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|NEXT STORY »

Museum Yanks Nude Photo of Tween Brooke

Pic may violate child porn laws in Britain

By Mary Papenfuss| Posted Oct 1, 09 3:03 AM CDT|

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(Newser) – The Tate Modern has yanked a nude photo of a young Brooke Shields from an exhibit following a visit by police investigating whether the picture violates child pornography laws in Britain. The controversial photo by New York artist Richard Prince shows a heavily made-up 10-year-old Shields standing naked in a bathtub. Angry critics charged the photo encouraged pedophilia. The photograph is similar to a scene from the movie Pretty Baby in which Shields plays the young daughter of a prostitute whose virginity is auctioned off at the age of 12.

"The exhibit is temporarily closed. We are in discussions with police," a museum spokesman tells the Telegraph. The Tate was displaying the photo, entitled Spiritual America, in a separate room behind a closed door with a warning that the work was "challenging." Prince's work is a photo of a photo commissioned by Shields' mom in 1975 to promote her daughter's career. The actress waged an unsuccessful court battle to gain control of the negatives after her mother signed away the rights.

[Images (2)]

[Quotes (1)]

Brooke Shields speaks at the memorial service for music legend Michael Jackson in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Brooke Shields speaks at the memorial service for music legend Michael Jackson in Los Angeles earlier this year. (AP Photo/Gabriel Bouys, pool)

Brooke Shields is shown in 1978 shortly after she appeared in the film

Brooke Shields is shown in 1978 shortly after she appeared in the film "Pretty Baby" at the age of 12. (Getty Images)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

If you are using a picture of a naked child to bring people to your exhibition, then you are exploiting that child. It's as if they are using a 10-year-old girl for bait. - Kidscape founder Michele Elliott

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

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44 comments

VIEWING:

passinthru
Oct 1, 09 3:05 AM CDT

well that didnt take long...America the politically correct...sigh. Reply

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passinthru
Oct 1, 09 3:06 AM CDT

err...make that britain.

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SalParadise
Oct 1, 09 10:07 PM CDT

The only real thing that bothers me about this is the fact that Shields fought to gain control of the negatives, clearly indicating she didn't want them in the public eye. This sounds like a pretty clear case of parental abuse, stretched and spread by extenuating circumstances and her celebrity.

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 3:07 AM CDT

*Shakes head* Political correctness prevails again. Some day, damnit, some day we'll live in a society where critical thinking prevails and emotions don't cloud legal matters. Reply

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I_hate_to_say
Oct 1, 09 3:53 AM CDT

Critical thinking on newser? Infrequent at best -- especially when it comes the the posse filled with blood lust and out to put a noose around Roman Polanski's neck, drag the old man back to the US, chemically castrate him, and send him off to be sodomized for the rest of his natural life in one of California's outstanding "correctional institutions."

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riffran
Oct 1, 09 4:09 AM CDT

I could live with that....Maybe ole roman should have taken that possibility into account when drugged and raped the 13 year old

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 4:16 AM CDT

Ah, thank you riffran, you came right to us! I thought for a minute I might actually have to go out and search for a prime example of our primitive psychology as humans. You are indeed the perfect example of a primitive emotional human justifying barbarism with the same certitude and conviction as a genuine medieval Bible-thumping Catholic Inquisitor convinced that the heretic deserved to be treated just like you want to treat Roman Polanski. We're half a chromosome away from a fucking chimpanzee. And... it... shows.

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riffran
Oct 1, 09 4:51 AM CDT

quite welcome..and so in knowing my open and unabashed barbaric tendencies to react in a crude and violent manner to those who would attempt to molest a child..........don't F with my family..is the obvious message that any who would attempt that sort of activity....ZERO TOLERANCE FOR RAPE AND PEDOPHILIA...UGGGGGGGGGG!

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Dr.Gonzo
Oct 1, 09 9:44 AM CDT

Yes, than you riffran. I am tired of people feeling symphony for pople like Roamn. He deserves none of that. What a freak.

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Dr.Gonzo
Oct 1, 09 9:45 AM CDT

Roman* rather

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Dr.Gonzo
Oct 1, 09 9:55 AM CDT

and are you a member of NAMBLA. (North American Man Boy Love Assoc.

