Protesters mourn art at 'funeral march'
Some 100 people, most of them in black, this morning mourned ‘the death of art and freedom of expression’ as they marched down Republic Street and up Merchant’s Street in Valletta in protest at the country’s censorship laws.
The protestors carried a coffin which said ‘art is dead’ and stopped in front of the Cultural Secretariat in Merchants Street.
Ingram Bondin, from the Front Against Censorship, said that while last year there were at least six attempted cases of censorship, in the first seven months of this year there were at least eight.
This meant that the censorship phenomenon was on the rise, and that concrete action had to be taken immediately to avoid artists being criminalised and potentially sent to jail just because their art might be unpalatable to certain individuals.
The demonstration was also against the revision in the law which instead of decriminalising art which might have so called pornographic content for adult viewers, actively marginalised and persecuted it with harsher fines and jail terms.
He called for a more open and tolerant society and for the end of an inquisition style approach to art by the authorities.
There were no members of Parliament taking part in the protest although Forum Zghazagh Laburisti took part.
AD chairman Michael Briguglio represented his party and said htat AD was the only party that was clear and consistent in its position for the modernisation of censorship laws.
Although the PN was consistent in its position, it was ultra-conservative way and Labour tried to give the impression of being a progressive and modern party but this was the biggest electoral gimmick.
Satirical newspaper Realta editor Mark Camilleri accused the PL of changing its tune, first agreeing with all the Front’s proposals except for one on the vilification of religion but then voting with the government in Parliament when it came to the approval of harsher pornography legislation.
He noted, that although the draft cultural policy was a positive step forward, the country could not wait years for changes when people were still being taken to court and penalties were being made harsher.
129 Comments
Post comment
Please sign in or create your Account to post comments.
Tanya Briffa
Jul 26th 2010, 13:03
It is a pity that people like me, who can understand and agree with these protesters, do not choose to spend their time showing their support at a demonstration. Sorry guys. I am so sick of hearing about "Malta's values" and "We are Catholic" and all that rubbish. I'm sure everyone is aware that where money is concerned on this island, everyone is perfectly capable of putting aside their "values" for however long it takes of take care of Number One. And then we assuage our conscience by making a fuss about freedom of expression and divorce.
If you guys are so adherent to your religious views you should not worry about what everyone else does. Just don't watch the plays or read the articles that go against your beliefs. This trying to impose on persons with a different point of view is reminiscent of the Crusades and, more recently, the Taliban.
Teresa Pace
Jul 26th 2010, 16:03
Please speak for yourself. There are many of us who don't put aside their values for anything let alone for money!
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 26th 2010, 00:57
Oh come on this is just silly. You guys are talking as if the Maltese never heard of nudity or pornography and like nobody can have access to any such thing... GROW UP we're no longer in the middle ages nowadays everything can be accessed legal or not. ... therefore there won't be more pornography fans then there currently if laws against censorship are introduced.
And i don't find anything wrong in saying something regarding a religious official without harming him in any way.. in Malta people who talk against the church are considered as criminals and threated as some kind of terrorists. I see nothing wrong too in writing an article with pornographic and vulgar content as long as it doesn't harm anything or anyone... and believe me it doesn't. In the same way that no one is forcing anyone to read and watch everything... no one should manipulate what artists writers and producers should apply withing their works.
It is a matter of perspective... so i might not like what a lot of people would enjoy seeing.. we either ban everything or liberalize everything.. i guess second option suits best ;)
Joe Xuereb
Jul 25th 2010, 23:16
The Maltese don't do demonstrations with ease - they prefer the more private, armchair 'tgemgim' - which gets them precisely nowhere. It is a form of self-censorship when I think about it.
Demonstration in public takes commitment and a feeling of being comfortable with oneself. An agile mind and an articulate delivery.
John zammit. I too remember the 60s when I used to get angry at buy Italian Weeklies like Tempo and Oggi - what better way to learn Italian having left school - and finding that most weeks, what one bought was a few stapled pages reduced to smithereens because of heavy censorship. These were family magazines and the offending pics were actresses in two-piece swimsuits. Times have changed, seamlessly, it seems as far as such images are concerned.
There is no such thing as good or bad art. There is beautiful art and ugly art. And ugly can deliver a poignant message. After all life is hardly always a handful of cherries in a ceramic blue bowl with a beautiful butterly defecating on the least 'healthy' cherry. Point taken, I hope.
Pule' Carmel
Jul 25th 2010, 19:46
I am a little confused at permitting so many NORMAL people fight for their rights. Here we have people fighting for their rights for freedom of expression, elsewhere we have the Gay Pride marching for their natural rights for marriage and natural adoption of children, as they are perfectly normal, in other quarters we have normal people fighting for their normal rights to divorse and to separate, then there are those normal women who want their rights to abort, also the few who claim thier normal rights for euthenasia, now some normal people are claiming rights that normal prnography falls under the edge of some normal artistic function others are fighting for their rights with BOV after their normal investments went wrong with Lehman Brothers going normally bankrupt and so it goes on. As there is still this church busness with the Pedophile Priests , and the normal adjudicatin boards ,I am beginning to wonder whether these can claim to be normal as most of the above mentioned people and so they would be demanding their rights to do their bit in private and within the law as, in their own eyes they are as normal as any other person!!!
G Falzon
Jul 25th 2010, 17:55
Does all this have an impact of some sort on the famous Luqa monument now? Who is deciding what to censor? I presume one cannot be more public!? Two weights and two measures......perhaps depending on the author and/or who commissions the work!
B. Cachia
Jul 26th 2010, 14:07
Freedom of expression should be absolutely sacrosanct, but the Government spending public money to commission or purchase controversial works (to put it charitably) and displaying them in public places is another matter. The Government cannot act like some private art collector - it quite obviously does not have the necessary expertise (as can be seen in Luqa) and, even if it did, it is simply not its role to do so.
Andrew Farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 15:40
@ Frans Attard
"Halluha tistrieh issa f'qabritha ghax jekk tergaw taghmlulha funeral iehor ifisser li intom tkunu qtiltuha mill-gdid." Le, ta, sur Attard, ifisser li huma jemmnu fir-reinkarnazzjoni, fil-qawmien mill-mewt. Hahaha.
