YouTube Art Project 'VVEBCAM' Censored Because Of Its Tags

The tension between art and censorship is given a public arena on the internet, where both battle it out for all to see and comment on. Just a couple days ago a sex-doll's transformation into an orca whale was censored on Ustream. And today 'VVEBCAM' by artist Petra Cortright was removed from YouTube, a video that consisted of Petra staring into her webcam while trance music played in the background. Hide the children!

The issues with Cortright's video were its 733 tags, some of which included 'tits', 'boobs', 'vagina' and 'sex'. All of those words... on the internet! This video had been uploaded in 2007 and had since been included in exhibitions worldwide and featured in academic curricula. The tags, Cortright said in an interview are a list of default terms for 'spam' on the Internet. She tried to explain this to YouTube but they did not care. Luckily, Rhizome has managed to keep some footage of the video intact.

This incident gives us much to think on. What these censorship cases teach us is that a doll's nudity is as indecent as a human's nudity and a 'boob' as illicit as a boob. But isn't a tag there to warn viewers of content, not to stand on its own? What is language? Woah.

Comments

[sidge]

02:26 PM on 12/16/2011

R*** t** s***** censorship *s g*****. T*** s****!

[Frank Randle]

01:10 PM on 12/16/2011

Pots & Kettles. HP fingers YouTube over sens or ship. Click, click.

[ta2t2o]

11:35 AM on 12/16/2011

So if I search for Blue Footed Boobies on You Tube, I run the risk of not ever finding them?

[Wazzat]

10:22 AM on 12/16/2011

Just somebody trying to get attention...

but then again: this "article" is just HffPo trying to get your clicks.

[ta2t2o]

11:36 AM on 12/16/2011

And it worked for both you an me.

[Prisilly]

10:14 AM on 12/16/2011

So, google/YT is not my friend?

[RecreationalPilot]

09:17 AM on 12/16/2011

Here's a tidbit...

Painters sue movie companies, and win, if their paintings are shown hanging on walls for more than a second. Most artwork is prescreened for the film shots.

[grant06]

09:31 AM on 12/16/2011

It would be whether or not you premise were true. Part of the reason films cost so much is that they are crafted works of art themselves.

[andnojusticeforanyone]

11:42 AM on 12/16/2011

The same with names, a friend of mine was contacted a few years ago by a film company, a character in the film had the same name as my friend and they wanted to know if they had any objection to their using his name.

[montemalone]

08:54 AM on 12/16/2011

No different than here. I dare not even type those offending words in this box lest my entire post disappear in the the ether.

[Bobotheclown]

09:36 AM on 12/16/2011

Boob. Just checking...

[levelshot]

09:58 AM on 12/16/2011

you've been warned.

[Retromancer]

08:54 AM on 12/16/2011

Please tell me HP isn't calling someone else out about c.e.n.s.o.r.s.h.i.p.

[Prisilly]

10:11 AM on 12/16/2011

Wake-up, Alice. You're in wonderland.

But, you've earned a fan/fave for being here. Aha!

[lonewolfwisconsin]

08:52 AM on 12/16/2011

That's not all that Google has done to YouTube. They have effectively broken communication links to your followers and fans, ala China & Russia, to deny cross-communication of users.
This tactic will help the government keep us from communicating WHEN the Revolution begins to flourish. "America...home of the Free"???/ Not anymore. America as we knew her, has failed,..is gone. New America must emerge, rise from the ashes of Capitalism, and rebuild as a nation that shuns all the poisonous policies of the past 100 years. They will cut communication completely.

[Prisilly]

10:12 AM on 12/16/2011

Your comment is very scary, but alas, so true. F/F

Now, about your micro-bio. You're just joshing, right?

[Jguig]

08:40 AM on 12/16/2011

Judging by the way HP promoted this non-story, they are apparently appalled by censorship.

I wish that HP would practice what it preaches. I have had many posts censored because they just didn't like what I've written. I have never used obsenity or disparaged another poster. Yet, I see all sorts of vile responses permitted to people with conservative views.

It would give HP credibility if it practices what it preaches. Freedom of speech should apply to all. Not just those you agree with.

[Prisilly]

10:13 AM on 12/16/2011

Thanks for your courage in speaking out.

[JtownesquireAgain]

08:37 AM on 12/16/2011

She posted a bunch of tags to get more hits on her video...that (the use of misleading and excessive tages) is a violation of YouTube policy. This isn't a story about anything but some "artists" looking for attention. Here's an idea....get some talent, then you won't have to use this tricks.

[Aldebaran]

09:32 AM on 12/16/2011

spoken like a true philistine

[Bobotheclown]

09:39 AM on 12/16/2011

At the talent store?

[Heyman]

08:36 AM on 12/16/2011

Boycott YouTube today. DON'T SIGN IN! December 16th is boycott of YouTube!!!

It's okay for someone to preach hate, violence and degrade others on YouTube. When it comes to excessive tags?
Come on!...
YouTube has eliminated our "Friends". And tried to change our Channel pages. Without our permission. WE make them money. Without us? YouTube would be in the unemployment lines.

[Prisilly]

10:14 AM on 12/16/2011

The YT changes are appalling. The absolute worst.

[deandelUcas]

07:51 AM on 12/16/2011

Uh what? This is nothing to do with censorship. Ms cortright violated youtubes terms of service when posting excessive, misleading tags. Irresponsible, sloppy article.

[Heyman]

08:37 AM on 12/16/2011

Get a life.

[SmackyDoodle]

09:52 AM on 12/16/2011

Worst. Comeback. Ever.

[Cooltoad]

10:43 AM on 12/16/2011

He's right, you know. Check any random youtube video, it usually has completely irrelevant key phrases, words, all to only register as a potential hit when someone is searching. I've seen really offensive key tags in the most benign videos... all a result of attention seeking.

[Bobotheclown]

09:40 AM on 12/16/2011

But she said it had something to do with spam filters. What was that about?