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DISRESPECTFUL: Brett Murray's graphic interpretation of Jacob Zuma. PHOTO: BUSISIWE MBATHA

 Depicting JZ's penis is worst arrogance 

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First opinion is that such a person does not respect himself. He therefore can't respect you. It is just one of a myriad reasons that cried for the Child Protection Act.

Kids must not be exposed to lurid conduct: They are innocent and have dangerously impressionable minds that cannot easily differentiate between right and wrong.

Some court officials will punish such a demeanour even if the offender could not reach a toilet in time.

Thus the media agonise over and don't publish pictures of private parts. To mitigate, publications with such images clearly mark them "For adults only". It is a legal requirement in South Africa.

So it must be at art galleries too.

What ranks with this insensitivity is the depiction of President Jacob Zuma, displayed and sold for R136 000 by Brett Murray at the Goodman Gallery in Johannesburg last week.

I hold no brief for Zuma, who has disappointed in more ways than one. But portraying him zip down and his perceived black penis hanging out is the height of arrogance, even though the originator is a man I should have an ear for because of his anti-apartheid activism.

That the portrait is not something to savour is summed up by Murray himself: "It was not the kind of work I expected to sell. It was more about an idea. I didn't think someone would want to buy and hang it in the lounge and live with it."

Off course. It is a caricature.

I assume that creation is rooted in Zuma's history of sexual exploits. But unlike countless others, he has never hidden his sexual exploits. Except for his dalliance with Sonono Khoza, he has laid his affections and preferences bare to the public.

It is the Constitution and its stipulation on culture that is under the whip. We voted for a president with a clear understanding of the cultural choice he swears by when it comes to relationships. Like most of our indigenous cultural norms - slaughtering and koma initiation school included - we are continuously coerced into submitting that they are primitive and offensive.

It is as demeaning as FW de Klerk's defence of some apartheid statutes in an interview with CNN last week.

Remember the original Citizen newspaper's advocacy journalism. It left no middle ground in its efforts to legitimise ill-gotten gains by whites. Even now, they see Bishop Desmond Tutu's call for them to contribute to alleviating imbalances that still spit at reconciliation efforts as madness and a travesty.

There must be a code of ethics or it will always lack compassion and insult long-held beliefs. Not only Zuma , all of us deserve respect.

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No respect for Struggle heroes

"IT IS in bad taste. Whether you call it art or not, it is in bad taste.

"It goes beyond disrespect - not only for the president, but anyone. It also goes against the grain of what is entrenched in our Constitution. This is probably done in the name of freedom of expression, but such freedom must respect the dignity and right of others.

"Even at the height of the struggle against apartheid we never insulted the leaders of the time - we never depicted whoever, including PW Botha, with his genitals exposed.

"This person is being political and accusing us of being corrupt and pissing on the graves of the Struggle heroes without anyevidence." - Jackson Mthembu, ANC spokesman

Comments

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Mon May 20 11:21:45 SAST 2013 ::

May 18, 2012

Papage

This is sick, how do you draw such a picture, your President after all, why not Me?
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May 18, 2012

TaGoddas

Those who know say that art speaks, and that the artist is talking with their art. If that's the case, what does this picture say? No matter how Msholozi lives his life, he really does not deserve to be treated like this. My heart goes out to him for the attacks he has to endure...
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May 18, 2012

Vhamsanda

Sies man!! The artist must be brought to book immediately .
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May 18, 2012

RobinH

It's satire, people. Political figures are lampooned throughout the world, and Murray was doing similar work targetting the political figures at the time, under the apartheid regime. It is an unfortunate truth that our illustrious leader seems to wield his weapon a great deal and with considerable pride, so with respect, he sets himself up as a target for satire. And again with respect, every time he opens his mouth he reinforces that perception. Sure it is in bad taste. So what. This response is about as intelligent as that of the minister that objected to "nudes" on display at Iziko, and shows a complete lack of humour. What pathetic megalomania. "for the attacks he has to endure"...... Oh please.
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May 18, 2012

Shredder

We have already read about that in other newspapers. Anyway, ha go tshwane le likile.

This is below the belt. Msholozi must sue that guy. We have a freedom of speech yes, however we have a responsibility not to step on others' toes.
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May 18, 2012

Shredder

@RobinH
It's satire, people. Political figures are lampooned throughout the world, and Murray was doing similar work targetting the political figures at the time,
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I wonder if he could target Pieter Mulder for example.
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May 18, 2012

Shredder

@RobinH - You always call people knuckleheads and twits. Not this Murray guy is really a knucklehead and a twit.
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May 18, 2012

Shredder

It is "NOW this Murray guy is really a knucklehead and a twit."
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May 18, 2012

RobinH

SHredder. I don't remember exactly who he depicted in the 90's, but there were definitely leading figures depicted as Bart Simpson, or that little comic devil character. I have some comic light fittings he did. And let's face it, Zuma has a much higher profile than Mulder. Satire is what satirists do, and generally the figures they satirise are made ridiculous. Zuma has done a pretty good job of making himself ridiculous without Brett's help.

The delightful irony of course, is that in objecting the party has guaranteed Murray almost limitless publicity.

People's views on art and aesthetics will inevitably differ vastly, and as "the oldest punk around" (according to my kids) I happen to find this work very sharp, and very entertaining.
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May 18, 2012

RobinH

Shredder, Of course that is a matter of opinion. The ontention of satire is to hit a nerve, and it seems he has succeeded in that. You are welcome to call him what you like. I'm sure he finds the hooha all very entertaining.
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