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Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

What Are Peoples Problem With The Tasteful Portrayal Of The Human Form?

I continually see a contest or a group to which I feel I could contribute or join and then there it is, "No nudity." I respect peoples sensitivities but have they not seen the amount of beautiful nudity in the churches of Europe. A major theme throughout art history is the portrayal of the human form. The statement that upsets me the most is - No Nudity or VIOLENCE -. I have seen quite a bit of violence in my life. Let me assure all, it looks nothing like a beautiful woman!

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Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

The question could be asked: What Is Your Problem with Peoples Problem With The Tasteful Portrayal Of The Human Form? I run some contests that allow it and others that don't. I'm considering a "People and the Railroad" contest that will not allow it. (You'd be surprised.) I also don't think folks are comparing nudity and vilence when they state they don't want those things in their contests or groups.

And, by the way, you're always free to run your own contests and groups at any time.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

No, that's not the question. As I said, I respect people's sensitivities. I have never (intentionally) violated a group or contest's submission guidelines. If I did so then yes, one could validly ask, "What is my problem with other people's problems with nudity?" I am just somewhat mystified by it on an art site. And, why would I be surprised by your decision to prohibit nudity in a contest? My whole point is the frequency with which I see the caveat. As far as people not equating nudity with violence, I guess we will just have to agree to disagree. I see the two coupled far more frequently than not in order to agree with you on that.

Best regards.

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

because there are both children on this site and prudes. many want to put up nudes just for shock value. the people running those contests prefer not to see those things, i think that's the simplest answer.

just like the ones that don't mind seeing digital art just as long as they aren't digitally altered.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Mike,
Thanks for your response.

I have to digress with a question for you. What is "digital art that isn't digitally altered?"

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

i have no idea either, yet its on many contest.

i will allow photos, digital art and paintings - no digitally altered things. or something to that effect. many have no idea why they type the things they do on this site.

---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Mike,
Thanks again. I was feeling pretty ignorant. Glad you don't know what that means either.

As far as nudity goes, I guess it is just a personal thing. As a parent, I know that graphic images of violence are damaging and upsetting to children. But I don't think breasts are. I recall the Janet Jackson fiasco at the Superbowl years back. I remember everyone being so upset about her nipple. My comment to friends was that, as I sat their with my six year old daughter on my lap, I was a lot more concerned about all the graphic simulated sex being portrayed than Ms. Jackson's nipple.

And personally, it really does bother me when I see nudity lumped with "or death, cruelty, violence." Just me, I guess. Just wondering how others felt.
I am bummed that Joseph is going to make his "People and Trains" non-nude. I have a whole series of nudes with trains, seriously:)

 

Mike Savad

9 Years Ago

one of the problems is - people don't know the difference between artful nude, and porn. many think its the same thing. on the other side of the coin, it creates an unfair advantage. when the contest is - post your friend, and this friend happens to be a model and is naked - guess who is winning that contest? what, wait there were other entries, i didn't notice them...


its fun blaming famous people doing silly or dumb things. like i remember once the gay kiss on one show. now it's like an every day event. nothing special. or when i think NYPD had that fat guys butt showing - i don't know why anyone needed to see that. yet i think they did do it.

violence should be self explanatory. like if they have a doll contest, they don't want me putting up my dolls, all of which have a knife in their hand or they are covered in blood. and my bloody train series... wait, i need to make that.


---Mike Savad
MikeSavad.com

 

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

Ha-ha! Do a search for "train tracks." Second image that comes up is "Derailed" by Naman Imagery. It's tasteful! That's all I can say. I'm not opposed to nudity by any stretch and I agree with your points about nudity compared to violence. It's somewhat amazing what you can see on primetime TV in regards to violence, but a mere nipple slip causes CBS to be fined hundreds of thousands of dollars. I took your OP to be more about FAA specifically than people as a whole. Maybe I'll have to run two "People and the Railroad" contests. The one associated with my railroad group can be non-nude while the one with the Beautiful Girls And Women can be more open to interpretation.

 

Joseph C Hinson

9 Years Ago

Yeah, Dennis Franz may have pushed back the thought of nudity in prime time by thirty years. A show with Kim Delaney in the cast should not be showing Dennis Franz's butt.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

I guess it's all in the eye of the beholder. Tucked into all the congratulations messages I received after I sold a nude was a one word comment, "Disgusting." It was just a nude, not terribly graphic, provocative, and I don't know why anyone would find it offensive. But that's just my opinion. She obviously felt differently. I have certainly seen nudes that I felt were offensive - even on this site. So I move on. As I said earlier, I respect other peoples sensitivities. And I NEVER, produce anything with the intention to offend. I simply replied to the "Disgusting" comment, "Thank you for taking the time to comment."

