Government urged to stop 'criminalisation of art'

Evarist Saliba

Mar 20th 2010, 12:07

"Art is anything you can get away with."
Andy Warhol, quoted in "The Observer" and reproduced in "The Week" of 20 March 2010.
Reader, draw your own conclusion.

Chris Fenech

Mar 20th 2010, 09:58

Why are people still calling it an article? Li Tkisser Sewwi is a fictional short story.

paul mizzi

Mar 18th 2010, 23:53

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70T5bIoefm4

A Chircop

Mar 18th 2010, 18:51

Part 2
@J Debono
I think you misunderstood the whole point. That story was not meant as a depiction of sex. It was a portrayal of a particular mind set - of someone with a crude, animalistic, totally self centred and destructive view of sexuality. The language used is meant precisely to convey the mind set and value system of such a character, just as on film actors must think, act and talk like the characters they are portraying, to be credible. Also, a portrayal is not an endorsement. Graphic portrayals are often meant to show how ugly or cruel certain things can be, not to promote them - the opposite, in fact.

When the movie 'The Devil's Advocate' was released, I knew a few people who had their little "innocent" souls shocked by the scene where the Devil is revealed and starts mocking and criticising God. Well, hello, it's the devil talking. Do you expect him to praise God? I consider that scene one of the greatest ever interpretations done by the great Al Pacino. What a loss to the world if that scene had not been included, just because someone may have felt offended!

J. Debono

Mar 18th 2010, 18:32

@ Chris Frendo

I respect your opinion when you said, that you consider "Li Tkisser Sewwi" a form of art.

However I beg to differ.

If this article was put on sale in a designed shop (of which unluckily in Malta there aren't any available), and whoever buys it knows what he/she is buying, I would say nothing against this article.

BUT this aricle was distributed free!! and that is what I am against - the free distribution!!

I am not against pornography, but if they show pornographic content on a local station at 8pm, I would be the first to protest.

FYI I'm 28 years old. I'm not that old that I'm scandalised easily, but I would never dream of showing this article to a 14 year old! or to my future children, if any!

A Chircop

Mar 18th 2010, 18:27

This topic sparks the inevitable debate about what exactly constitutes 'art'. Some seem to define art as that which is aesthetically pleasing to them. This is of course highly subjective. Others seem to be of the view that anything which is against their value system, their idea of morality, or simply outside of what is comfortable and proper to them, must be suppressed. Again, this depends on the value system of the observer.

If we accept that the basic premise of art is about exploration and self-expression, then some of it is bound to explore certain areas in certain ways that some will find distasteful. It's value, however, may actually lie in its ability to 'shock' and force someone to think about things differently, and probably there are many people who need to have their little, narrow minded, sheltered souls shocked way more often. Something may be ugly as all hell, but still be of value precisely because it can force someone to confront an unknown reality, so something could well be 'beautifully ugly'. An important reason for art to exist is to cause emotions, and these can be comfortable or uncomfortable.

(Continued)

Chris Frendo

Mar 18th 2010, 17:36

@ J. Debono

"1. Did you read Li Tkisser Sewwi?
2. If yes, do you consider this article as art? as its author is claiming it is?"

"There are many ways to describe the sexual act, without the need to resolve to the most vulgar, crude and disgusting words used in this article."

Yes I have read the article. And yes, i consider that a form of art. Not all art is meant to be nice or for entertaining. The whole point of this article was to raise awareness and to show the low level that people who fit the description of the man in the story can reach. Whether we like it or not, it is a fact that there are many people who fit this description very easily... and that is the real concern. I suggest you hang around with some teenage groups to verify
my statement.

Frans Attard

Mar 18th 2010, 17:24

Sinjuri Ministru u Segretarju Parlamentari, ahjar ghalissa thallu li kollox jimxi skond il-ligi ezistenti ghaliex wara kollox din il-kwistjoni ma kienetx fil-program elettorali taghkom. Fil-kaz qisu li tikkluduwha fil-program ta' qabel l-elezzjoni li jmiss.

Maria D.Sacco

Mar 18th 2010, 17:09

Yes, stop criminalisation of ART. The emphasis is on art. "Li tkisser sewwi" is not art.

Clive Gerada

Mar 18th 2010, 16:24

I am absolutley against criminalization of Art, but in this case such a report should not have been exhibited infront of minors. It should have been put on an exhibition with other similar writings instead of being published. Then leave it to anyone's choice if they would like to visit the exhibition or not. This already happened with a local visual artist, who had the wise idea of letting the public uncensor his art, without the risk of being prosecuted :)

J. Debono

Mar 18th 2010, 15:42

@ Chris Frendo
"The argument should not be whether such articles are artistic material or not... the whole point of freedom of expression is to allow those who wish to write an obscene article filled with 'foul language' the right to do so. They have a right to shock"

actually yes, the whole argument is "criminalisation of art" - let me ask you a question, actually 2

1. Did you read Li Tkisser Sewwi?
2. If yes, do you consider this article as art? as its author is claiming it is?

In my opinion this is not art, and to defend it as art is ridiculous.
Regarding freedom of expression, I will repeat, the words used in the article, should not even said aloud, let alone written, published and distributed free.
It is not the idea or the content I am against, but the way it was written.

There are many ways to describe the sexual act, without the need to resolve to the most vulgar, crude and disgusting words used in this article.

Joe Azzopardi

Mar 18th 2010, 15:03

At least these arts people signed for something that makes sense as opposed to those arts people who voted against Piano's plaza / performing space.

The answer to all those who don't like the story in ir-Realta is very simple. DONT READ IT !! But NEVER think you, or any body for that meter, have the right to tell me I should not read it.