Martin Cassar
Jul 25th 2010, 15:13
I sometimes fail to comprehend people’s appreciation of democracy. Absolute democracy and absolute freedom including the freedom of expression never existed anywhere in the world at any given point of time. All democracies have laws for self-protection and protecting the entire society at large? What’s wrong with that?
Perhaps our comments too pass through the editor of timesofmalta.com for scrutiny and censorship if necessary. Again what’s wrong with this?
Censorship exists everywhere. I challenge anyone to mention just ONE SINGLE COUNTRY where absolute democracy and freedom of expression exists or ever existed. My challenge is open and wide to include Iran, Taliban, France, USA, Zimbabwe and Norway………etc
Is the balcony at your home a private of public property? Can someone sunbath nude in his/her own balcony?
Timmy Farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 14:48
if you find anything rubbish just dont watch it!!!!!! instead of crusading to ban it!!!
C.Busuttil
Jul 25th 2010, 15:52
There is no crusade, there is no censorship we just have a board that keeps the level of quality.
Humiliating and raping women is not the result of artistic qualities, but of extreme fantasies gone too far. Artistic nude is Michelangelo's David, that is the perfection of human talents. While the play that has been banned is the worst of human instincts.
HANDS OFF ART and don't confuse it with pornography.
Timmy Farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 21:48
"There is no crusade, there is no censorship we just have a board that keeps the level of quality. "
i tought it is the viewer who decides if something is quality or not. il say it again if you dont like it dont watch it. im not into films of rape so i dont watch them!!!!!
C.Busuttil
Jul 26th 2010, 01:29
Those who swear some could justify themselves by calling in Freedom of expression, shall we permit swearing in the name of freedom of expression?
Freedom of expression is a right we have achieved, however it can't be abused!!!!!!
Charlene Giordimaina
Jul 25th 2010, 14:44
STOP COMPARING MALTA TO OTHER COUNTRIES!!!!
Malta has certain values which if they are lost this country becomes a country 'just like the rest', and I don't want Malta to become just like the rest!!!
I'm not saying that we should censor all which kind of goes against these values, but I think that only some crazy guys would want to tollerate porn and all the other non-value stuff which some stupid people are in favour of.
Even if I'm the biggest atheist that exists in the world, I still would be in favour of censorship!!!!!
Miguel Micallef
Jul 26th 2010, 11:21
If Malta 'were a country just like the rest' I wouldn't have had to leave it in order to have a decent life.
Most of us do wish that Malta becomes a country just like the rest, and for once not be the laughing stock (or curiosity) of others.
Why do you insist on being the only country on earth with such a difference, where everything is done in reverse order?
gaffarena joseph
Jul 25th 2010, 11:27
Are they protesting to let that filth of a book be read by our children?
I, saw familiar faces in that protest,that have the media in their hands,. They bring up programs in our local TV,that some of them do harm to our society, and yet they were there protesting for more.
My God,some people are not happy with what they got trough the usual televiewers
that see them and take part in their money boom programs.
What is in their mind, maybe to bring nudity in our screens,and yield more money.
There should be a censor ,in not letting people expressing their personal sick mind to our comunity.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 25th 2010, 13:20
there is only one truly sick community > the one with lack of freedom of expression
Teresa Pace
Jul 25th 2010, 13:33
@ Jeremy N Grech
I guess it depends on the perspective of the person...if it is sick or not! Not everything goes under the title of freedom of expression. Okay...My freedom of expression is to go and paint the granaries, express my artistic talents with purple, red and so on and so forth. Why am I not allowed to do so? Am I not entitled to express myself under the excuse of freedom of expression? It damages the granaries if I do so, it is an eyesore for other people, it hurts other people,,,so I guess there is a limitation in freedom of expression and not everything goes! There must be a norm and this norm must be obeyed and that's just it! The norm is already stretched to the limits as it is.
Dani.Mangion
Jul 25th 2010, 13:50
This is all true Mr Gaffarena.
A rubbish society can only produce rubbish personalities! Us Junior College students were handed a univeristy news letter containing a lot of "so called" ART. Just to let you know that JC students vary from 16-18 year old, therefore there are under age students. I'm also disappointed that the Junior College Studenti Demo-KRISTJANI in one of their news letters sait that they are against censorship!
Charlene Giordimaina
Jul 25th 2010, 14:40
Mr. Mangion, at which newspaper or print are you referring please? Because I am an SDM member and to the knowledge I have SDM is in favour of cencorship, or at least its members are.
I am in favour of cencorship, and so are my fellow collegues. Please do give me the name of the print on which you read it and the issue number so that I can have a look. I assure you that there are 16 year olds that are in favour as censorship as well.
I agree with you Mr. Gaffarena..... I too cannot believe how certain people favour the distribution of rubbish among highly educated (or rather, are suppose to be) students.
D.Galea
Jul 25th 2010, 10:25
I have this idea that dinosaur became extinct because they became too self-righteous and got to the point where they were so shocked at seeing their own aroused penises that they collectively agreed to have them chopped off because they were deemed too shocking with the obvious consequences. Now of course his is ridiculous fable yet somehow depict a very real picture of the situation we are going through in this country at the moment, I believe it will be eventually superceeded, it is only just a matter of time.
alan falzon
Jul 25th 2010, 05:30
Just because 100 people were there does'nt mean only a 100 people are complaining.After reading comments here you realise that Maltese dont protest in public,they are scared of ripercusions.It's not about porn but about peoples freedom to express their views/opinions. If you dont like a painting then dont look at it. If you dont like a play then dont watch it.Nude photography is an artistic form of photography or is it porn for you people?An advert of a woman in a bikini on a magazine is porn?(these mags come free with the Sunday Times!)Should we stop them being published then destroy antique paintings/sculptures we have in museums?Should we do like muslims and make woman cover up on the beach? Copy Pakistan and block youtube?Who are you to condemn me for my morals? I live my life as i wish as long as i do not bother anyone.Funny thing: most people who complain never go to the theater nor to art exhibitions, most probably they wait for NotteBiancha to visit a museum because they have a free entrance on the night!FRANS ATTARD we MALTESE too so if you do not like our opinions then why dont you leave this island?
colin stanley
Jul 25th 2010, 10:29
@Alan Falzon. if we see the statue of David, in Florence or a painting of our Lady breastfeeding baby Jesus, that is not vulgar,that is art. but if you show us a porn star ,naked with a toy stuck up her JACKSIE ,that is vulgar.for your information,most Maltese don't like carbage art, but it doesn't mean that we are living in the stone age.
colin stanley
Jul 25th 2010, 10:44
@ D. Galea. Just asking. Do people like yourself and others that agree with you, run around NAKED at home in front of your family, so that you don't class yourselves with us ,dinosaurs. !!!!! please reply.