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 10:07 AM CDT

See my other comment from a few minutes ago, Gonzo, no I'm not a member of NAMBLA and I while I'm not familiar with what NAMBLA advocates, I don't support any adult doing anything sexual to a child. I find it quite indicative of your mindset that you would immediately associate me with these organisations simply because I support such people's rights. If I support the right for gay people to get married, does that make me gay? If I support the right for Hindus to practice their religion, does that make me a Hindu? If I support the right for the KKK to peaceably march/rally does that make me a racist? No, the point behind freedom is that it applies to EVERYONE or it's not freedom.

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tran_tor
Oct 1, 09 10:42 AM CDT

Laws should be reason without emotion, however, laws by in large, exist because we act irrationally based on our emotions. Laws on child porn specifically target sexual behavior aimed at children, the largest in number, and for many many reasons, most vulnerable members of our society. Nothing Aelius can say will change the fact that child porn is and contributes to child sexual exploitation.

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 10:47 AM CDT

You're just SAYING it contributes. Can you back it up with anything? I would agree, though, that child pornography that is purchased DOES increase crimes of a sexual nature towards children because it is giving an incentive to the producers to continue doing it (the incentive being money). But something tells me that's not your only objection, especially since you seem to object to the photo of Brooke in question here in which no one was harmed. Laws on child porn do not necessarily target behavior that's harmful to children. Some guy downloading child porn from the internet for free (via file sharing or whatever) is not harming any children and is in no way giving the producer any incentives and YET you still have a problem with it. Therefore, I argue, you have an emotional moral objection to it stemming from your intuitive tendency to protect children. Ergo, irrational.

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Snarfeh
Oct 1, 09 10:59 AM CDT

I think it's a jarring insight into our mindset when people scream that Michael Vick is a loathsome bastard even though he served time for his crime, yet Polanski is considered untouchable because a judge fucked up many years ago. I am with riff on this one. There's no telling how many other young girls were victims of this man. I don't give a damn whether she said yes or no or whether she was on drugs by choice or by force. A man who cannot walk away from a physically mature, but emotionally immature 13 year old is not a man, but a beast.

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 11:07 AM CDT

Right. He raped a 13 year-old girl. Get evidence, give him a trial, give him an attorney and a jury JUST like everyone else does, and if he's found guilty he'll be sent to prison for an amount of time deemed appropriate by the penal code and the judge. See, isn't justice wonderful? It's a system that's been thought out many many years ago by men far smarter than any of us, and has been in use in almost every civilized country around the world for centuries. You know why? Because it fucking works and trials, juries of your peers, attorneys, a judge and min/max sentences are some of the most basic inalienable human rights. And you yourself may need it one day.

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tran_tor
Oct 1, 09 12:09 PM CDT

Aelius: Yes, I have an objection to Brooke's photo going up for two reasons: first it incites sexual aggression against other young girls, and two because Brooke does not want it shown. It is arguably emotionally harming her. She could not consent as a child, and does not consent as an adult. And some 'artist' is exploiting Brooke's status as a sex symbol (now) and child (then) for sensationalism and greed. Exploitation is doing something because you can. A 10 year old doesn't stand a chance against an adult. I say don't encourage it.

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Spudsy
Oct 1, 09 6:56 PM CDT

Boy boys, settle down and keep Roman out of this. Like Whoopi said, it wasn't "rape rape". And Romans wife wasn't "murdered murdered", she was the victim of a bad c-section. Now get back to discussing a picture that is thirty years old and really only shows a childs nipple. That is important stuff.

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Robert_Dada
Oct 1, 09 7:16 PM CDT

Can a 10 year old make an informed, intelligent decision about his/her naked body and how he/she wants it to be portrayed to the masses?

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Jayster999
Oct 1, 09 3:15 AM CDT

Don't hold your breath. Reply

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riffran
Oct 1, 09 3:36 AM CDT

as well as a 10 year old doing a nude bath scene should have been Reply

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 10:42 AM CDT

Yes, no one wakes up one day as a pedophile. But it doesn't happen in small steps, it's just a sexual preference like homosexuality, rape-fetishes, foot-fetishes, and whatever else - there's hundreds. Yes, children must be protected, but how do you get from there to the nude photo? It's called a non-sequitur, you're basically saying "Child molestation is bad, therefore nude children in photos is bad". Your conclusion doesn't make any sense coming from that premise. Who is being molested in that photograph? Who was harmed during or at any time after that photograph? And furthermore, so what if they were? Why is that any reason to ban the photograph?

