Right: The Henson controversy has resulted in fine art being classified by the Office of Film and Literature as to its suitability for public display.Further implications
As part of this controversy, work that is generally regarded as fine art has for the first time been classified by the Office of Film and Literature. Henson's work has been assessed to see if it could be deemed 'indecent' and also to see if it could be prohibited under the auspices of the Australian Communications and Media Authority, a body with the authority to monitor and prohibit communications via the Internet.The Internet has had a vital role to play in the unfolding of this controversy. Bill Henson's work would not have been so easily available to a range of his critics (ranging from columnist for The Australian, Miranda Devine, through Hetty Johnston to the Prime Minster, Kevin Rudd) had it not been for the Internet.
More concerningly, the Internet, blurs the practical distinction between fine art and mass communication. In the past, the audience for fine art largely defined itself - being those people with sufficient knowledge, sophistication and awareness to seek out and enjoy exhibitions.
The internet puts images formally considered high brow in the reach of anyone with a computer who can access a gallery catalogue. What this means is that those who wish to use and perhaps manipulate an artist's images for their personal sexual gratification can easily do so. It should also be noted that the Internet makes these formally exclusive images accessible to an international audience which can exploit them in this way.
Currently two of the elements of an artist's device against charges of producing pornography are that this was not his/her intention and that his/her work is art. The fact of the Internet and the scope of the audience it provides may challenge such defences.
We may reach a point where works of art have to be classified before they can be reproduced on the Internet, much as films are currently classified before they are screened.