Mickey Kienitz's exhibit "Small Arms: Children of Conflict"

There's an article on Mickey Kienitz in the local paper about an exhibit going on right now: http://www.madison.com/tct/news/249128

HEADLINE: War as art: Photographer answers charge of exploitation in Chazen exhibit

Charges of exploitation?!? "The existence of documentary photography has been rendered moot by the insightful questioning of a caller to a talk-radio show. Details at 7!"

Oh well, at least a few people who might not ever read anything in the paper about photography will browse this one and might even go see the show. Of course, now they are absolutely terrified of bringing their children.

Oh well, sorry for the rant,

Will

Anyone who complains that War photography is exploitation, or afraid of bringing their children to such exhibitions are either ignorant or really naive. There's no such thing as a "beautiful" war situation, and in every war, there's going to be victims - especially the older folks, women and children. To not photograph or document their suffering is to say that these people who're suffering greatly aren't important enough or worth the world's attention.

Secondly, any kid 12 years and above see more violence on TV shows, videogames or computer games more than what the average 12-year-old kid 20 years ago. And sadly, the type of violence they see are "glamourized" violence, and graphically-realistic. For their parents to be afraid of bringing them to art exhibition or museums to see what realistically happening in other countries due to wars, poverty or famine, and yet allow them to play such violent games or watch TV shows or movies filled to the brim with violence and bad language is hypocrisy at best, and not to say poor parenthood skills. :rolleyes: