Miss Bartlet Challenged (Press, 5 April 1979)
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Summary: Miss Bartlet Challenged (Press, 5 April 1979)
On 5 April 1979, a group known as the Society for the Promotion of Individual Responsibility (S.P.I.R.), which opposes censorship, took issue with Miss Patricia Bartlett regarding complaints she made to the Broadcasting Tribunal concerning television nudity. This controversy stems from Miss Bartlett's submissions to the tribunal, where she reportedly claimed that nudity on television is acceptable only when depicted by "primitive" individuals. S.P.I.R., a group with about 350 members founded in 1974, believes her comments could be interpreted as racist, prompting them to consider legal action under either the Human Rights Commission Act or the Race Relations Act. Mr R. Hamlin, the chairman of S.P.I.R., remarked that Miss Bartlett’s comments could suggest that she views "primitive people" — typically characterised as people of colour — as lacking a sophisticated sexuality. He suggested this implication could be seen as offensive and indicative of racist attitudes. Hamlin expressed the need for Miss Bartlett to clarify her views, questioning whether she implies that the bodies of civilised individuals are inherently obscene because they belong to a more advanced culture. In response to the potential legal actions, Miss Bartlett seemed unfazed and stated she would welcome any moves made by S.P.I.R. She expressed a belief that Mr Hamlin was uninformed about the actual proceedings at the Broadcasting Tribunal meeting since he was not present. When directly asked if she believed her comments could be considered racist, she firmly denied that possibility. The situation raises important questions about the intersection of cultural perceptions, media representation, and the discourse on race and nudity. The forthcoming actions by S.P.I.R. may further illuminate these complexities in public dialogue surrounding censorship and societal norms.
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