Bar clashes with students over 'sexist, racist wallpaper'
27th March 2013
Share This Article:
The Warwick Anti-Sexism Society (WASS) is up in arms about ‘disgusting’ wallpaper in a bar in Leamington.
Warwick University students have petitioned for Moo Bar to remove the wallpaper, which they see as offensive. The wallpaper features adverts for prostitutes, "young black slave girls" and a "busty Asian schoolgirl".
The petition, hosted on Change.org, states: "The establishment Moo has recently re-decorated and part of the new decor includes wallpaper in one area of the bar which depicts images of women and fake adverts for prostitution.
"The images sexualise school girls, slavery and violence using text such as “Busty Indian schoolgirl”, and “Black runaway slave girl aged 18 yrs seeks plantation master.
"Warwick Anti-Sexism Society is extremely worried about the exposure of these images to students and residents of Leamington Spa."
In an official statement, the recently redecorated bar hit back at the ‘flawed and misleading petition’.
The bar has removed just one image – out of around 25,000 – but claims that ‘"the police visited the bar last week and were happy that the interior was not breaking any laws. While the intention was to be provocative, we refute any suggestion that they are fabricated, sexist, racist or violent.
"We are pleased that the artwork has opened a debate about the issues it addresses, and whilst certainly challenging, people must realise that history can’t be airbrushed.”
Is this is a case of historical enlightenment or just a poor excuse to offend?
Warwick University students have petitioned for Moo Bar to remove the wallpaper, which they see as offensive. The wallpaper features adverts for prostitutes, "young black slave girls" and a "busty Asian schoolgirl".
The petition, hosted on Change.org, states: "The establishment Moo has recently re-decorated and part of the new decor includes wallpaper in one area of the bar which depicts images of women and fake adverts for prostitution.
"The images sexualise school girls, slavery and violence using text such as “Busty Indian schoolgirl”, and “Black runaway slave girl aged 18 yrs seeks plantation master.
"Warwick Anti-Sexism Society is extremely worried about the exposure of these images to students and residents of Leamington Spa."
In an official statement, the recently redecorated bar hit back at the ‘flawed and misleading petition’.
The bar has removed just one image – out of around 25,000 – but claims that ‘"the police visited the bar last week and were happy that the interior was not breaking any laws. While the intention was to be provocative, we refute any suggestion that they are fabricated, sexist, racist or violent.
"We are pleased that the artwork has opened a debate about the issues it addresses, and whilst certainly challenging, people must realise that history can’t be airbrushed.”
Is this is a case of historical enlightenment or just a poor excuse to offend?
You might also like...
People who read this also read...
TRENDING
TRENDING CHANNELS
CONTRIBUTOR OF THE MONTH