Adrian Attard Trevisan
Jul 24th 2010, 23:26
Censorship feeds the dirty mind more than the four-letter word itself.
- Dick Cavett
That was said a couple of centuries ago ... not during the manifestation
ms g hoare
Jul 24th 2010, 21:40
@ David Caruana WHAT SMALL MINDED YOU ARE you SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF YOURSELF , just because i dont agree with your morals doesnt mean you have to act like crap, i know it wasnt by coincident to spell my name wrong it shows how little MINDED you are is that a new word you learnt lately . GROW UP
colin stanley
Jul 25th 2010, 10:39
@David Caruana. maybe this is another sick interpretation of art, for you.
David Caruana
Jul 26th 2010, 09:56
I'm sorry for the typo, I will now grow up as per your request miss Hoare
lol
David Caruana
Jul 26th 2010, 10:11
I'm sorry for the typo, I will now grow up as per your request miss Hoare
lol
Frans Attard
Jul 24th 2010, 21:32
Min ma joghgbux jghix hawn jitlaq. Le ghal pornografija.
Kevin Saliba
Jul 24th 2010, 23:30
Jien tlaqt fil-fatt, biex ma jkollix għalfejn inħabbat wiċċi ma' certa nies, fost raġunijiet oħra. Madankollu ma jfissirx li ma rrid nagħmel xejn ħalli tingħata daqqa t'id biex forsi dal-pajjiż jinħareġ mill-għenieqeb tal-medjokrità kulturali u soċjali li għadu maħbus fiha.
Lanqas timmaġina kemm jiskantaw bina ċ-ċittadini Ewropej l-oħra ma jisimgħu stejjer bħal dawn. Mhux l-ewwel darba li jaħsbu li nkunu qed niċċajtaw meta ngħidulhom b'dal-praspar. L-ikbar waħda hi tad-divorzju - daqs 9 minn kull 10 persuni li nkellem ikolli noqgħod nispjegalhom li f'Malta ma hemmx liġi tad-divorzju. Kważi ħadd ma jafha din, għax m'hemmx xi ngħidu, għax ta' "ċwieċ" li huma jassumu li għandna. Ħeħ!
J. Falzon
Jul 24th 2010, 23:52
Hallsilna int u mmorru siehbi
Ma kinitx ghazla tieghi li nitwieled Malta, imma la qieghed hawn irrid nara x'naghmel biex l-opinjonijiet u l-ideat tieghi ma jigux iccensurati
Dan il-Front hu wiehed mill-ftit gruppi li ma jibzax isemma lehnu. Hafna ahjar min-naghag kattolici li hawn f'dan il-pajjiz li jghidu hafna imma azzjoni zero(iz-zewg partiti politici inkluzi)
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 25th 2010, 01:23
ghaliex ma jitlaqx allura min ma jogbux lfront kontra c censura? Malta tieghi daqs kemm hi tieghek :)
alan Falzon
Jul 25th 2010, 05:36
jekk ma joghgbokx ghaliex ma titlaqx int?
Timmy Farrugia
Jul 25th 2010, 10:10
if you don't like pornography dnt watch it!!!! in other countries it is widely available and nobody makes a fuss about it. who wants to watch it can purchase it or watch it at a porn cinema and noone sticks their nose in!!!!!
Frans Attard
Jul 25th 2010, 10:25
Jiena ma jippurtanix x'jghidu dwar ic-censura tal-pornografija f'Malta ic-cittadini l'ohra Ewropej, bhal ma jippurtanix kif jghixu huma. Jiena hawn qieghed, u ghal grazzja tal-hanin Alla, kuntent li nghix hawn bid-difetti u l-pregi kollha li jezistu. Jekk xi darba nasal biex nghid li hawn ma joghgobnix nitlaq, ma nkunx l'ewwell wiehed.
U bil-haqq, nispera ma jghaddux xi sitt xhur ohra u jerga jsir xi funeral iehor ta' dik l-arti. Halluha tistrieh issa f'qabritha ghax jekk tergaw taghmlulha funeral iehor ifisser li intom tkunu qtiltuha mill-gdid. U dan mhux sewwa!
david bugeja
Jul 24th 2010, 20:43
pleased to see so much comments to an art-related article!
regarding censorship, the law states that a content/work would not be censored unless it is considered as art.
now i would like to ask: what is art? And who has the competence and the right to classify something as art? is it the artist? the lawyer? the church? the politician? the philosopher? the general public? Art is very difficult to define and its not straight forward. For those interested, check the recently-published literature written/edited by authoritative figures - such as 'Aesthetics' by Oxford Readers.
I think we also have to clearly define the 'danger' or 'offence' that may be caused by artists ..and to whom its detrimental. Maybe we can also consider rating artistic works so that the mature audience can still access it.
and lastly, may i point out that we also need to define the difference between nudity and pornographic. do not forget that artistic works are also censored for other reasons - such as racism, religion and politics.
Martin Cassar
Jul 24th 2010, 20:37
@ MBorg
Since thousands of years and until these days you see many Africans, South American as well as south Asian tribes living nude. This is most probably lack of means, while on the other hand ‘civilized’ westerners promote nudism as a sign of being modern, liberal and civilized, which in reality reflect lack of morality.
Here one must stop and ask: What constitute being civilized or modern?
If being civilized or uncivilized is measured by how nude one can be, then the African, Asian and south American tribes would be the most civilized peoples.