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 10:43 AM CDT

Sorry, that was meant to be a reply to tran_tor below (or above... depending on how you organize your comments...), my god Newser's comment system is such shit.

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Snarfeh
Oct 1, 09 10:18 PM CDT

@aelius28 - Then heterosexuality is a sexual preference based on that reasoning. Therefore, no one is born with the sexual inclinations they have; they develop them somehow through nurture or lack thereof, environment, culture, etc. I disagree with that. If you put a beautiful naked lady in the lap of a gay man and he does not get an erection, that is not a preference on his part; that is simply the fact that he is not attracted to women at all. However, many pedophiles function sexually outside of their predilection. That is why you have men, and women, who are married, have children and have sex with their spouses but who are still pedophiles because they desire sex with children. Pictures like that of Brooke as a child are taken expressly to titillate.

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tran_tor
Oct 1, 09 10:39 PM CDT

aelius: While I agree your some of the points you make do have merit, and personally, I think some of the sexual predator laws are grossly unjust, I think we just have to disagree on our opinions of nude photos of children. It is nearly impossible for me not to draw the correlation between them and subsequent actions. Since they are not definitively (I use that word precisely) connected, you choose not to make that association. Fair enough.

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jagerhans
Oct 1, 09 4:16 AM CDT

this whole new thing of rampaging pedophilia got a lot of us really psychotic . i can't avoid recalling the father who was charged with child abuse cause he kissed her daughter in public. also i think that pedophilia is stemming from the media. right, those media who bomb us all the time with sexual messages , i think, are forcing annoyed, saturated-of-sex people into finding something new for stimulating their sexual tastes numbed by excessive stimulation . they are looking for substitutes, joining the cathegory of people who historically had to look for substitutes (but for the opposite reason), falling long ago into pedophilia and sodomy: the catholic priests. or else tell me that today we are just more aware of that , but one thing is certain, we passed most of our lives without hearing of child abuse and now they're commonplace. Reply

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 4:27 AM CDT

Pedophilia and its derivatives hebephilia and ephebephilia (covering sexual attraction from young childhood all the way up to adulthood ~18yrs) have always been around. The Greeks are a prime example of a society that had a penchant for loving young boys. They admired the musculature of the developing male body and this is well attested in their literature and art. What's interesting is that despite being thousands of years ago in a hebephiliac society, child rape and molestation was still very frowned upon. Because in the vast majority of cases, people who are sexually attracted to minors are not bad people, they're very moral people who just have a different sexual attraction than most other people. Homosexuals were treated much the same way for most of history. It was "bad", no one could ever tell you quite WHY it was bad, it just was. Pedophiles unfortunately find themselves in a similar situation today, and the term has found itself almost interchangeable with "child molester" that whenever we see an artistic depiction of childhood nudity it's immediately linked to child molestation.

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jagerhans
Oct 1, 09 4:47 AM CDT

aelius, my interest for what you wrote fell at the point 'people who are sexually attracted to minors are not bad people'. what damn should i add to this statement. goodbye

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 5:03 AM CDT

So you disagree with my statement, that's okay. But can you continue on and explain why you have a problem with what I said? Disagreements are rather useless unless they're expressed and exchanged, otherwise how else will opinions be changed?

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Dr.Gonzo
Oct 1, 09 9:53 AM CDT

So are you condoning such acts Aelius, are you condoning Man-boy love? I dont care if the Greeks did or not, its gross

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 9:56 AM CDT

I don't think any adult should ever do anything sexual to a child, no. However, there's nothing wrong with having a sexual attraction to children. First of all, it's nothing you can control just like you can't control whether you're straight or gay. And so what if you think it's gross? I think anal sex is gross, but I don't call anyone a bad person if they like it. Don't judge people based on your personal preferences.

