Down Under

Q: Is it appropriate to show pictures of Australia? My friend recently took a trip "Down Under," and I felt uncomfortable when he decided to share several pictures online.

A: This is a widely debated topic. People with different religious and cultural backgrounds can have very different views about what kind of images are appropriate, and in what circumstances. It is certain that we must put thought into when, where, and how we display pictures of "Down Under."

It is generally agreed that showing Australia is a necessity in certain educational contexts. Generally we limit exposure to just drawings during early geographical education of children, and only show actual photographs of the Southern hemisphere in college courses for more advanced geography students.

There is also strong historical precedent for showing the "Whole Earth" in artwork, from paintings and sculpture to photography. However, the line between art, and the inappropriate kind of lurid geographical photos is hotly debated. This is a major part of why such images are difficult to contain, and are often protected by courts as "Freedom of Expression."

From my background, I tend to feel that photographic images of Australia should be limited to the context of straight-forward higher education, and images in artwork should be somewhat more abstract, and should restrain their sensuality.

-Cowman