 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Beijing Swings
Is this art?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Mike Kleinsteuber
2nd Jan 03
Content was no problem but the banality of the production was.
Waldemar - nice bloke but not a presenter. The programme was
put together like an extended news story and an extremely unimaginative
one at that. There is no denying that C4 is by far the most
innovative channel in the UK and long may it be so but, bloody
hell, if there was ever an opportunity for form and content
to reflect one another, this was a gift. You let a great moment
slip through your fingers, Waldemar. Shame.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Douglas Kennedy
2nd Jan 03
I've just finished watching "Beijing Swings". I just
want to say how fantastic this programme was, it showed such
fantastic art and culture. I had seen some of the art featured
before but it was wonderful to see the artists and hear what
they have to say about there work. Waldemar Januszczak was great
as the documenter. I would love to see more programmes like
this!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tony Wang
2nd Jan 03
I have just seen Beijing Swings, I was completely shocked. I
never think about this kind of art existing in my city. Iin
my opinion, this can't be called art, they are not artists,
they are evil.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Tani Ahsan
2nd Jan 03
This was an excellent, thought-provoking bit of TV, a gem in
comparison to the pulp crap we're fed daily by the UK media.
If I had any criticism at all on it, it's that it was too apologetic
about its content. I'm so bored of the barrage of warnings the
UK public are forced to listen to whenever they are going to
get a thought-provoking bit of TV. Why do we need to be mollycoddled
in this way? Why can't Channel 4 just be proud that they have
the balls to commission good TV. Well done, guys. And about
time.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Alex Smith
2nd Jan 03
I was suitably shocked by the blood/gore/'penis', but more disappointed
that the artists seemed to be talking the same "conceptual
bullshit" that we get here in England... not sure if something
was lost in the translation - unfortunately, I suspect it wasn't.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Sogibear
2nd Jan 03
Beijing Swings definitely challenged my views on art. First
I was mildly shocked, then i felt intrigued and pleased that
artist so far away in a completely different culture where they're
gagged by communist ideals are trying to express themselves
the only way they know how. Some of the art work i really liked,
some of it i was indifferent to, that’s art. I have always
believed that if a piece of art appeals to you for whatever
reason, then its good. no ifs, no buts, just good. Pushing the
boundaries for the greater good and making people think is always
good.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Selina
2nd Jan 03
I've just watched this programme and found it to be a brilliant
documentary. I didn't necessarily agree with the extreme nature
of the art that was being presented but was curious as to why
such extreme lengths were undertaken to express oneself. Although
it dealt with controversial issues, its real life and we have
a right to know about it.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Scot Mcgowan
2nd Jan 03
This is the first time I have been moved to write in about anything.
This programme really showed up the inadequacies of British
contemporary art. The many different artists featured working
together were inspiring. Why were they all having so much fun
with there creativity? In this country the artists always look
haunted because they know they are part of a decadent dinosaur
dominated by those with the cash to support it. I am an artist
and after watching this excellent programme I am certainly more
interested in experiencing Chinese Art. Why are these artists
not more celebrated in Britain? Can we not invite them over?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
David Perkins
2nd Jan 03
I have just seen the channel 4 programme 'Beijing Swings' and
I feel compelled to write to you to share my opinion. For your
information I am an Oxford-educated man, thirty-four years old
with postgraduate studies in media theory who feels strongly
about the right to expression, freedom from censorship, human
rights in China, etc. I sincerely wish you to know that I am
deeply disturbed and puzzled why you wanted to take things so
far in the direction taken in this program? At this moment I
feel sickened and deeply sad. I'm not yet sure I feel angry
- but i'm sure this will come. I think Channel 4 was irresponsible
in showing material associated with some of the works from this
group of notorious artists. I know that I could have switched
off and that the evening news shows items far more shocking
and potentially traumatic for some viewers, but for example,
the cannibalism item could have been described and not shown
(as it was - obviously up to a point). It was a serious omission
that there was no helpline offered after the program for those
who might have been affected - you surely knew from talking
to psychologists (Which I hope you did consult - please let
me know.) that this might have been a good possibility. At this
time, I partially feel better being able to write and tell you
this, to see my words on the page, and also after talking to
a friend on the telephone. Please take this personal testament
seriously, and please reconsider before running the same edit
again, the risk of inflicting the worst items of this show on
a potential future audience. I do hope there are other people
who share my view and are able to write and tell you also. Let
our letters speak for themselves (however few in number they
may be - some people may not feel strong enough to put pen to
paper - ask the psychologists on this). I am saddened to have
to say that you have really gone too far in the name of freedom
of expression. What if people were to use this program to self-justify
similar acts and to take things further perhaps? To feel that
you have contributed to this, would, I imagine, be simply unbearable
for all involved in making the decision to air some of the items
(especially the cannibalism piece). I don't feel that any of
the contextualisation or commentary by the artists or presenter
went any way towards making the potential/actual effect of viewing
them tonight justifiable. Of course, all of this is my initial
impression (it is half past midnight... I don't know how I am
going to go to sleep this evening...) I feel I have made a mistake
having viewed this program but hold on to some hope that in
watching it through I was able to bear witness to a TV channel
gone to far and to be able to personally report my experience
in the attempt to make you seriously re-consider the possible
social consequences of showing certain material on TV. I would
appreciate it if you would pass on these first impressions to
all responsible so that they can read them for themselves. I'm
so sad for you all. And I apologise in advance for the rambling
incoherent/vagueness in this message .
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Julia Rayner
2nd Jan 03
Naked woman on Wall of China, fine. Man grafts his own skin
on a pig . Man eats baby. Why give the airspace? Shock tactics
do not equal art. So it arouses an emotion. That doesn't mean
it's worthy of the name art and especially not airtime on Channel
4. The guys saying they were using a human penis - well, it
was what the owner of the penis didn't want anymore and permission
had been given, even if it was for 2 immature, giggly students
who wanted notoriety and a laugh rather than respect as artists.
There was no artistry involved. But the guy eating the dead
baby? Please.
I have no idea where the baby came from but the total lack of
respect for human life just crumpled me. The 'artist' involved
will earn less notoriety than Freddie Starr earnt from his his
mythical hamster, less than Ozzy Osbourne from his bat, but
even if it earnt him a comic/freak show living for the rest
of his life, that doesn't justify the demeaning of that baby's
life. The narrator went on to say that the artist lived a very
frugal life, as if that were meant to illustrate to us how serious
he is about his art. Just him and art. But Channel 4 is surely
canny enough to recognise the juvenile desperation for attention?
All young artists live frugally, believe me I've known many
of them. That doesn't mean they are any better as artists. It
just means that they have more conviction in their own art,
and less conviction in their ability to survive on anything
else. Let that baby eater experience more of life. Let him lose
a couple of his own babies and then eat those babies and then
let him discuss how artistic he feels. Don't give Channel 4's
time to people who believe shock is art. Gilbert and George
dismally tried to exhibit their 'shit'paintings as real art
as they thought they were crazily shocking. They weren't. They
were very sad.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
