:: GussetBLOG ::

:: Monday, December 08, 2003 ::

Warning: Dan on Soap Box again.

This year’s Tuner Prise has been awarded amid the normal media circus and probably intentional headline grabbing. It was awarded to potter Grayson Perry, who happens to be a transvestite. The fact that he is a trannie seems to be the main point made in most of the headlines today, although I don’t see how it is quite so important or shocking. As soon as you delve any deeper into any of the stories one of the first points made is the fact that some of his works depict domestic violence and child abuse, both important subjects in today’s society that should be discussed more. Havening recently discovered that one of my wives work colleges is frequently beaten by her husband has made me stop and think about how common a problem domestic violence actually is and what I should do to bring some attention to this problem. For a start, I’m writing this, but I mustn’t fool myself into think that is enough. Anyway, back to my point about the media coverage of the Turner Prise; there is a subtle subtext running through most of the coverage that implies that "art made by a transvestite, about child abuse, must be the work of a perverted mind and shouldn’t be given any sort of public award as it is only going to subvert the masses" (paraphrasing). The BBC discussion page is the perfect example of how this narrow-minded easy-column-inches sensationalism is swaying the opinions of the public (albeit, the already bigoted). Rather than try and summarise the views in all of the papers, here’s the google news results on the subject, judge for yourself. (Note the happy family picture used in some of the stories.)

Much as, from a feminist view point, the forced wearing of head scarves by women of certain religions could be viewed as degrading, the banning of wearing them in western countries could equally be viewed as a more against freedom of choice and expression and could even be viewed as raciest. When French President Jacques Chirac says "the presence of the veil has something aggressive about it" it stinks of US style knee-jerk reactions that only lead to more walls being constructed between cultures. Let us hope that the rest of Europe follows Britain’s more tolerant (if still not tolerant enough) stance.

Working for an American owned company we have for the last few years suffered the political correctness gone mad obsession with sending non-religious “holiday cards” every Christmas. Now, I don’t really bother much with Christmas, it’s just an excuse to get the family together once a year in my eyes, but isn’t this somehow missing the point?

:: Dan 8.12.03 [Arc]    ::
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