Kevin Saliba
Jul 24th 2010, 21:07
I'm not sure that being civilized is a good idea, but in any case, nudism has little to do with being civilized and uncivilized. It's a choice, a lifestyle, a philosophy in its own right even. Even nowadays you’ll find millions of “civilized” westerns who practice nudism.
The tribes you mentioned opted for nudism not because of lack of means, but simply because the minds of humans living in their natural state are not corrupted with religious morality and imaginary concept such as modesty and indecency. For them nakedness is simply a natural way of being, and their sexuality is not suppressed. I don’t think that such communities have much use for pornography or prostitution, as their libidos do not necessitate such safety valves. I don’t think that you need any magazines portaging myriads of images of food and beverages, don’t you?
As for me, I'd rather be true to nature than to the neurotic conventions that civilization has created.
Kevin Saliba
Jul 24th 2010, 21:08
And with this I am reminded of Walt Withman: “Never before did I get so close to Nature; never before did she come so close to me... Nature was naked, and I was also... Sweet, sane, still Nakedness in Nature! - ah if poor, sick, prurient humanity in cities might really know you once more! Is not nakedness indecent? No, not inherently. It is your thought, your sophistication, your fear, your respectability, that is indecent. There come moods when these clothes of ours are not only too irksome to wear, but are themselves indecent.”
MBorg
Jul 24th 2010, 21:13
Spot on.
Many think that one can judge how modern a country is by the number of nudes one can see. They do not realize that this just a load of rubbish.
ms g hoare
Jul 24th 2010, 20:35
ARA People have nothing better to do in life , you have to remember that CENSORSHIP is ALL OVER THE WORLD NOT JUST MALTA ,some few people ON this ISLAND think just because they dont give a damm on thier MORALS everybody else have to follow ,you have to remember that you are few and a minority.
David Caruana
Jul 24th 2010, 20:45
Who said these people don't have morals Ms. W.Hoare?
Who are you to judge?
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jul 24th 2010, 21:49
Ms Hoare, censorship is the control of what I ,as an adult, can watch and listen to. It is an unfortunate case of patronizing and belittling someone. It is the biggest insult to those who happen not to be so physcologically pertrubed by a painting with a man with his genital parts showing. The problem on this island is not the artists or their paintings or the plays but it is our inability to dissect between fact and fiction or even worse our knack at believing everything that comes our way without asking why, how, when and who. So what if a painting has a man with his penis showing? Only the phsycologically sick and the sexually frustrated would pretend to be shocked at such a sight and they'd probably go out of their way to censor this art because thats their best way of veiling and covering their true, perverted lust!!! There was a "minority" at the protest because in Malta there is a vast majority of hypocrites!!!!
C.Busuttil
Jul 25th 2010, 01:20
@David Caruana
You are just a dreamer but real life is actually very different from your dreams of CHANGE. What you call censorship, level headed people call it avoiding bad tastes and extreme fantasies passed as art. Michelangelo produced nudity in his works, but his are artistic, the perfection of art that came out from his chisel or brush.
The censorship you complain about is about rape or now we shall depenalize rape as it can be taken as art. Degrading another human being is art according to you? or maybe that guy needs a psychotherapist. What shall be the subject of his next work some on pedophilia/Necrophilia/bestiality ?
Wake up, time for dreaming leave it for when you sleep!!!!!
MBorg
Jul 24th 2010, 20:06
@ John Zammit
So we have at last seen the light now " that at least we can find Playboy in our stationeries after the long battle with the cansors.? "
Is Malta a better place because of this ? Does Playboy make you any wiser ?
We really have reached the limit if one can cite Playboy, a magazine that is full of rubbish to prove that at last Malta has " moved out of the Dark Ages " .
David Caruana
Jul 24th 2010, 20:58
What Playboy does to Mr.Zammit is none of your business.
What matters is that he and others have the option to buy it from a local shop.
Joseph Carmel Chetcuti
Jul 25th 2010, 09:14
Let an individual him or herself decides what he or she wants to read. What makes you think you have a right to dictate to anyone? You think Playboy is pornography? You must be living in the dark ages.
Albert Gauci Cunningham
Jul 24th 2010, 19:54
A number of people writing here are complaining about the fact that its always the same faces that protest against such issues. Rather than reflecting on these protestors themselves this reflects on the Maltese. A lazy bunch of moaners who'd happily moan till the cows come home but who dont have one milligramme of guts to stand up and show that they believe in something. The Maltese have no time for protests they're too busy discussing pavaljuni, faqqaturi, condom machines and generally minding other people's business oblivious to anything that really effects their lifestyles. The funny thing is that when we occassionally wake up and smell the coffee we blame the government or "Lejber" when we have only ourselves, our inertia and sickening apathy to blame!!!!
David Caruana
Jul 24th 2010, 20:25
AMEN
Joe Grima Brussels
Jul 24th 2010, 19:52
John Zammit
Yes, you are right, I live in Brussels, and protests are held VERY regularly over here! I live five minute's walk from Schuman, the heart of the E.U Institutions, and often the streets nearby are closed because of massive manifestations. However, I would like to point out to you some realities:
1. Normally there are MORE than 100 protesters!
2. You never see the same sad faces!
3. Most protests are held for more serious, genuine matters. Some of the last I noticed included:
thousands of Iraqi Christians protesting against injustices and atrocities; farmers defending their
livelihood; and another pro Palestine....to mention but two!
4. There are over 80 museums in Brussels, a large number dedicated to ancient art, modern art, or
contemporary art. I've visited most, and they do not cover or censor any nudes! Obviously, the
artists over here use nudes or other scenes to celebrate art, not using art to celebrate
obscenities! And lastly....
5. Yes, every bookshop has shelves upon shelves of pornographic magazines. But, as they
say, 'birds of a feather flock together'. My hobby is history and zoology. But I'm shure you will
find something to suit your desires.
W. Sciberras
Jul 24th 2010, 18:53
I really have my doubts on who really killed art ...
C.Busuttil
Jul 24th 2010, 20:10
Nobody killed art in Malta on the contrary its alive and kicking, its the usual "Quattro Gatti" that try and portrait a different view which is far from true. Anybody with a decent knowledge of the local scene when it comes to art will tell that this island has plenty of talent and none complain about censorship, except failed artists. Let's take for example one of the best artists Malta has ever produced Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi, he excels above the rest by far in his field, but never we heard from him any complain about censorship. Or from Prof. Friggieri, another heavyweight when it comes to literature.
