nudity in art?

[iTOREtheSKY]

I have had this talk with a few christian friends in the past. Again,it's one of those topics I think everyone seems to have a different view on. Obviously,if any sort of artistic nudity causes you to stumble,convicts you,arouses you,etc...then I suppose you should avoid it. I've never really understood the whole nude sculpture thing. Or even let's have this man/woman pose nude with a basket of fruit or a vase in a painting. I'd rather see paintings of animals or trees or a double rainbow...nudity in art just kinda bores me. I suppose the heart intent of the artist and or the viewer need to be in question as well. There are many things people consider "art" & I just don't get it. I like art that transports me or inspires me by it's use of color or creativity. Peoples naughty bits just don't do that for me...no matter how physically stunning you are. lol

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

The fact is that pornography is no longer a man problem. With each generation it is more of a problem across the board, not just a gender based issue.

i'm talking about nudity, not porn. i know both genders struggle with it. it's a simple fact that men and women are wired differently.

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

Nudity isn't art.

everything God made is art.

 

[zaoman32]

Very interesting and thought provoking topic, good one ijustwantthetruth!

I kind of agree with iTOREtheSKY. Nudity in artwork is just boring to me for the most part. It doesn't really say or speak anything to me except "Hey look! A nakey girl!" I don't mind it too much when it's used for story telling, such as a biblical scene, or I had some artwork in a copy of Inferno that I had where the majority of artwork were nudes, and that kind of stuff didn't bug me to much, because it had a purpose, and wasn't done in a manner that was arousing. I also agree that it can be art, and I don't think anything God created should be avoided as such just because there's a distorted and perverted view of it.

 

[SeatBelt]

A million jillion prints of DaVinci's Mona Lisa cheapen the thing - both for the viewer, the artist, and the art itself, although somehow seeing the original still thrills.

Nudity IS art, made by the one who sculpted all things, and intended to only be shared with an audience of one: your spouse.

 

[SeatBelt]

i'm talking about nudity, not porn. i know both genders struggle with it. it's a simple fact that men and women are wired differently.

For many audiences, there is little distinction between nude art, pornography, and that not-worth-trying-to-define third category "erotica" ...except Maybe the price charged for it.

If you insist that you are talking about nudity, then you have already convinced yourself of the answer to the question I mistakenly thought you were asking. That being, "can nudity just be art?"

Please forgive me for replying with my strongly held opinions to what apparently was a rhetorical question.

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

For many audiences, there is little distinction between nude art, pornography, and that not-worth-trying-to-define third category "erotica" ...except Maybe the price charged for it.

If you insist that you are talking about nudity, then you have already convinced yourself of the answer to the question I mistakenly thought you were asking. That being, "can nudity just be art?"

Please forgive me for replying with my strongly held opinions to what apparently was a rhetorical question.

my goodness you are a loaded canon. it's not rhetorical! i asked bc i wanted to know (mostly) men's opinions, as the gender that would be most affected by nudity. and their thoughts. i believe there is a difference between nudity and pornography and therefore i am asking a very simple question. i've heard your well voiced, if not slightly abrasive, answer. and now i shall sit back and hear out the rest of the good people of cc.

you will find that i hate debating anyone over anything and will avoid it at all costs. so what i'm asking here is not up for debate. i merely want opinions so i can collect data and thus make up my mind about it accordingly. obviously it's not rhetorical. i'm asking for feedback. just not yours anymore. as yours is given with a bit of a bitter tongue. lol.

 

[zaoman32]

For many audiences, there is little distinction between nude art, pornography, and that not-worth-trying-to-define third category "erotica" ...except Maybe the price charged for it.

If you insist that you are talking about nudity, then you have already convinced yourself of the answer to the question I mistakenly thought you were asking. That being, "can nudity just be art?"

Please forgive me for replying with my strongly held opinions to what apparently was a rhetorical question.

I am just as anti-pornography as you are, there's also a very distinct difference between artwork, and porno. As I mentioned, the majority of "artwork", especially modern, that uses nudity, really displays nothing more than that. I look at a Picasso, and all I see is a weirdo's perception of a naked woman (sorry Picasso fans), It does absolutely nothing for me and since Picasso was a pervert, then in my opinion, that was the only thing he had in mind. A lot of the more "tasteful" artwork with nudity I referred to, I would be surprised if any real model was used.

Now if we were referring to self-in-undies facebook shots, or "sexy girl" beer ads, I think they should be soaked in 200 gallons of gasoline and thrown into the darkest part of hell's fire.

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

Very interesting and thought provoking topic, good one ijustwantthetruth!

I also agree that it can be art, and I don't think anything God created should be avoided as such just because there's a distorted and perverted view of it.

well thank you muchly so what you're saying is there is a manner of nudity that would not be arousing.
for those of you who are curious as to the reason BEHIND this thread. it's because i am an artist. and i made a piece the other day and i wondered if it's truly inappropriate just bc of the female form.

