Man eats dead baby on TV

[medjay]

I don't mean to disgust or appall anyone today but I heard about this for the first time on the radio this morning. Apparently, it's been big news in the U.K.

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C4 to show artist eating dead baby

Jamie Wilson
Monday December 30, 2002
The Guardian

Channel 4 was yesterday back in the dock over plans to broadcast a programme showing a performance artist eating the flesh of a dead baby.

The documentary, Beijing Swings, which looks at the extreme practices of some artists in China, also shows a man drinking wine that has had an amputated penis marinaded in it.

The programme, which has been condemned by the Chinese embassy in London, will be broadcast on Thursday night. A spokesman for Channel 4 said last night: "The programme will be controversial and will shock some viewers but a warning will be given before it goes out on air."

The documentary shows stills of Zhu Yu, the artist, biting into the body of a stillborn infant. He says: "No religion forbids cannibalism. Nor can I find any law which prevents us from eating people. I took advantage of the space between morality and the law and based my work on it."

Zhu, who is a Christian, says religion has had a major impact on his work.

But the Tory MP Ann Widdecombe, said: "Jesus Christ said suffer the little ones to come unto me, not that they should be eaten for public entertainment. This programme sounds hideous."
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Because I'm a nice guy I didn't post the pictures. Further proof of our society in decline I guess.

 

[Guest]

I've heard of people eating placentas so this doesnt shock me.

 

[Thrillhouse]

Old news. rotten.com posted those pics years ago.

http://poetry.rotten.com/infantiphagia/

What I had heard is that it WASN'T an actual dead baby, it was some other kind of meat processed to look like a baby. It's pretty fucked up, either way.

(And I thought sensationalism on TV had gotton ridiculous in the US...)

 

[medjay]

I've heard of people eating placentas so this doesnt shock me.

Does anything really shock anyone anymore? It seems like all this performance "art" has become passe.

 

[medjay]

Old news. rotten.com posted those pics years ago.

I know those pics are old but the story is dated just last week. That's why they were talking about it on the radio. A different guy or a replay of an old incident?

 

[Guest]

Does anything really shock anyone anymore? It seems like all this performance "art" has become passe.

there is one band that still has the talent to shock. Perhaps you've heard of Gwar? Campy humor at its best

 

[Thrillhouse]

there is one band that still has the talent to shock. Perhaps you've heard of Gwar? Campy humor at its best

Gwar is much more amusing than shocking.

 

[Guest]

Gwar is much more amusing than shocking.

but for those who are easily shocked they are wild.
Someone told me "the best way to be shocking is to be average"

 

[medjay]

I've often wondered what the point of some of the more bizarre performance art really is. I'm sure there are people out there who "get it".

I think it's bullshit.

 

[Rambling Rose]

I'll take a thigh.

 

[brokenbrainwave]

was it served with mint jelly? if so I am in.

 

[medjay]

Someone told me "the best way to be shocking is to be average"

I actually can't remember the last time I was shocked by anything. I can't even imagine what it would take today.

 

[Guest]

I actually can't remember the last time I was shocked by anything. I can't even imagine what it would take today.

give me time, I'm working on it

 

[Thrillhouse]

There's a lot of really really bad "art" out there.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-218138,00.html

..for example.

 

[medjay]

There's a lot of really really bad "art" out there.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-218138,00.html

..for example.

I liked this quote from the article: "No one wants to say this kind of thing is rubbish because they want to sound arty but I’m not afraid to say it."

That's always been my feeling. Just because you call something art doesn't make it so.

I remember the performance "artist" who set himself on fire. What's the point really?

 

[Hamletmaschine]

What's the point of painting a Mona Lisa?

 

[Guest]

What's the point of painting a Mona Lisa?

Some art is just over rated and hyped. Mona Lisa included.

That doesn't change the fact Da Vincci(sp) was a genius.

 

[medjay]

What's the point of painting a Mona Lisa?

I understand art for art's sake. But shouldn't a line eventually be drawn between the creation of something and sensationalistic self-mutilation?

 

[RawHumor]

You can call it art if you want to call it art. Just don't ask me to pay for it and don't force anyone to look at it.

 

[medjay]

I was at the Museum of Contemporary Art one time. Someone had gotten a toilet stool and put it on display. No extras, no garnishments, just a plain old toilet from the Home Depot. And it was considered art. I mean, come on! Is this all just one big intellectual put-on or what?

 

[SilvaTungDevil]

Makes me crave soylent green

 

[Hamletmaschine]

I understand art for art's sake. But shouldn't a line eventually be drawn between the creation of something and sensationalistic self-mutilation?

Lines are always being drawn. By somebody, somewhere, some time. Who gets to draw those lines--when, where, why, and how--is part of the point of some performance art.

Self-mutilation has always been practiced by humans for aesthetic and/or religious purposes.

Originally posted by RawHumor
You can call it art if you want to call it art. Just don't ask me to pay for it and don't force anyone to look at it.

And you can call it National Defense if you like. Just don't expect me to pay for it and don't force me to serve in it.

 

[sunstruck]

And you can call it National Defense if you like. Just don't expect me to pay for it and don't force me to serve in it.

You're awsome.

Never pit a hippy performance art prof against a right wing Christian fundamentalist. No good can come of it.

 

[RawHumor]

And you can call it National Defense if you like. Just don't expect me to pay for it and don't force me to serve in it.

National defense is necessary for a civilization's survival. Art is nice fluff.

 

[medjay]

Lines are always being drawn. By somebody, somewhere, some time. Who gets to draw those lines--when, where, why, and how--is part of the point of some performance art.

Self-mutilation has always been practiced by humans for aesthetic and/or religious purposes.

I get it. But should there be a difference between art and social protest? Does it really prove a point when the lines are blurred by simple bad taste?

I don't find anything wrong with self mutilation as long as it's clear what motivates it. A person who pieces, tattoos or brands is kind of different from someone who pours gasoline over himself and strikes a match.