Soxy Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 So, I know we have some college students here, and some people with opinions so I figured I would share something that's been going on at my little old Christian school. This week 12 female artists put up an exhibit in the student center that include some rather graphic work of breasts, butts, and pubic hair, and various other bits of female imagery, or associated female imagery. Including card catologue cards with works by or relating to Martin Luther that had black feather painting on it and then below all the works in large scroll the quotation "Girls grow faster than boys because weeds grow faster than good crops" Martin Luther. There were also sculptures of belly buttons, and pots with cherries, and just lots of female imagery. But, it was just basically, a show about the female. Immediately after being put up all of the nudish pictures were up they were taken down--and later put up with signs that said "CENSORED". Then yesterday a girl sat next to the works (mind you this is in the main student center) wearing only pasties and a nude thong and a veil and had written on her body, I am not pornography--which was the point of the exhibit. Basically, the whole campus has been in an uproar--and there has been a lot of talk about is there room for art like this on a Christian campus. Or is this art at all--or is it just porn? Thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LowerCaseRepublican Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 So, I know we have some college students here, and some people with opinions so I figured I would share something that's been going on at my little old Christian school. This week 12 female artists put up an exhibit in the student center that include some rather graphic work of breasts, butts, and pubic hair, and various other bits of female imagery, or associated female imagery. Including card catologue cards with works by or relating to Martin Luther that had black feather painting on it and then below all the works in large scroll the quotation "Girls grow faster than boys because weeds grow faster than good crops" Martin Luther. There were also sculptures of belly buttons, and pots with cherries, and just lots of female imagery. But, it was just basically, a show about the female. Immediately after being put up all of the nudish pictures were up they were taken down--and later put up with signs that said "CENSORED". Then yesterday a girl sat next to the works (mind you this is in the main student center) wearing only pasties and a nude thong and a veil and had written on her body, I am not pornography--which was the point of the exhibit. Basically, the whole campus has been in an uproar--and there has been a lot of talk about is there room for art like this on a Christian campus. Or is this art at all--or is it just porn? Thoughts? I guess they come from the Rudy Guiliani School of Art -- If I can't understand the meaning, it's not art! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mreye Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Ummmm...what does any of this have to do with school? It's a disruption. It needs to go. I have no problem with this "art" in a studio, but it does not belong in a public setting on any college campus, let alone a Christian one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Queen Prawn Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 Ummmm...what does any of this have to do with school? It's a disruption. It needs to go. I have no problem with this "art" in a studio, but it does not belong in a public setting on any college campus, let alone a Christian one. Gotta agree with mreye on this one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 18, 2004 Author Share Posted March 18, 2004 I forgot to add that some of the breasts were older women and used to show the scars of breast cancer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 I think it mostly depends on how the nudity is depicted. If its in a tasteful manner than I don't see it as being too bad, just a little racey. If it is tasteless then it is certainly along the porn lines and has no place in a school. I think it also has to be considered on what it is trying to say. If it is used to show the effect of certain things or the natural changes or something like that, then I think its not so bad as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 18, 2004 Author Share Posted March 18, 2004 I think it's interesting too, that most of the students support the work. As do most of the professors. It's the vocal minority that has had the work taken down. There is a book to write comments. One of the comments was that 'women's bodies inspire lust and sin and should not be displayed.' I have class with the boy who wrote it. And for his sake I think the art should remain uncensored as the point of the show was to say that women are NOT pornography and our body should not be taken that way, and I feel that the photos were taken in a way to show that they were not pornographic but where very artful. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
southsider2k5 Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 It is a private school right? That makes a big difference IMO. If it is something counter to what the university is based on, I can understand what they are doing. If is a public school they should be allowed to go on, unless we are talking about pornography. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted March 18, 2004 Share Posted March 18, 2004 One of the comments was that 'women's bodies inspire lust and sin and should not be displayed.' Seems that guy needs to get a life or a full time girlfriend. If you can't look at a naked body without getting all sweaty, I think they have a problem. Esp if its not depicted in a sexual manner at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
munkey51 Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 This kinda stuff just blows me away! I could have swore they taught sex ed in like 6th grade, that has everything to do with private parts, and such. yea you may say that sex ed is for educational use, but why isnt the art for educational use it is ART it is somthing that somebody sees as beautiful! okay, most men are attracted to women, and women already see those private parts everyday, what is the big f***in deal, arent we grown ups? yeah a guy could surely turn around and get off to the art, but that was his choice, its not like its a girl having sex or doing anything pornographic! all i really gotta say is WHAT IS THE f***ING DEAL? censoring your kids from a naked women isnt going to help in any way, it will hurt if anything. everyone is going to have to live with the fact that a body part is a body part, an arm is no different than a breast, other then they serve for different purposes! GIVE ME ONE LOGICAL REASON WHY THIS IS NOT RIGHT???? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 What an awesome school... I feel it should be taken down exactly for why mreye said. What school is this by chance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I think if it were at a larger school, it probably wouldn't of created near as much of a controversy, but since the school is more cozy and smaller it could really create a controversy and if it actually distracts people from their education (Don't ask me how in god sakes art could possibly do this; not knocking art, but just how something like this could really distract you) then it should go. Personally I don't see what she is trying to say. The only thing I've gotten out of it is that she doesn't think dressing sexy is considered porn and I say amen to that..assuming she looks attractive (Thats just me being the jackass that I am). