DIY Photography

Hacking Photography - one Picture at a time

  • News
  • Inspiration
  • Reviews
  • Tutorials
  • DIY
  • Gear
Search

 
@diyphotography

Telegram Me

Instagram

Submit A Story

Facebook censors images of two ancient Roman statues for nudity

Share
Tweet
February 5, 2019 by Dunja Djudjic 5 Comments

Many cultural institutions use social networks nowadays to promote their events. Geneva’s Museum of Art and History is no exception, but Facebook’s photo policy ruined their campaign. The museum posted images of two ancient statues that will be exhibited in an upcoming show. However, Facebook apparently thinks they’re porn, so it banned the museum’s ad.

The museum tried to promote its upcoming show titled César et le Rhône (Caesar and the Rhone). In the Facebook advertisement, there were images of the two sculptures. One Vénus d’Arles, a marble statue of a semi-nude Venus made in the first century CE. The other is “Statue de captive” made of bronze in the first century BCE and depicting a nude man. After posting the ad, the museum reportedly got the following message from Facebook: “We don’t allow ads that depict nudity, even if it isn’t sexual in nature. This includes the use of nudity for artistic or educational purposes.”

After the unpleasant surprise from Facebook, the museum turned to Twitter. They uploaded the two images to Twitter, each having the word “censuré” (“censored”) obstructing the… sensitive parts. The tweet reads:

We wanted to promote the exhibition “César et le Rhône” using these two works but #Facebook we forbid it, because of their nudity… Perhaps it would be time for this platform to change its policy for museums and cultural institutions?

Nous voulions promouvoir l'exposition "César et le Rhône" en utilisant ces deux œuvres mais #Facebook nous l'interdit, en raison de leur nudité…
Peut-être serait-il temps pour cette plateforme de changer sa politique pour les musées et les institutions culturelles? pic.twitter.com/RSHn6g8O8F

— MAH Genève (@MAHgeneve) February 1, 2019

As you may remember, Facebook had similar censorship fails before. There was that time when they banned a user for posting a photo of a 30,000-year-old statue. Some iconic works by Irving Penn and Peter Paul Rubens also didn’t make it through the nudity filter. Photographer Julia Busato got banned from Facebook after posting a series of really powerful photos of nude models hiding behind a mannequin. But then again, there was one of those rare cases when Facebook reversed the decision, such as that time when the famous photo Napalm Girl was censored, and then uncensored.

Just like the person behind Geneva’s Museum tweet points out, it probably is time that Facebook changes its policy for museums and cultural institutions. As a matter of fact, Facebook’s Community Guidelines read that they “allow photographs of paintings, sculptures and other art that depicts nude figures.” Therefore, I am really curious how these images got banned in the first place, considering that they don’t actually violate Facebook’s nudity policy. Either way, this isn’t the first time that something like this happens, and I’m sure it’s also not the last.

[via Artsy News, image credits: Alain.Darles (left)/Finoskov (right) via Wikimedia Commons (altered)]

Share
Tweet

Related posts:

Facebook censors images of Rubens nude paintings Facebook thinks Irving Penn’s work is pornography, censors it for nudity At What Point Does A Nude Photo Become Pornographic? Controversy At MOCA Jacksonville Facebook censored, then uncensored, famous photo of ‘Napalm Girl’

Filed Under: news Tagged With: art, censor, censorship, facebook, museum, nude

« Watch celebrities hang out with their younger selves via Photoshop magic
Blackmagic Pocket 4K firmware update improves battery & autofocus issues – Still no BRAW »
  • Douglas Smith

    But you can post photos of killing animals or even people

  • Chris

    Or maybe the censorship is made up by the museum to get even more free media advertisement.

  • jason bourne

    Yet Facebook allows Russians to use their site to try to destabilize the US government.

    Get your priorities straight, Facebook.

    • Kaouthia

      That’s a bit like saying the police allow people to drink alcohol and drive because some people get away with it. Something having happened does not necessarily mean that it’s been allowed. Just that they hadn’t been caught yet. 🙂

  • Jerry Roe

    This is only a problem in this puritanical Country.

Popular on DIYP

  • This epic video is what happens when a pro racing drone pilot turns on the camera
  • The Nikon Z6 goes head to head with the Sony A7III with some surprising results
  • Canon EOS RP first impressions leave filmmakers disappointed
  • Stop Instagram from ruining your videos with this easy technique
  • Apple makes a Bokeh commercial, uses “bokeh” as a verb and pronounces it wrong
  • This guy wants to rescue 100,000 film cameras by the year 2020
  • This photographer dismantled a real Lamborghini Miura for his amazing Disintegrating Cars series
  • How much should photographers charge in 2018
  • These are five free and simple mobile apps every landscape photographer should install
  • Atomos Shinobi goes head to head with SmallHD FOCUS 5″ at $75 less

Recent Comments


Previous Polls

Dunja Djudjic is a writer and photographer from Novi Sad, Serbia. You can see her work on Flickr, Behance and her Facebook page.

John Aldred is based in Scotland and photographs animals in the studio and people in the wild.

You can find out more about John on his website and follow his adventures on YouTube and Facebook.

JP Danko is a commercial photographer based in Toronto, Canada. JP
can change a lens mid-rappel, swap a memory card while treading water, or use a camel as a light stand.

To see more of his work please visit his studio website blurMEDIAphotography, or follow him on Twitter, 500px, Google Plus or YouTube.

JP’s photography is available for licensing at Stocksy United.

Clinton Lofthouse is a Photographer, Retoucher and Digital Artist based in the United Kingdom, who specialises in creative retouching and composites. Proud 80's baby, reader of graphic novels and movie geek!
Find my work on My website or follow me on Facebook or My page

Recent Posts

  • Landscape photography is NOT a competition
  • This unexpected Lightroom slider helps making perfect black and white conversions
  • George Mendonsa, the “kissing sailor” from iconic photo, dies at 95
  • Tamron to launch wide angle 17-28mm f/2.8 Zoom for Sony FE
  • Manfrotto parent company, Vitec, acquires motion control company Syrp

Copyright © DIYPhotography 2006 - 2019 | About | Contact | Advertise | Write for DIYP | Full Disclosure | Privacy Policy