Issue of Cultural Context in Publication

Source: http://nick131086.blogspot.com/2008/11/indonesian-weekly-apologises-over-last.html


One of Indonesia’s top news weeklies, “Tempo” invited criticisms and complaints when it’s cover for February 4-10 Edition featured former President, Suharto and his children in a photo composition that mimicked Leornardo Da Vinci’s, Last Supper.

Christians in Indonesia were upset because it tarnishes the meaning behind the original painting. This shows a lack of respect for cultures that are different from the publishers.

Kress & Van Leeuwen (2006, p.35) said that the semiotic landscape is influenced by “social, cultural and individual interpretation.” The Christians who form only 10% of a population of 234 million view the pictures as insulting to their religion. Tempo magazine issued an apology in the following week’s edition.

The Alliance of Christian Students and Youth’s (AMPIC) sued Tempo for blasphemy and demanded copies off the magazine to be taken off shelves, nationwide.

Source:

http://www.indianmalaysian.com/makkal_osai.html

Similarly, in Malaysia, the Tamil Daily newspaper published a photograph of Jesus holding a cigarette and beer. They apologized, saying that the graphics editor made an error in taking the image from the internet. The newspaper was than, suspended for 30 days.

In the ethical context, Sissela Bok’s (2006, p.4-5) ethical decision making, suggests that both Tamil Daily and Tempo writers and editors should have conducted discussions with the public where they can gauge people’s reactions to the subject matter.

References:

Patterson, P & Wilkins, L 2008, Media Ethics: Issues and Cases, McGraw Hill, New York.

Retna, S, 2007, Makkal Osai Suspended for 30 Days, viewed 10 November 2009, http://www.indianmalaysian.com/makkal_osai.html

Nick, 2008, Indonesian Weekly Apologises Over Last Supper Suharto Cover, viewed at 10 November 2009, http://nick131086.blogspot.com/2008/11/indonesian-weekly-apologises-over-last.html

‘Indonesian Weekly Apologises over Last Supper Suharto Cover’, 2008, viewed at 10 November 2009, http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5hekOeN5FnuydFZdws5eHN4m-BkCw

‘Anger at Malaysia’ Jesus Cartoon, viewed at 10 November 2009, http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6960220.stm

‘Christian sue Tempo for blasphemy’, viewed at 10 November 2009, http://www.pmw.c2o.org/2008/indon5303.html

Kress, G & van Leeuwen, T.2006. Reading images. Chapter 1: The Semiotic Landscape: Language and Visual Communication.