Censorship nowadays is just a form to keep the artistic quality to certain levels and not letting bad taste ruin the rest. All those who complain probably give a foot about art and if you ask them to mention 10 local artist in different fields of art, they probably aren't even able to mention 4 of them, They just take every occasion to appear as the paladins of democracy, "Look Mummy I am on TV".
W. Sciberras
Jul 24th 2010, 21:06
I agree a 100% with you! Infact my comment was none other than a snide comment about these people who feel that whatever they blurt out, scribble and draw is art! All they're seeking is attention, because their expression of "art" is cheap, and they have found in censorhip the right occasion to advertise their cheap works of "art"! Comparing these wannabes with the real talent there is in Malta is unaccaptable and hilarious!
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 25th 2010, 01:25
Mr sciberras you are only proving you know nothing about art :)
W. Sciberras
Jul 25th 2010, 15:08
Jeez, Picasso talking! Just because someone doesn't share your cheap idea of art (if you can call it art), it doesn't mean that they don't know nothing about art. I am not an art guru, but at least I am capable of distinguishing art from crap :)
C.Busuttil
Jul 25th 2010, 16:37
@Jeremy N Grech
You don't have an idea about art and confuse it with sex or freedom of expression.
Since a child I had the fortune to learn about art, from my grandfather who was a pioneer with Sir Temi Zammit in uncovering Malta's hidden past and from my father who studied under Prof Sciortino and was the only restorer in Malta for 4 decades.
Art is Art when its does not become vulgarity.
Those who have real talents emerge, they may have their own style but they remain in the established parameters. Take a Cali or an Emvin Cremona two different styles but the end result is of high quality. An artist to be successful needs besides his talent, time and patience. Nowadays artists don't want have time therefore they skip all that's elaborate and create what in Maltese we call "pudini" and try to pass as art.
I personally heard so called modern artists ridiculing a Cali or a Camilleri Cauchi, you might be tempted to think that they are some Raffaello, when in all truth their works are like those of a kindergarten child.
john agius
Jul 24th 2010, 17:47
Jekk taghsar il-protesti:
kontra l-vapuri amerikani, kontra c-circus, kontra kollox u kontra kulhadd, u kontra c-censura, u favur l-immigrati, u x ma nafx aktar.
L-istess 50-100 ruh. Taparsi hemm xi 30 ghaqda.
M. Mizzi
Jul 24th 2010, 18:33
Tant iehor hemm il-biza' li wiehed jidher qieghed jiprotesta.
F'Malta qedin u l-Liberta tal-espressjoni hija hafna drabi Percezzjoni ta' konvenjenza ghal min hu komdu bis-sitwazzjoni li tibqa' kif inhi.
Carmelo Briffa
Jul 24th 2010, 19:29
Ma hemmx x' taghmel Sur Agius, ksuhat u paroli ghandna kemm trid. Kullhadd espert, u NGO'S kemm trid.Min daqsekk ghal dawn il MUTETTI Malta l-ewell nihdu bla dubju.
Ghax ghal dawn in-nies anke l-pornografija hija arti.
Karmnu.
G. Mifsud.
Jul 24th 2010, 19:58
Tidher li qatt ma attendejt il-protesti. Il-protesti kolla l-ohra li semmejt huma tal-Graffitti, u il-protesta kontra c-censura kienet tal- FAC (Front Against Cesnorship).
Ma kienx hemm persuna wahda iggorr it tebut jew il-banner min tal-Graffitti, u l-prezenza taghhom kienet ristretta ghal 5 min nies. Gifieri dawk in-nies li gew 'minus' hamsa m'humiex l-istess nies, u m'ghandhom x'jaqsmu la mac-circus tal-annimali, la mal-immigranti u lanqas il-vapuri amerikani.
Bhala wahda mill-organizzaturi illum rajt nies il-protesta li m'gharafthomx u m'ghandix idea min huma. U li kieku kont hemm kont tara xi nies mill-AD, mill-FZL, mill-Pulse, mill-Unifaun, mill-AL, etc. Imma le, ejja naqbdu u nparlaw bl-addocc minghajr ma nkunu nafu sew x'qed nghidu.
Ma tistax tfajjar kummenti hekk minghajr qatt ma tkun mort bicca protesta. Facli hafna toqghod tittajpja mid-dar.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 25th 2010, 01:22
and your point is?
Carmelo Briffa.
Jul 25th 2010, 09:32
Ghal hekk qed nirreferi ghalihom bhala MUTETTI ta ksuhat u paroli, ghax mort izjed milli qed tahseb int. Wisq probabbli li int lanqas kont twilid. Meta hassejt il bzonn mort u naccertak li jekk ikun hemm bzonn nattendi minghajr l'ebda biza' jew pretenzjoni ta xi haga.
Karmnu.
G. Mifsud.
Jul 25th 2010, 09:52
@Carmelu Briffa...mhux lilek kont qed inkellem imma lis-Sur Agius. -.- Mhux ovvja??
John Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 17:18
Don't let Malta go back to the dark ages of the 1960's. I remember when magazines were splashed with black ink or cut just because there was a photo of a woman wearng a two peace not a bikini. I remember when the London Times magazine was cut to peaces because of certain pictures of nude artists in different films, like the famous photo of Marlyn Mpnroe in the nude and then the Malta Censorship Board will put his stamp that it was" cencored by the Malta Censorship Board". I even remember when the youth of the Sixties, I was one of the miltant ones protesting so that the Playboy magazine will be allowed in Malta. At last we can find it in our stationaries after a long battle with the censors. It is up to the youths of today to continue the fight after we began the road against censorship and not to let Malta go back to the dark ages. I am happy that I was there and attended. I was holding the Alleanza Liberali flag seen in the film above. I appeal to all who took part not to worry if some call us boring!
Charles Sammut
Jul 24th 2010, 17:32
Piece be upon you.