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EvilJester99 Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Thing I do find hilarious but yet so hypocritical is that people look down on sex and the such but yet violence is ok. It blows me away. Sex is the most natural thing and wouldn't you think you would want people to know all they can about it instead of how to kill one another?? Maybe a stretch here but I just can't understand whats the big deal.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 If she's trying to some how teach sex...then all I want to know is what kind of person in college hasn't already had sex ed, if not sex. Not to mention its something that I'd say 99.9% of people talk about amongst their friends. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DBAHO Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 No point in the girl protesting by only having pasties, a thong and a veil on. It's only goin to cause more trouble, and it won't help her cause much at all especially at a Christian School. Of course the good thing is with art, no matter how bad it is, u can still call it art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 No point in the girl protesting by only having pasties, a thong and a veil on. It's only goin to cause more trouble, and it won't help her cause much at all especially at a Christian School. Of course the good thing is with art, no matter how bad it is, u can still call it art. I spilled some coke the other day all over my carpet..maybe I should of told my mom that it was art Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 If she's trying to some how teach sex...then all I want to know is what kind of person in college hasn't already had sex ed, if not sex. Not to mention its something that I'd say 99.9% of people talk about amongst their friends. This sex you speak of, what is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 This sex you speak of, what is it? Well you see, once a women tatooes your name on her ass, then you go down as a legend...most likely because you just wowed her in the bed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texsox Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 One of the most important things an education should teach is the ability to think and make decisions. It should create situations that are all about the gray area. The lines between art, erotic art, and pornography is a moving line based on the person viewing it. And if you begin to ban something because someone may find it erotic, you would have to take down a shoe display because some people have shoe fetishes. I think the display and the debate it has produced is great for college students. It should be taken down soon and replaced with something that will also produce such debate. IMHO the most appropriate public setting for an exhibit like this is a college campus. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I spilled some coke the other day all over my carpet..maybe I should of told my mom that it was art there has been much more idiotic stuff than that that has been done which has been called art. i'm an art student so take my comments as you want. this stuff does sound like pretty normal art, however since it is a small, private Christian school, I have to agree with the steps they are taking if they go against their beliefs. at the very least (no matter where it's at) this should be in a closed gallery with a sign on the door letting viewers know what lies ahead (graphic images) and should of course take whatever steps necessary to not allow kids in to see it. (i don't know if that is a problem in this case but i know on my campus anyone basically can go as they please). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chisoxfn Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 there has been much more idiotic stuff than that that has been done which has been called art. i'm an art student so take my comments as you want. this stuff does sound like pretty normal art, however since it is a small, private Christian school, I have to agree with the steps they are taking if they go against their beliefs. at the very least (no matter where it's at) this should be in a closed gallery with a sign on the door letting viewers know what lies ahead (graphic images) and should of course take whatever steps necessary to not allow kids in to see it. (i don't know if that is a problem in this case but i know on my campus anyone basically can go as they please). Are you doing computer graphics? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SuperSteve Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 I do not know about all of you guys, but if I wanted to see porn, I would go on the web...I cannot imagine this stuff being anything but art. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Soxy Posted March 19, 2004 Author Share Posted March 19, 2004 this stuff does sound like pretty normal art, however since it is a small, private Christian school, I have to agree with the steps they are taking if they go against their beliefs. I'm not sure it goes against our beliefs though, here is our College's mission statement: Now in its second century, St. Olaf College remains dedicated to the high standards set by its Norwegian immigrant founders. In the spirit of free inquiry and free expression, it offers a distinctive environment that integrates teaching, scholarship , creative activity, and opportunities for encounter with the Christian Gospel and God’s call to faith. The college intends that its graduates combine academic excellence and theological literacy with a commitment to lifelong learning. The point of the show was to question the way that we think of women as body parts--and the way we just objectify the body parts to sexualize them. By censoring them, I think it really not only stifled the free expression but really proved the point of the artists. Oh, and my dad is here today to take me home for Spring Break. I took him to where the show is--the censored signs have been removed after a forum this morning. And he was thought the show was interesting and didn't really understand all the bru-ha-ha. After I told him all the Dean's reaction and crazy stuff that went down, he looked and me and said, "Eleni, that's what happens when you go to school with a bunch of prudes." I thought I was going to die. Best thing my dad has ever said. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Goldmember Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Are you doing computer graphics? yeah, graphic design concentration with a degree in visual arts. ive had to do all the drawing & painting courses, and art history, too. some of it ain't so bad but the rest... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Honda Civic Posted March 19, 2004 Share Posted March 19, 2004 Art? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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