What's the Christian response?
Art Teacher Loses Job after Kids see Nude Sculpture
From a Christian point of view, should this incident have taken place? Should nudity in art be acceptable? If so, where should the boundaries be drawn? Is nudity harmful for children? Was the Janet Jackson Superbowl incident blown out of proportion by America's conservitive Christians, or should we be protected from seeing a woman's breast at all costs?
Thoughts, anyone?
posted by Taz @ 2:33 PM
19 comments
19 Comments:
mmm... It seems like people got a bit worked up over something pretty minor. I agree with the fact that it's not a good idea to be exposed to that stuff,
but mistakes happen..
Hmmm. Ask Ness.
Just leave my body out of this.
i suppose we oughtn't take our students to art museums ... or history museums ... or science museums ... or ...
Nor should we have mirrors in bathrooms...
Ok, a serious opinion. Have you got any idea how hard this is for me???
Right. What is nakedness? Look to the fall. There is some shame to which our eyes have been opened. Not sure how that works exactly, but there is obviously an element of nudity that doesn't sit well with us as fallen humans... Perhaps with Christ we don't need clothes. I think Paul might have mentioned that if it were the case...
There is a sexual nature to nakedness. Need I say more??? Does that mean we need to avoid it at all costs? Well, let's look at Joseph, running away from Potipher's wife. I think that example relates to all temptations, so it too relates to nudity in art. Furthermore, much art is very sexual: by capturing the uncovered human form, particular in an idealised manner, it is designed to...
However, on the flip side, there are many professions that need to deal with nakedness - whether it be doctors and nurses to lingerie designers. It's a part of life, that, for all intents and purposes is not sexual, is not temptation, is still a little squeamy and embarrassing, but something that we just need to get over. But that avoids the question of nudity in art.
Let me try to argue for it:
1st: an artist has a story to tell, that story involves bits and bobs. A story is a powerful thing. By removing elements of that story, it also loses its power.
2nd: beauty of God's creation. Closely linked to eroticism and all that jazz, which is a relatively fine line to tread, methinks. But definitely difficult to argue against (except the obvious argument of modesty).
3rd: There may have been a cultural acceptance: circumstances that we are in no place to understand.
4th: It is art. Some of the great works are nudes. Can't think of any at the moment - I seem to recall Mona kept her clothes on - was that because da Vinci was gay? Or was he just a decent bloke, that had higher morals than the rest of his fellow artists. Or was this a special case. I'm showing my ignorance - don't mention the vetruvian man...
Either way, it's a part of art - but does that mean we should be getting in there and ripping our clothes off and letting a bunch of old ladies and blokes with strange accents try to capture our form on a bit of paper or canvas or something... it seems a bit suss to me.
Working through the logic, it seems all a bit wrong, but I think it'd be stupid to just work through the logic and follow the frickin rules. Rules. It just becomes a pharaseical bureaucracy. We make a set of rules so that we don't break the "official" set.
As far as Janet Jackson goes: she got some serious free publicity out of it, whether or not intended.
Not appropriate, but a storm in a teacup.
"What is nakedness?"
Thanks Chrome, we might need to study this from all angles before getting a definitive answer!
It's all about the point of view... Naked to me may not be naked to you.
Those straws aren't supporting my ample girth.
The question is, did that photo of bucket that you got from your future in-laws consist of nudity...
Hmmmm, that's the price you pay for not keeping the posts coming Phil. A heavy price, but always fair.
And wasn't it going to be posted on Astird's Reflections??? Get with the program Phillicle.
Are you gonna blog something soon Phil???
My rain dance was quite successful, albeit unintentional.
Don't touch the lemons...
Lemons? What do the lemons mean?
I couldn't possibly think what man-women, lemons and a post on art teachers have to do with anything.
Maybe.
Just maybe...
...it's the...
nud
Thank heavens above. We were all clothed.
You would think that this was a popular post.
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