J Farrugia

Mar 18th 2010, 14:35

Chris frendo - no one has a right to shock. Your rights stop where others' right begin. These are not human rights. This is not freedom of expression. the man in the street blasphemes as much as he likes since no one stops him unless it is a man in uniform who has the power of the law behind him. No one has this right to shock. A human being , a civil one I mean, shocks himself when he is enjoying a football match with his family and suddenly out of the blues, a naked man or woman runs out on the pitch, naked as a jaybird. That truly shocks one and all. Is this right? The police have the right to arraign such a mad-dog in court and given the deserved punishment, either in a lunatic asylum or in prison. No one has a right like that. Otherwise we would be living in the jungle. At least I dont live in the jungle.

MBorg

Mar 18th 2010, 13:30

Art celebrates beauty in various forms. Nobody should be allowed to use vulgar coarse language and blasphemy and cite freedom of expression and artistic freedom. If this is "art " we will all be better off without it. Nobody should be allowed to offend in the name of " art ".

Edward Vella

Mar 18th 2010, 13:25

A group which represents 90 authors, artists and other people involved in culture, has written to the Minister of Justice and the Parliamentary Secretary for Culture urging them to stop the 'absurd criminal proceedings' being taken against editor Mark Camilleri and author Alex Vella Gera for their article in Ir-Realta.

Can anyone of these 90 people point out the artistic and literary value of the article "Li tkisser sewwi ..."

Not everything that is written is considered art.

laurence schembri

Mar 18th 2010, 13:24

While you`re at it might as well censor Chaucer and Boccaccio.

laurence schembri

Mar 18th 2010, 13:14

@ P Attard
What do you want exactly? Make up your mind, please.

paul mizzi

Mar 18th 2010, 13:08

oh my god! how low can we get having you people not understanding the difference between a rude or obscene attitude (pornography) and a literature ABOUT a rude or obscene mentality. I keep praising Alex Vella Gera for really managing to switch on this argument about the real values of man! who can disagree with the fact that he SUCCEEDED in doing so? I would say, hail to AVG for daring to cross boundaries to spark some thought in some otherwise alienated minds!
Well done also to Grupp 29 for the initiative.

E.Muscat

Mar 18th 2010, 13:02

@P.Schembri:lady chatterley's lover is not a classic : it was a 'cause celebre' which was read because of the first use of four letter words and graphic sex descriptions which has now developed into fully blown use of swear words and other obscenities which can no longer be disguised as 'art'.

Chris Frendo

Mar 18th 2010, 12:46

@ J. Debono

The argument should not be whether such articles are artistic material or not... the whole point of freedom of expression is to allow those who wish to write an obscene article filled with 'foul language' the right to do so. They have a right to shock,

If the article offends a specific person, then you may have a point... and I insist on 'may'. On the other hand if the target is society at large, then it's too bad if people are offended. Otherwise we would be bordering on the insane and may start arraigning people for swearing in football grounds, in kazini etc etc... ohh and most of the young boys at school who speak/boast just as the man in the said article.

K. Pullicino

Mar 18th 2010, 12:42

Why should we legalize the act of insulting our society? Artists should be encouraged to be constructive and offer reasonable proposals not be allowed to get famous by causing useless controversies.

Also, by the way, taking a piece of canvas and filling it in with one colour does NOT make you an artist. In my opinion, art in Malta leaves much to be desired before these artists can claim that their art is being repressed.

At this rate, we're going to reach a point where someone can insult someone else and no one can do anything about it.

Finally, Alex Gera should face the consequences of breaking the law, not foment chaos in hope of getting away with it.

C.Borg

Mar 18th 2010, 12:34

I just listened to Dr Dre album 2001 and ohhhh I am so offended I can't even look in my partner's eyes!
Cmon.....Get a life!
Shall we ban all music cds being sold because they contain the word F*CK or B*TCH? Those are rude words too!
Censorship is something which is intollerable in a democratic country. What might be offensive to you may not be to me so who are you to tell me what to read, listen and watch?
Re the story by Mr Gera, I read it and feel it is the whole truth because I met people who have that mentality and yes they are disgusting. In fact these people are disgusting and not the story written about them!
Our country really needs to grow up....we have more important issue to tackle in the interest of the whole population!

P Attard

Mar 18th 2010, 12:34

Do the 90 authors actually consider "Li tkisser sewwi ..." literature or art? Just like "Stitching"? Free speech and free expression in whatever form and style, yes. But I do not wish to have an open mind wide open to rubbish.

Having said this, I don't want to see the "criminalisation of art", either!

Charles Sammut

Mar 18th 2010, 12:29

By all means fight against censorship of thought, speech and opinion. But not by using art as an excuse. This is not art, this is the sign of a sick mind.

P. Schembri

Mar 18th 2010, 12:28

To all those against. Read D. H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover" and "The Virgin and the Gypsy". These are classic literature. At their time they were deemed pornographic!

J. Debono

Mar 18th 2010, 12:11

Oh come on!!

Li Tkisser Sewwi is not art, and stop defending an article which has no artistic value, no literature value, and contains only swear and other inappropriate words, which should never be said aloud, let alone written, published and distributed free!!!

The article is only about depicted men as pigs, and women as sexual toys, whilst using the most vulgar and obscene words that are available in the Maltese language!!

I am all in favour of freedom of expression and artistic freedom, but without using foul language.

E.Muscat

Mar 18th 2010, 12:11

How many of these so-called artists also signed the 128signature protest against the proposed Piano plan for the opera house site?

J Farrugia

Mar 18th 2010, 12:09

art does not mean pronography, art does not mean blasphemy, art does not mean vulgarities. If THIS IS ART, Then let's fight this type of 'art' wwith all our might and spirit. No one will have a licence to insult by 'art'. We will not have the word art corrupted as someone already has corrupted the word 'gay'.