And thank you for taking the time to entertain my thoughts.

Best regards.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Joseph,
I'll do that search. I want to see "Derailed."

It does amaze me, and as a parent bother me, the EXTREME violence one can see in a PG13 movie or on prime time television. I have seen grossly inappropriate sexual comments as my kids watched NICKELODIAN! But a NIPPLE. There we've got to draw the line.

Thanks for taking the time to entertain my impressions.

Best regards.

 

Jani Freimann

9 Years Ago

Some people don't understand the difference between tasteful nudity and pornography (also, children view the site) so some contest admins just say 'no nudity' period. Avoids problems.

 

Phyllis Beiser

9 Years Ago

Exactly Jani! You hit the nail on the head. You can not put breast o.k., penis not. Or back and buttocks are acceptable but no vagina's! Much easier to say, no nudity just because there will always be those who try to push the envelope.

 

Sydne Archambault

9 Years Ago

Sometimes Mike you cut to the chase in just a few words and I have to laugh out loud!

"because there are both children on this site and prudes. many want to put up nudes just for shock value. the people running those contests prefer not to see those things, i think that's the simplest answer.

just like the ones that don't mind seeing digital art just as long as they aren't digitally altered."

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Thanks to all of you for your thoughts on the subject. I understand and appreciate everyone's point of view and can't disagree with any of your thoughts. They are valid and well thought out opinions.

I must add this though, art will never exist without the portrayal of the beauty of the human form, created in God's image.

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

On a personal level, nudity to me is not offensive in any fashion. To get to offensive you have to add some kind of context that includes people not being treated with a level of respect, etc.

Having said that, I've been adding no NSFW to my contests, so I may be one of the ones you are talking about. For me, the problem is that I try to promote the contests. They have no value otherwise, and I use facebook to do so. Many people are very sensitive to it, as noted above, so much so that I think it's a problem to deal with in a publicly promoted contest.



 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

HW,
Here I go again with a possibly dumb question: What's NSFW?

 

Abbie Shores

9 Years Ago

Not
Safe
For
Work

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

Sorry about that not being clear. Yes, as Abbie said, not something safe for viewing at work. (I suppose it depends on where you work, but generally...)

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Isabella,
Beautiful name. Thanks. That is helpful because the site says that simple nudity is not family UNfriendly, but any moron who lives in these United States knows that nude art of any stripe is (I have a new expression) is NSFW.
Thanks.

 

Sydne Archambault

9 Years Ago

Oh.....I thought it meant New Stuff For Weenies.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

HW
See my note to Isabella (I love that name.) I got it.
Thanks

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Sydney,
I hope not - that might make me a weenie.

 

Katie Jeans

9 Years Ago

everyone is entitled to their own rules in contest. you could do one or multiple of nudity only. now you as an artist may have respectful nude art but unfortunately many feel the need to portray sex as the selling point in their nude photos not the beauty of the body. so someone like me who is very conservative, where even though I know the human body is a beautiful thing I personally feel uncomfortable viewing the distasteful nude photos some people do post on some contest. so for you I am sorry you get effected by what others distastefulness. Cant change what you cant change...just got to think a step ahead & start your own with your own rules.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

I always try to be respectful and never degrade unless there is a message against degrading. Thanks very much for your thoughts, They are reasonable and just that...thoughtful.

 

Marlene Burns

9 Years Ago

I don't think most people have problems with nudity..I think that a minority ruin it by thinking, "wow...anything goes" and then we have full frontal ( not allowed on this site), tasteless, etc.
Ya know how that goes....give them an inch and they take a mile...just human nature.
(There's a joke in the above about inches, but I'm too tired to come up with it! lol)

 

Marcio Faustino

9 Years Ago

The problem is that for many people, depending on their culture and education they had, nudity is associated with sex, perversion, or even "wrong". So they can't help associate nudity to "dirtiness".

And not only viewers but many creators too. There are artists that can't help creaty nudity without appealing sexual poses or explicit frontal nudity.

This is why I understand when many people or places says "no nude".

But I love art nude. I think is one of the most classic and highest visual art. To me it is paralleled to classic dance that also works a lot on body forms, movements, composition and harmony.

