sensual facial expressions and positions that were deemed inappropriate for the location.
This spurred the Broadcasting Authority to issue a charge against Public Broadcasting Services Ltd, that manages TVM.
The BA complained that the shoot breached article 13(2)(a) of the Broadcasting Act which says that programmes cannot be accepted if they "offend religious sentiment, good taste or decency or is likely to encourage or incite to crime or to lead to disorder or to be offensive to public feeling".
PBS chairman Clare Thake Vassallo said she could not understand what all the fuss was about because the programme manager had asked for permission for the shoot, received it, and abided by all the parameters of the permit.
However, the Department for Environmental Health said the photographer filed an application with the Burials Administration Unit and the permit was granted under a number of conditions including "that any photographs taken in any film shot do not in any way contain anything that may be deemed objectionable".
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Jeremy Abdilla
Oct 26th 2009, 10:38
Please do get a life! I am presuming that none of you here have had the decency of watching the programme, because if you did, no one living in the 21st century and with a sane mind, would remotely object to what was seen. No graves or tombstones were shown contrary to what impression is being given. The cemetery was merely used as a passage way to the beautiful neo-gothic architecture within. This is not Afghanistan, Iran or some Taliban ruled country. Please do get a life!!
j neville ebejer
Oct 26th 2009, 08:05
Neo-Gothic. (19th century Gothic looking is called neo-gothic). Highlight the archtecture of the place Go try to have that believed by someone else - in order to have others appreciate it one needs to know it and appreciate it oneself.
The place is not just a neo gothic architecture. It is a place were the sentiments and beliefs of many are expressed by showing a form of respect whilst visiting the place. Now any commoner sees that and I believe media persons (should) even more, in any case or whoever does not see that at Addolorata cemetry lacks vision of the wholeness of a site which goes beyond just a structure.
it seems that is the case with this photo session shoot and many expect apologies.
Mario Zammit
Oct 25th 2009, 21:32
So Ms Thake Vassallo asks why all the fuss eh? Now that's proof of her unequalled sense of good taste and bon ton! She should know better that a cemetery is consecrated ground. It's the resting place of our dear departed where we meditate and remember what are our real Christian values. Shame!!!
Silvan Azzopardi
Oct 25th 2009, 16:04
Mr Ebejer is absolutely right in his comments, there is no need for a photoshoot to highlight the beauty of gothic architecture. Now that this insensitivity has been highlighted by several members of the public what is going to be done so that this state of affairs does not repeat itself again? It is of no use for the poeple to express their views without an end point to rectify the situation.
John Ebejer
Oct 25th 2009, 11:40
It seems it has become the in thing, now, for the people in charge to cry out what the fuss is all about. If anyone wanted to highlight the beauty of the architecture of the Cemetery, they should not have brought in models and poses! So, that wasn't the real reason behind the photoshoot and anyone saying the contrary, lies.