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

I am just as anti-pornography as you are, there's also a very distinct difference between artwork, and porno. As I mentioned, the majority of "artwork", especially modern, that uses nudity, really displays nothing more than that. I look at a Picasso, and all I see is a weirdo's perception of a naked woman (sorry Picasso fans), It does absolutely nothing for me and since Picasso was a pervert, then in my opinion, that was the only thing he had in mind. A lot of the more "tasteful" artwork with nudity I referred to, I would be surprised if any real model was used.

Now if we were referring to self-in-undies facebook shots, or "sexy girl" beer ads, I think they should be soaked in 200 gallons of gasoline and thrown into the darkest part of hell's fire.

HEAR HEAR! i wanted to click like but the option hadn't shown up yet.

 

[OceanGrl]

I think nudity in art is fine, as long as it is not crude, I think it can be quite beautiful. Something like the sculpture of David by Michelangelo or The Birth of Venus by Sandro Botticelli is pure art and is beautiful to look at with how much detail went into it.

 

[BarlyGurl]

is a naked silhouette of a woman automatically sexual, or can it just be art?
i personally wish that it could just be taken for it's artistic form, in purity. but i thought i would ask you guys....is it possible to look at the outline of a nude woman and not lust after it?

ya know what? this needs a poll. how do i add one here

It truly depends on the viewer... there are men and women who leer at the the models in the JC Penny catalogue wearing underwear or just CLOTHES. There are people who can look at amazing works of art like the statue of David and marvel at how wonderous it is while others can't see anything but the naked penis.

Regarding specifically a woman's silhouette... ya know it depends on the form because there are images like the woman often adorning mudflaps which are meant to conjour thoughts and intended to be lewd... then there are others that are not... so it isn't as simple as being a silhouette... could be a full nude photo... and still art.

The human body is fearfully and wonderfully made... it is a work of art all by itself... those who are lustful will be lustful irrespective of the LACK of sexual connotation.

 

[Jullianna]

Personally, I do not have a problem with nudes as an art form, but I grew up in Europe where attitudes toward such things are very different than they are here in the USA. I can see how it could quickly become erotica and a stumbling block for some people though, especially men, who are visually oriented sexually. For this reason, I would tend to treat it much like Paul viewed certain foods. If it is a stumbling block for fellow believers, I would stay away from it out of respect for them.

I Corinthians 8: 9 Be careful, however, that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak. 10 For if someone with a weak conscience sees you, with all your knowledge, eating in an idol’s temple, won’t that person be emboldened to eat what is sacrificed to idols? 11 So this weak brother or sister, for whom Christ died, is destroyed by your knowledge. 12 When you sin against them in this way and wound their weak conscience, you sin against Christ. 13 Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.

 

[Nuns_n_roses]

I believe the human body is beautiful. What is ugly is the evil intent others have in debasing the human body for THEIR pleasure. If you cannot control yourself, please do not look at this type of art~<3

 

[ijustwanttheTruth]

i like the concept of transparency. and naked is as transparent as it gets.

 

[LightningClap0002]

Maybe my true INTJ is shining through, but to me beauty just for beauty's sake isn't something worthwhile or beneficial. When you throw in the likelihood of one, or many, stumbling as a result of it, I can't encourage it.

In the end, I wonder is it truly honoring God? Yes He did make each of us unique and beautiful creations, but does capturing that require nudity? Is the art truly pointing towards Him, or just towards the model? In my (somewhat limited) experience, I can think of some very beautiful and artistic works of nude artwork, but I don't see any of them praising the Creator.

In a fallen world, we may be free to do anything, but some things simply are not wise or truly God honoring. I certainly won't condemn you if you decide to do it anyways, but I for one will not be viewing it. Pornographic or not. That said, I don't know that I'd consider a silhouette nudity unless it was VERY detailed, at which point it seems like its purpose was more sexual than anything else. :/

 

[teuful_hunden]

Just to throw a twist. If we are discussing nudity in art then what are your reactions to a silhouette of a nude male?

I have no reaction

 

[Powemm]

Walks in ..... Looks around ......
Thinking to self walking out .

and the mind ... Unable to be seen ... displays it's nudity by the second ..

 

[seoulsearch]

This is a great thread.

I have a dear friend who is an ordained minister and artist... and her collection of work on her website includes one female nude.

I myself feel there is a very fine line between art and lust, so as for myself, I would opt not to have any such images in my home, but that's just me.

My only exception would be if my husband felt the need to have "artful" female nudes, for any reason.

I would then make sure that there are just as many "artful" nude male images displayed opposite of his "art" collection... just to be fair.

A female nude would make me feel insecure. Any man who didn't respect this about me would have to be ok with me displaying a prominent "artful" male nude as a balance.

 

[zaoman32]

Don't get me wrong. Should we avoid trumpeting behavior that might make other people stumble? Absolutely. But for the people who would stumble from something, and know they would, should be able to have the wisdom to avoid it when they know it's there. You think nude art is wrong? Fine. Don't look. If I watch a movie with nudity in it, I don't typically pay attention to those scenes, I usually check up on here or facebook briefly, or if nothing else, stare at the wall.

It's not solely the blame of those making someone stumble, those stumbling should know their limits, and know when to avoid what they know they should, and how to do it in a way that is respectful.