An artistic ad featuring a bound geisha was banned based on a handful of complaints, with advertising censors condemning it as “condoning sexual violence against women” and observing that “she seemed upset” and was depicted in a “submissive pose.”
The photo itself shows a mildly bound geisha, and is by world famous photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, whose works grace several art galleries.
The exquisite mosaic tiling the geisha rests on is actually the product advertised – Bisazza is an Italian tile maker, and the adverts were carried in several high-end home decor magazines.
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority, which has the power to ban adverts which offend its puritanical sensibilities, acted on the basis of 6 complaints and condemned the “demeaning” ads, saying the geisha was “shown in a submissive pose, appeared visibly upset and was shown with her kimono pushed up to expose her thigh.”
It asserts the ads condone rape:
“Notwithstanding the highly stylised nature of the ads, we considered the creative treatment could be seen to imply that sexual violence had taken place or was about to take place.”
It has banned the offending ads completely, though some similar ads escaped.
The company responsible defends the “artistic and beautiful” campaign as featuring “no nudity, innuendo, wounds or scenes of excessive perversion.”
The UK has of course recently banned most fetish porn, though the actual acts depicted remain quite legal so long as the person photographing them is actually involved in the sex…
Via the BBC.
Of course the other way around it’d probably be called a positive empowering example for women.
Of course it implies violence, because nobody ever does bondage willingly. What kind of freak would do that, AMIRITE?
I hope that was meant sarcastic…> >
I like wrist bondage, because it’s SEXY…:P Especially with a tie^^
AMIRITE usually implies sarcasm, so no worries. And I honestly can’t imagine that a person who would think such bullshit would possibly be able to find this site even by accident…
Okay, we are doomed…
If this harmless piece of actual art faces ban, then what understanding/tolerance are we, otaku are waiting for?!
Dunno what feminazi stated she looks upset but that expression looks rather ‘plastic'( meaning that it doesn’t even look like she expressing any natural emotion…)
Plus she is no sexual turn-on at all…
Those bitches should go and have a date with their therapists ’cause seeing anything wrong into this picture IS fu*ed up compared to being a 2D lolicon or a hentai fan!!
This is what Britain is all about now didn’t you? Banning the slightest thing that could ‘offend’. Our government is filled with usless MP’s. NuLabour did achieve one thing however, which was to create more laws…It’s funny their recent campaigns to stay in have been nothing but ‘We’re not like the Conservatives!’ Both parties are rotten to the core. I guess the only choice is between the Liberal Democrats or Green Party and possibly UKIP, they seem less detrimental to the people of the country.
It’s not surprising when we got morailistic ignorant tards in power i.e. John Beyer (this guys wanted to put people in jail for looking at porn, at least he’s retired now), Harriet ‘Hate’man or who can forget Liz Longhust (the very one who brought upon the Dangerous Pictures Act that pretty much killed every fetish out there and made those who enjoy it criminals). The government has been enjoying this sleuth of given power by these pro-censorship nutters. So why would the state not accept the offer of more control?
The ASA has been reduced to quivering cowards. They’re afraid of the state punishing them should they do anything that offends others. The one to look out for really is Media Watch UK, the one Beyer was head of.
All of this started with just one case. The Liz Longhurst case. Ever since pictures that are deemed ‘offensive’ or ‘dangerous’ the pro-censorship twats have gained more confidence in inserting crazy ass laws and control other the public and the government laps it up. This also gives the state an excuse to ‘protect’ society. How the hell are we to hold the 2012 Olympics if we’re that intolerant of anything? I can imagine foreigners being arrested left, right and center. At times like this I do wish even more that we had real Freedom of Speech like hardlined in the constitution of the US.
Only just recently did we get a Supreme Court. I don’t know if that’s a good thing or bad looking at who runs the country at the moment. We need Zero!! Or someone equivelant…V, I hope you’re out there.
I thought it started in the 60s or 70s when some old bitch who wouldn’t die thought everything on tv was against proper christian values. She had every network sued and forced the tv censors to edit s♥♥t out of every channel.
Yes a christ fundy…
Haha that too, though what I meant was in recent years. There were little to no peep of complaints until that whole fiasco. Once it was announced that the DPA was in act, the pro-censorship organizations had the oppurtunity to go on a crusade again. We were pretty mellowed out before then or mellowing out. I guess you could blame the News recently that puts a negative spin on almost anything. Hell even in The Guardian (I think) there was an article regarding the UK falling into Pedophile Paranoia which is very visible. The people here have been mainpulated to be afraid of almost anything. But if anything it’s the government, or shall I say NuLabour, that screwed us over.
“Thigh is showing.”
With that sort of attitude, I’m surprised they didn’t hunt down the model, tie her to a stake, and burn her for not wearing something that covered all but her eyes.
I find this ridiculous. I see nothing that suggests r♥♥e.
Freedom of expression is soon to be dead. I’m sad. I love art.