J. Cutajar
Jul 24th 2010, 18:06
Thank you John,
Censorship must not be taken lightly, it is very dangerous to a civil society. Particularly if a vast proportion of the population doesn't even feel censored or doesn't feel the need for change, it becomes a very powerful political instrument.
Thanks also to Mark Camilleri for his untiring efforts. Keep up the good work!
M. Mizzi
Jul 24th 2010, 19:17
Marilyn's quote on censors : )
“The trouble with censors is that they worry if a girl has cleavage. They ought to worry if she hasn't any.”
- Marilyn Monroe
John Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 16:57
John this morning I made a speech against censorship and for freedom of speech at Valletta protest.
John Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 16:56
Jean-Pierre this morning I made a speech against censorship and for freedom of speech at Valletta protest.
John Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 16:55
Hans this morning I made a speech against censorship and for freedom of speech at Valletta protest.
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 24th 2010, 16:44
Censor this and censor that. How about we censor certain comments seen on the net?! Or perhaps some discriminative teachings from a particular side of society which says gay people, co habiting couples and children out of marriage are a reject and condemned. IF the law will not censor all of these... well then there is no right for anyone or anything to censor the artist's freedom of expression :)
M. Mizzi
Jul 24th 2010, 18:30
Everyone has an opinion, and the guy screaming for censorship may be the next guy to have his ideas cut off.
- Richard King
Pierre Sacco
Jul 24th 2010, 16:37
Don't these people have anything better to do? Or was it planned to make Valletta a little more interesting?!
M. Mizzi
Jul 24th 2010, 18:25
"THEY CAME FIRST for the Communists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Communist.
THEN THEY CAME for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a trade unionist.
THEN THEY CAME for the Jews,
and I didn't speak up because I wasn't a Jew.
THEN THEY CAME for me
and by that time no one was left to speak up."
Joseph Ellul - Sydney
Jul 25th 2010, 08:09
@M.Mizzi
Are you refering to Iran , Pakistan, Sri Lanka , Burma, North Korea or some other countries that are today persecuting those that do not agree with the generals ?
Martin Cassar
Jul 24th 2010, 16:27
@ G.Schembri
‘Boring? I'll tell you who is boring, people who are afraid to see a naked human body, or who are afraid to admit the truth about modern society - those are boring, like ostriches they hide their heads in the sand believing that what they don't see doesn't exist.’
Are you implying that being nude in public is a sign of a modern society? Could you elucidate please. Thank you
MBorg
Jul 24th 2010, 17:34
How very, very boring. Do you have to see a naked body to feel alive ?
You are rightt being nude in public is not a sign of a modern society. It seems that we have moved back in time.
Back to the time when men used to live in the jungle, only naked people were around then.
Were those people modern enough for you.? Think of all the nudes you would have been able to see ! Together with no censorship laws, bliss.
Joseph Calleja
Jul 24th 2010, 15:59
Don't laugh. These are the leaders of tomorrow. History keeps repeating itself over and over. Yes Democracy and freedom is good and well. I wonder if they would have been freely marching and protesting in public in a third world country ..like Iran? Thank God in Malta we are free and able to express our opinions and then some, but then the line has to be drawn somewhere, but where and how, and by who? Very complicated.
COLIN STANLEY
Jul 24th 2010, 15:18
why didn't somebody tell me a few weeks ago, that art is dead. so I suppose now I have a painting by Preti, which I won't be able to sell !!!!! what a pity.
T.Cutajar
Jul 24th 2010, 15:18
Dejjem l'istess ucuh..........antipatija totali.
J.Tonna
Jul 24th 2010, 16:39
Hekk hu! L'importanti li jidhru fil-media.
M. Mizzi
Jul 24th 2010, 18:36
Bless them for their courage.
We have a natural right to make use of our pens as of our tongue, at our peril, risk and hazard.
~Voltaire,
D.Bonello
Jul 24th 2010, 14:52
Same people , same groups and same faces protesting, cos they think they are the fulcrum of our country And without them Malta will collapse. They should mourn our maltese identity which we are loosing every day, to start with.
Joe Brincat
Jul 24th 2010, 15:07
and the same posts, same arguments, what a boring country this is! .... wake up guys we're in 2010 .....
Teresa Pace
Jul 24th 2010, 14:37
@ G Schembri
If you want to see life as it is go to a terminal ward, a prison, visit a paralysed person, a traumatised person, a bereaved person....oh how boring I am...but that's life as it is...it is better helping a person in need then exposing a naked body to see life as it is! If we but give a helping hand to those in need, oh life would be so much easier, and life as it is would be so much better for all of us!
J Farrugia
Jul 24th 2010, 14:09
good. another reason why we dont need another roofed theatre. And if art is death so are they. May they rest in peace. But censurship is alive and healthy.
Frank Falzon
Jul 24th 2010, 15:04
If, in your case, "censurship" is alive and healthy, basic education seems to be in its death throes.
martin saliba
Jul 24th 2010, 17:27
No its not, Not long ago you would be sent to a mental nstitution if you spoke out against the church. You would have been delighted in those days wouldn't have you.
Joseph Meli
Jul 24th 2010, 13:56
All you people criticizing those of us who participated in this protest should first try to understand what is actually happening!
Do you understand that anyone can be prosecuted and sent to jail because they choose to write a fictitious novel which is deemed obscene by someone who declares to be the guardian of society's moral health? Did you consider that this same declared guardian might not be sharing your same ideas of what is morally acceptable? It's not only about writing a novel or an article or an opinion piece.....but even if you sing, recite or read out aloud in public something which someone who has the power, decides that it goes against the morals of society!! Risky business indeed if you value your civil liberties!!! Frankly reciting openly even half of what is written in the bible without quoting the source could actually land you in jail!!!
I also want to point out that unfortunately most Maltese artists are INVISIBLE.........they are irrelevant within their own society...that's right....not only their work is irrelevant but even their own existence!
colin stanley
Jul 24th 2010, 15:36
@. J. Meli. you don't agree with censorship, if there is no censorship, can I say anything I want, about illegal immigrants, for example !!!
Charles Sammut
Jul 24th 2010, 16:42
@ colin stanley
What these protestors want is the freedom to write and distribute fiction however vulgar and in bad taste it might be. But to say the truth about illegal immigration, for them, that is beyond the pale.
