Art or pornography debate blocks nude photography development
The Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has been seeking opinions from the public and agencies for a draft circular on photography regulations since September 2011. The draft circular also includes the management of ‘sensitive’ photos. However, after seven revisions, to date the circular has not yet been issued.
Some of the reasons for the delay have been the inability for agencies to regulate the difference between pornographic and artistic imagery. This issues has also been further clouded by a spate of nude photo scandals involving Vietnamese stars.
The photographer said the draft circular needed to add specific regulations on nude photography.
However, even Van seemed to want artistic nude photography censored claiming that the draft circular needed to ban the publication of photos which showed 'sensitive' parts of the body. He claimed it was necessary to set up a appraisal council for nude photos.
Memory No. 7 by Viet Van won an honourable mention at the Worldwide Photography Gala Awards
At a seminar early 2012 held by the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions to collect opinions from agencies for the draft circular, Dang Dinh An, Chairman of Hanoi Artistic Photography Association, complained that bad nude photography had a negative effect on good artistic work.
To prevent the problem, Mr. An suggested strict punishments, including the withdrawal of licenses for website operators.
Vi Kien Thanh, Head of the Department of Fine Arts, Photography and Exhibitions, admitted that nude photography had been sidelined and that Regulation 29 issued 10 years ago was now out of date.
