More CIF Idiocy

The absurdly and pretentiously named Bidisha pontificates on the upcoming extreme pornography act. She likes it (the act, not the pornography). In her piece she trots out the usual clichéd bollocks about objectification of women and how all we men are wicked for wanting to look at such images. Well, you know the type of thing:

The act outlaws “extreme pornography” in which a woman or man’s life appears to be in danger, as presented for the titillation of the viewer. As such, it also unwittingly includes much art and fashion photography, music video imagery and any other image in which a person (usually, in reality, a woman) is made the object of mortal threat. So it seems that we will no longer get to see any marvellous hipster pics of objectified female meat in danger. What a loss for the world of culture.

One of the incongruities of this act is that the activity being depicted may well be perfectly legal, yet possession of images depicting it could lead to prosecution and a gaol sentence. Well done, New Labour; another piece of bad law that will keep the lawyers in business.

Anyway, back to the woman without a surname:

…the crux of the issue is that the act does not distinguish between types of medium or artistic context. It does not discriminate between cases whether this mortal danger is made visually beautiful, as in fashion photography, or presented raw and gloating as in snuff pornography. I am glad of this lack of distinction, because the fetishisation of female pain is misogynistic regardless of its trappings, regardless of whether it was styled by a couture house, regardless of whether it comes with a poppin’ soundtrack and shot by a cool guy director or some coercing creep with a videocam.

No, the fact that it does not distinguish is a problem. Then there’s the usual “misogynistic” barb. Never mind that this may involve gay porn or that some women may like to look at this stuff. Of course, Bidisha has them sussed:

If sexist male artists and anti-feminist female artists are penalised for brainlessly fetishing female pain, then that’s all to the good. Let them squirm.

One can only presume that an anti-feminist female is a woman who disagrees with Bidisha and the rest of the misandric guardiansita twaddle pedlars. Well, that’s Mrs L sorted, then.

Bidisha; another nasty little fascist who thinks that her prejudices should be afforded the weight of the law. Unfortunately, in this case, she’s right.

The comments are predictably and satisfyingly scathing. Starting with this from Ullrich:

What the hell do you think gives you the right to decide what is and what isn’t appropriate for other people to look at? Not everyone else is as bitter, small-minded and nasty as you.

Says it all, really.