I would tend to agree with their condemnation of censorship, but it must be across the board and not the hypocritical attitude we see here.
mary rose borg
Jul 24th 2010, 17:58
MR MELI!!! I am an artist myself and NEVER been prosecuted or anything!! i do art and don't do obscenities
i am against censorship towards artistic work
but that's not art at all!! so keep on wasting your time and make news for our delight
Jesmond Micallef
Jul 24th 2010, 13:52
I guess we will be reading about this in tomorrow's Obituary, too !!!
.....just a light hearted joke :-))
mary rose borg
Jul 24th 2010, 13:46
how boring!!!!same old faces!!! give it a break please'
stop making news creative with your obscenities!
you better enrol yourselves in voluntary work and not wasting precious time!!
xi dwejjaq ta nies!!
G.Schembri
Jul 24th 2010, 14:12
Boring? I'll tell you who is boring, people who are afraid to see a naked human body, or who are afraid to admit the truth about modern society - those are boring, like ostriches they hide their heads in the sand believing that what they don't see doesn't exist.
Letting artists express themselves helps intelligent people see life as it is, PL should be ashamed of themselves, if things continue as they are both parties might be in for a surprise, since everyone with a bit of intelligence and self respect will vote AD.
George Poitier
Jul 24th 2010, 14:22
Boring, same old faces. Hey Ostrich, they are doing what you will not or dare not do.
Salvu Schembri
Jul 24th 2010, 15:59
G.Schembri not a naked human body Schembri, but a painting of a penis climaxing if it was allowed in the Gozitan exhibition. Is that art for you? For me it's pornography posing as art.
C.Busuttil
Jul 24th 2010, 16:50
@G. Schembri
You mistake AD for champions of all sorts when in reality those in AD are using all sort of tactics from whatever issue to gain some votes, their last attempt before disappearing from the political scene. Following their repeated thrashing at every election.
Regarding Art in Malta, it is far from dead indeed its quite alive and kicking just talk to the local artists, those who have real talents are overbooked with commissions. Modern art is just an excuse for those failed artists who try to justify their poor talents with shortcuts, that is modern art. They hide behind bad tastes which they try to portrait as artistic qualities/creations. While I never heard people of the calibre of Oliver Friggieri or Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi to mention a few, complain that they are being hampered by any form of censorship.
The only ones who complain are those that will never make it....................
mary rose borg
Jul 24th 2010, 17:55
@ C.Busuttil 100% agreed
@G. Schembri yes art is that piece of obscenities and vulgarity towards the female sex. so you call rape art?
OH for heaven's sake pls this man is lost..angels from heaven pls do guide him to light
David Caruana
Jul 24th 2010, 19:28
@C.Busuttil
"....AD are using all sort of tactics from whatever issue to gain some votes..."
I think you're confusing them with th Labour Party
AD has ALWAYS been consistent.
AD has been "repeatedly trashed" as it is the ONLY truly progressive party in Malta... too progressive for some people who are scared of CHANGE.
There is hope though. Change is inevitable.
david bugeja
Jul 24th 2010, 21:06
at c.busuttil:
please note that 'modern art' as you place it is already old and out of date. so kindly update your artistic knowledge and study a bit contemporary art too!
not all modern and contemporary art is an excuse and a life-saving tool for those unskilled individuals. i still agree with you in that today everyone can proclaim himself an artist. but the latter is not due to lack of artistic quality... but because there are little (or no) standards or vetting to regulate who is an artist and whos not.
finally, please also note that the majority of the maltese are unaware and not so knowledgeable on modern and contemporary art.... mainly since there is not so much space dedicated to exhibit contemporary art on a permanent basis. the media also fails in updating its audience. there are just a small bunch of good contemporary artists ...but the rest are old-school, still cobbed-webbed in baroque - an old and outdated art that is not applicable (or make sense) in today's world
C.Busuttil
Jul 25th 2010, 01:00
@David Bugeja
You can call it whatever you want, contemporary/modern/futuristic its all made of the same stuff lack of abilties passed as art. Typical in today's society to take shortcuts when talents and abilities
can't make you do the job.
The cobwebbed baroque art does not make sense for you or better you imagine it so.
However artists that produce this art and for your information there are very promising young artists in the likes Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, Manwel Farrugia and Joseph Cauchi, are already establishing themselves to an extent that they are overbooked with commissions.
The old fashion art you deride produced an artist of the calibre of Paul Camilleri Cauchi who with Cali is the best Malta has ever produced.
The so called modern artists put together, will never reach their level. Know what ? although he's no longer young his works are sought out by those who want the best. Must mean something ? He does not need exhibitions to promote himself, his name is a guarantee of success !!!!!
Make it a reason that the most celebrated modern artist Van Gogh will never be a Michelangelo!!!! I forgot Michelangelo is just a cobbwebb artist !!!!! LOL
J.Tonna
Jul 24th 2010, 13:46
The fact that only 'some 100 people' turned up for this funeral shows that the great majority of the Maltese still treasure ART for art's sake and not for pornographic purposes.
They did not tell us where they buried the coffin.
G Mfsud
Jul 24th 2010, 13:55
The majority of Maltese are simply too afraid to be seen to demonstrate. They know the subtle repercussions they would have to endure. That is one reason who demonstrations are not well attended.
Joseph Aquilina
Jul 24th 2010, 17:24
@G.Mifsud
subtle repercussions ???? in which country are you living ????
J.Tonna
Jul 24th 2010, 22:03
@ M.Mizzi - Those who have nothing to hide should stand up to be counted.
Joe Grima Brussels
Jul 24th 2010, 13:32
Is it true that ART is dead, or THEIR VERSION of art? Some people shield behind 'art' as an excuse to indulge in vulgarity and 'their' ideas of enjoying art. Their 'freedom of expression' means not giving a hoot to who might be insulted, offended, or hurt. I would like to explain more clearly what I personally think about this protest, but I'mafraid that they will take legal steps, and censor me!!!!!
Marton Saliba al Sahhar
Jul 24th 2010, 15:09
Art is an expression of the self projected in visual and/or sound. Human's are intelligent creatures whose self awareness can allow them to do such projections.
