The controversy surrounding Brett Murray’s portrait of President Jacob Zuma has stirred up a hornet’s nest. On the one hand, it has elicited outrage even from people I know to have antipathy towards our head of state. On the other, defenders of The Spear feel that...
spear
Mike van Graan on The Spear | by Mike Van Graan
Brett Murray's The Spear, a picture of President Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed, mimics the pose of the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin in a Soviet-era propaganda poster. Politicians, whenever they are exposed for having said something offensive, often...
Why The Spear outraged us | by Mzukisi Makatse
Mzukisi Makatse on freedom of artistic expression in South Africa The contextual and political understanding of the freedom of artistic expression in South Africa Now that the dust seems to be settling after the storm and hysteria occasioned by The Spear - Brett...
Murray Explains Why He Painted “The Spear” | by Brett Murray
“At the outset, I would like to say that I am a proud South African and a former supporter of the ANC. I am not a racist. I do not produce art with an intention to hurt, humiliate or insult, and that includes the painting that has caused this controversy. I...
Riding victimhood to power | by Justice Malala
Many have been outraged and sad for President Jacob Zuma over The Spear saga but in truth he could not have asked for a better week. With just seven months to go to the ANC's Mangaung conference, Zuma's battle over The Spear has given him a party that is firing on all...
Robust discussion at M & G colloquium | by Faranaaz Parker
The M&G in collaboration with Oresego Holdings debated the limits of freedom of expression, bringing together analysts, artists and academics. “We can’t see an African man with his clothes off but at the same time every 10 seconds in this country a woman is...
SANEF alarmed by ANC’s call for boycott of City Press | by SANEF
Editors' Forum says party's call tantamount to intimidation and abuse of power Sanef alarmed at call by the ANC to boycott City Press Newspaper The South African National Editors' Forum notes that the South Gauteng High Court has decided to adjourn the hearing of an...
The bogus piety of St Ferial | by David Bullard
David Bullard on the curious case of the President's honourable member Keen observers of bogus piety would have been enthralled last weekend as the South African Media Synchronised Hypocrisy team went into their final stages of training before this year's Olympics....