 

HW Kateley

9 Years Ago

@Marcio. Well said.

 

Broken Soldier

9 Years Ago

Thanks to all for their thoughts on an, I guess, somewhat touchy subject. Certainly some strong feelings. I am surprised for an art site that there is as much aversion as I've seen - but I respect everyone's opinion on the subject and once again, thanks to all.

As for me - if it's good enough for Michelangelo and (modern day) Hanks, it's good enough for me. I still like beautiful nekkid women:)

 

Suzanne Frie

9 Years Ago

I joking say that I could stare at naked women all day. I love the nude form and just finished a collection of 15 nudes that focus on the central portion of the body; meaning the breasts, hips, stomach, buttocks, back, and pelvic region. My mother saw the very first one that blatantly showed the red pubic hairs and the hint of her vagina. I am not ashamed to create this work, especially since---for me---the human form in this series was rather non-relevant and only served as a "hanger" for the Chevron pattern of the fabric surrounding the form.

I find it quite ironic that sex is sold to the American public on such a regular basis on television, newspapers, magazines, radio, etc. and the actual act of viewing a nude is so "horrible". Let me just say that Europe is not as bad as this in their views toward, sexuality, sex, nudes, etc. It is based in our Protestant ethic that was started WAY back.

I really do not care what people think regarding my works this way. This is not to say that I don't care what people think, it is just that I have finally reached a level of self-esteem and awareness that their opinions do not effect the mission. The mission is to execute the next idea and to expand on those ideas and to reach the pinnacle, whatever that may be.

I am not sure if this will help, but there will always be critics...there will always be someone that is a supporter and someone that is not a supporter and you must choose to only listen to the inner voice.

I learn some great concepts in church this last weekend and I hope that is does not offend, but I think it is a great basis to making this year the best year of your life---1. Fear Not 2. Only Believe 3. Surround yourself with support 4. Get rid of the losers 5. Speak words of life 6. Feed your miracle.

Good luck with your artistic works.

 

Suzanne Frie

9 Years Ago

Oops---forgot to say that my mother said the painting was pornographic. Boy is she old...she must have not seen porn in a LONG time. Ha Ha!

 

Suzanne Powers

9 Years Ago

There is a practical reason for people not seeing a lot of the bare human body. Because our society is awash in sex in the media (audio, pictures, print) we have become a sexually addicted, society (I know because I was addicted). It happened to me through years of reading, watching and hearing the normal stuff everyone else is looking at. I'm not talking about looking at pornography.

After years and years of taking in the media of our culture when you become an adult it eventually consumes your life, it doesn't happen all at once it is gradual and step by step takes over your thought life. It is what you think about 24/7 and becomes part of your belief system. An addiction of any kind alcohol, drugs, etc. has a hold on you and you want it all the time or think about having it all the time, you can't stop thinking about it and there may be actions that can go beyond thoughts, although thoughts are actions. You are a prisoner of your own thoughts, what you take in with your eyes and ears becomes the basis of your belief system and how you think.

It was very difficult for me to come out of this addiction and I never want to go back, I stay away from nudity or anything that can get me thinking about sex with men other than my husband (I'm not married). If it is an image of another person, most of the time we will think sexual thoughts about that person, if you don't think so you do not recognize your thoughts and how we function biologically. Many are addicted in our society, because I have been there I can recognize when someone is without getting to know them very well.

For some that are addicted just looking at a bare shoulder or a thigh is a trigger for sexual thoughts, that is why some Catholic churches (All Catholic churches in Venice, Italy (I saw this on line reading about Venice) you can not enter with bare shoulders, short skirts or revealing attire and make the rule for everyone because they have many tourists who visit and attend services) do not allow bare shoulders inside the building because they have members that are trying to get free and they want to help them.

It depends on the person, many entertain sexual thoughts when looking at a person of the opposite sex with form fitting clothes, shorts or short skirts, etc, that is normal but out of context because we don't need to be turned on or begin to think sexual thoughts at various times throughout the day when we are need to to concentrate our thoughts to do other things.

Early in church history people didn't have all media we have now, their thoughts were not sexually charged as our society today, because of this there was less sexual addictions and problems related with those addictions. Most could look at a nude baby Jesus or Adam without repercussions. Today there are many who can not do that without it having negative effects.

 

Guna Andersone

9 Years Ago

Maybe there are not enough tasteful nudity. Sorry, but I have seen here also nudity images which can be used only in the red light district of Amsterdam.

 

This discussion is closed.