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When statues are illegal
Posted: Sat Mar 08, 2014 10:28 pm
by Gob
only statues will carry guns...
Italy up in arms over Michelangelo's David rifle advert
Italy's culture minister has expressed outrage over an advertisement by a US weapons firm showing Michelangelo's David holding a rifle.
Dario Franceschini said the image was offensive and violated the law.
A number of Italian media web sites carried the image of the advertisement showing David holding a bolt-action rifle.
The advertisement, from Illinois-based ArmaLite, carries the line "a work of art" in promoting the $3,000 rifle.
Mr Franceschini urged the company to withdraw the advertisement for the AR-50A1.
He said in a tweet: "The image of David, armed, offends and infringes the law. We will take action against the American company so that it immediately withdraws its campaign."
Historical Heritage and Fine Arts Board curator Cristina Acidini has issued a legal notice to ArmaLite to withdraw the image, saying it distorts the artwork.
The government says it has copyright on the commercial use of images of David.
Angelo Tartuferi, director of Florence's Accademia Gallery, where the statue is on display, told Repubblica newspaper: "The law says that the aesthetic value of the work cannot be distorted.
"In this case, not only is the choice in bad taste but also completely illegal."
The marble statue of the Biblical hero was created by Michelangelo between 1501 and 1504 and is considered a masterpiece of the Renaissance.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Sun Mar 09, 2014 10:20 pm
by Lord Jim
I don't see the problem here; seems rather appropriate really...
David was a hardcore military leader...
From his young days with the slingshot, to his later days as a military commander:
David conquered the Jebusite fortress of Jerusalem, and made it his capital. David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem, intending to build a temple. The prophet Nathan, announced that the temple would be built at a future date by one of David's sons (Solomon). Nathan told David that God had made a covenant with David, promising to establish the house of David: "Your throne shall be established forever."
David wins victories over the Philistines, and the Moabites and Hadadezer of Zobah paid tribute.[10]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David
If he'd had AR-50A1s available to him, he most certainly would have used them...
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Mon Mar 10, 2014 8:39 pm
by Big RR
Yep; and he probably could have gotten Uriah's wife that much sooner by making him the point man.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:20 am
by MajGenl.Meade
Well at least the Venus de Milo is disarmed.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 6:33 pm
by dgs49
How long does it take for the image to be public domain in Italy?
It leads to thoughts of other possibilities. The Mona Lisa advertising KY-gel products. Passing around pizza at the Last Supper.
The possibilities are endless.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:03 pm
by Big RR
In Italy, the term copyright protection is the same as in the US--life of the author plus 70 years. these works are well beyond that date.
My guess is that this is rooted in their cultural heritage laws; I had always thought it protected works from being sold or taken out of Italy, but it does appear that some control of reproduction rights are granted to the commission. I don't know if the US would enforce this right or not for ads in the US.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:45 pm
by Long Run
Maybe I am missing something, but what right does the Italian government have to limit the free speech of an American company? This taseless ad is clearly aimed at an English speaking audience, presumably to sell guns to Americans in America. Is there a treaty that acknowledges the right of the government of Italy to own the rights to artistic creations of people who lived in Italy throughout the eons? Are they entitled to recompense from the former mayor of Carmel for the crime of spaghetti westerns?
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 9:47 pm
by Long Run
MajGenl.Meade wrote:Well at least the Venus de Milo is disarmed.
Preventing her humerus response to this folderol.
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Tue Mar 11, 2014 10:08 pm
by Joe Guy
Would she have been ribbing along with us or had a more sternum response?
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 6:07 am
by MajGenl.Meade
Those wacky Americans! Not only did they give him a long gun ..... they also covered up his short arm.
I guess he would support the right to bare arms though....
Re: When statues are illegal
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2014 7:50 pm
by Big RR
LR--I've done a bit of searching, and haven't found any treaty or protocol which would force the US to honor this law, so the only recourse the Italian government might have is to prevent publication in Italy (or maybe in the EU if it applies across borders). Of course it is Italy, so they may make us an offer we can't refuse.