I for one believe people are Intelligent and self aware enough to ignore a work of art when they don't like it, or consider it vulgar or whatever. But with Censorship, how can you tell what you like and what you don't. Perhaps you might find something to appreciate in the "vulgarity" after all, if only you open your self awareness to it.
Censorship does the thinking and decisions for other people, a sin in itself.
I did not attend because art is not dead in my opinion. Just a bit crippled at worst. My art wasn't killed so I'm fine.
John Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 17:27
Joe Grima of Brussels is saying this because he is staying in Brussels. When I visit Brussels, Amsterdam, Copenhagen London and these progressive countries it is very different. I hope Joe Grima of Brussels maybe can tell us if he critisizes the protests that are made nearly everyday in Brussels. The thing is that they do not protest against censorship is that in Brussels one can go to any stationery and buy pornographic magazines and dvds and have freedom of speech not lik in Malta!
m.cauchi
Jul 24th 2010, 13:12
xi dwejjaq ta nies !!!!!
mariobezzina
Jul 24th 2010, 13:10
when these people die, they themselves will end up in a coffin and God bless
their souls. what is the sense in swearing? what fun do you get out of it. Why has God to be mentioned in a degrading manner. He is my God too so you will be offending me. imagine if i
swear on your mother or your children. in a previous mail, i did say that one day, we are going
to end up naked in our streets. we are never happy with what we have. let us leave this beautiful Island clean swearing and foul language. repent before it is too late.
Joseph Aquilina
Jul 24th 2010, 13:04
"He noted, that although the draft cultural policy was a positive step forward, the country could not wait years for changes when people were still being taken to court and penalties were being made harsher."
I guess it is obvious you would say so knowing in what situation you are currently in. However I expect you to still be prosecuted even if the law changes since you knew what the law says on the matter at the moment and you still decided to break it!! Next time do what people do in a civilised country, that is present your case, wait for the laws to be changed, and then publish all the porn you wish; in text, photos, even of yourself if you deem that artisitc!!
Joseph Aquilina
Jul 24th 2010, 12:57
"The protesters carried a coffin which said ‘art is dead’ and stopped in front of the Cultural Secretariat in Merchants Street."
I guess the people who participated in this event have a very limited idea of what "art" truly is!! ... I have seen art in various forms on this island ... but I guess for some art mean only one thing these day!!
In other words, those who participated in this event only show how little artistic talent they have by generalising that art is dead just because an article or a play gets censored because of its content! ... people should know how to express their artistic talent in different ways and not in just one way meant only to provoke people.
Jean-Pierre Aquilina
Jul 24th 2010, 12:53
'the death of art and freedom of expression'
gives the impression that all forms of art is censored. Is this so?
With regards to freedom of expression, this freedom does not equate with anarchy and free-for all.
Ramon Casha
Jul 26th 2010, 13:54
Writing is censored. Music is censored. Films are censored. Dramatic plays are censored. Paintings and photography is censored.
Yes, I'd say they covered pretty much all the bases.
john borg
Jul 24th 2010, 12:53
.....what a laugh....wish i was also there in valletta....
Joseph Cauchi
Jul 24th 2010, 12:51
Is this the supposed so-called “INTELLIGENTIA” of the Maltese society, taking part in this protest?
If in the affirmative, then I am afraid we do not have much to rejoice about it!
JC.
J. Schembri
Jul 24th 2010, 12:40
I don't know wether I should laugh or cry.
Do these people differentiate between rating and censorship , art and pornography ,and adults and children? Should a work of pornographic art be exposed to the general public? Should pornographic writings be handed out to all and sundry at the juniour college or the university where everyone is free to enter?
Saturday's gay pride march had a higher attendance, and that says a lot!
Ramon Casha
Jul 26th 2010, 13:53
What we have in Malta is not rating, but censorship - as in, completely prohibited for people of any age. Incidentally, the item which was banned in its entirety was classified as "14" in the UK,
J. Mifsud
Jul 24th 2010, 12:38
I too mourn the death of art and freedom of expression because I find it ironic that it is OK to send an 18 year old to fight an 'enemy' in the name of 'peace', but then he/she is not entitled to pay and watch a play of his liking, in the privacy of a theatre.
In this day and age, in this technological world, this is all a 'teatrin', and I smell hypocrisy!!!!!
Frans Buttigieg
Jul 24th 2010, 14:21
J. Mifsud privacy is only in your home without anyone else being able to see it. So much so that if neighbours see your actions in your bedroom it is no longer private and the police can institute proceedings against you and your wife. A theatre does not operate for one person only so it is a public venue.
J. Mifsud
Jul 24th 2010, 18:12
@ Frans Buttigieg
Taking your argument on privacy, I am now more convinced that a theatre is much more private than your personal bedroom.
Everyone entering a theatre is there against a payment, knowing full well what they expect to watch.
I am in full favour on classification, but not censorship.
N.Calleja
Jul 24th 2010, 12:36
For all the fuss and propaganda, only 100 turned up for the protest I thought that there would be at least a thousand. Maybe Michael Briguglio counts for the other 900 that were absent!!
Jeremy N Grech
Jul 24th 2010, 16:21
Numbers are just numbers dude :)
Joe Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 12:35
I have followed the clip to see where they would bury ..... the EMPTY coffin!
About hundred protesters coming from about ten societies, groups, etc.
Reading their comments: No legal argument at all! Just emotions .... effect of the stifling summer heat, especially when dressed in black!
Those who have nothing to do need to somehow kill time. Who knows ... perhaps in the coffin there was lying a rusty clock!
david camilleri
Jul 24th 2010, 14:27
“There is in every village a torch - the teacher; and an extinguisher- the clergyman”. Victor Hugo
Joe Zammit
Jul 24th 2010, 21:05
Both the teacher and the clergyman are important. Both of them enlighten us: the teacher our minds, the clergyman our minds and hearts!
Joe E Galea
Jul 26th 2010, 11:24
@Joe Zammit: You should speak about people who have nothing to do, then you should be the leader. Your arguments make us puke to say the least. This reflects your twisted mentality.