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tran_tor
Oct 1, 09 10:36 AM CDT

I doubt anyone wakes up one day suddenly a pedophile. As with most things it probably happens with small steps. Children are vulnerable to every adult they come in contact with, be by physical, emotional, or sexual abuse. And for just cause too. Child molestation, like a lot of crimes, is mostly unreported. Trying to rationalize nude photos of a 10 yr (who would later become a sex symbol let's not forget) as ok is irresponsible at best.

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MarkMcJackoff
Oct 1, 09 5:34 AM CDT

Well we all know what side of the camp Aelius resides in. I think he knows far too much about young Greek boys in history to be left alone with youngsters and his comments, which dont really astound me, certainly disgust me. We stand well clear. Reply

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 5:50 AM CDT

I'm not sure who you think you're doing any favours to by expressing disagreement with someone else and carrying it no further. If you want to state your opinion and go on your merry way, that's okay too, but don't act like you're too good to be required to substantiate your opinions. Don't take refuge in the false security of consensus; thinking that whatever happens you should be okay because you're in the safely moral majority. Either state your opinion and go away, or state your opinion and be prepared to defend it against people who disagree.

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Thinker
Oct 1, 09 6:52 AM CDT

That was an idiot and right-wing nut response. Anything that smells a little bit like intellectualism or education is not only despised, but criticized as "evil," "gay," "liberal" or "elite." Why not try to learn something instead of plugging your ears and saying repeatedly "evil gay liberal elite." Trust me, a little knowledge and understanding won't make you liberal ... uh, ignore that last remark.

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riffran
Oct 1, 09 5:40 AM CDT

maybe he is doing an experiment, to see if he could actually win over minds to an obviously despised perspective, and is really just a Psych Major doing a thesis...and not the advocate of such activity after all?....or maybe not Reply

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MarkMcJackoff
Oct 1, 09 5:58 AM CDT

You may be right,riffran. I dont mind having my chain pulled or my cage rattled on most matters, where dispute is quite healthy. But on this subject I just become alarmed. With all that invective involved about Christians and Christianity I fear he is for real. Reply

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 6:02 AM CDT

You reek of intellectual dishonesty, Mark, you think you're so impervious to error that you don't even let yourself be subjected to disagreement or debate? If you want to change your mind and actually engage me on the subject, I'd be more than glad to. I'll even forgive what I've perceived as unwarranted contempt towards me on your part and engage you respectfully.

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Reader60610265
Oct 1, 09 8:26 AM CDT

Aelius, if you really expect to get to get any respect on this site or not be hammered on your barking up the wrong tree. It doesn't happen very often , at least on this site .LOL Reply

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Aelius28
Oct 1, 09 8:30 AM CDT

So I've found >.< But anyway, I try to set an example, keep people logical, point out fallacies and always give respect when I get it. But if anyone disrespects me or anyone else in the first place, I won't hold back.

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Reader60610265
Oct 1, 09 8:45 AM CDT

I agree with you ,but so far I've found it to be an up hill battle. Good luck.

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Berzelius
Oct 1, 09 10:49 AM CDT

This sight is better than the HuffPo. That site really will make one believe in a Liberal elite. Im liberal and i see it. With few exeptions, there is like 3 or 4 far right crazies on this one, but conservatives on this side frame there arguments decently. THis guy however named himself Mark McJackoff, and is engaging in a discourse on sexual purity.

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riffran
Oct 1, 09 10:02 PM CDT

well I will admit this much Aelius...even though I do not agree at all with you're arguments, you do seem to do them with a certain educated flair...I still think it's thesis work...lol..:)

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WallyEFunk
Oct 1, 09 9:59 AM CDT

To say is an up hill battle,doesn't begin to show some stupidity. Aelius you have good points, brave of you to say them. From comments made here. photo's of nude pre-teens would make a person masturbate, and would want the real child. But then same PPL ,say stopping teens from playing violent games rewarding car jacking, rape murder. The government is fascist if they intervenes then? Many site's have women in bondage, showing forced rape.But that's OK there consenting adults. and a person wouldn't really force a women after seen such images? Etc Etc .The links some PPL have between stuff, like one article lately was about terrorist with a bomb in his ass,and that's the reason hand gun controls wouldn't work in the U.S. he received 4 thumbs up? Common sense doesn't always make it here. Reply

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