Censorship enigma

Censorship enigma

Every now and then I feel the need for a hit of gossip. In
these cases I make my way to the news stand in Kuta, Denpasar,
where I can buy women magazines from various parts of the globe.
Inevitably the story I really want to read is made impossible to
comprehend because of the black stain from the spidol rendered
with lack of artistry by a man (it must be a man) in the censor
office. He is in charge of denipple-izing the world.

Now I live in Bali, and each day I see women's nipples and
men's genitalia on show at bath time. Each day I confront my own,
with which, despite the ravages of time, I am quite confrontable.
Every now and then I bare my body for the tukang pijat (masseur),
who as a man is suddenly consumed with raging lust. We often see
nipples and bottoms at movie theaters on the screen. Bus loads of
tourists from Sumatra make their way to Kuta to look at those on
show at the beach.

Women who read women's magazines are no doubt equally familiar
with their own anatomy and thus should not be shocked when shown
a nipple or a bottom, particularly in the context of an article
on health issues such as breast cancer or implants. Increasingly,
fashion dictates that nipples are to be on show, which should
send the censor's office into frenzied activity over the next few
months.

Women are encouraged to breast feed, but the vehicle of this
food is not to be shown in magazines -- but is OK in public
places. So what I need to ask is, what is the use of these black
squiggles that ruin such incredibly expensive magazines (usually
sold at twice the price that they sell for in its country of
origin)? A nipple, a bottom or even a flash of pubic hair, does
not pornography or even erotica make.

MELODY KEMP

Ubud, Bali