Many readers of The Leica
Barnack Berek Blog are aware of its presence on Facebook (here)
. I regularly post links to the
articles on Facebook as well.
Unfortunately, this is not without restrictions. Facebook’s approach to nude art is, to say
the least, archaic. My presence there,
and along with it the presence of the LEICA Barnack Berek Blog was recently
threatened with being banned if any nude art would be shown in the future. Subsequently I have refrained from that and
only shown altered images that comply with Facebook’s rules. That should by no means be misconstrued as
agreement with those rules.
Original Facebook sanitized version
Historically, the human
form has fascinated artists probably more than any other subject. Therefore it
should come as no surprise that the same fascination has extended to
photography as well.
While photography has
generally been accepted as a valid art form, photography of the nude to this
day is struggling with that recognition.
People are very quick to point to nude images being harmful to children,
but then fail to come up with a valid answer.
I definitely reject the
assertion that any of the images published on this blog are potentially harmful
to children. We are talking about the human form here, not some pornographic
distortion of it. Why is it that photography is always handled differently in
this regard than other forms of art. Is anybody requesting museums to post
warning signs for their exhibit’s that show images or statues depicting the
human form? Are such sculptures in public places required to do the same? I am
a member of MIA, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts. I regularly see groups of
school children visit the place, as a matter of fact, they regularly have a
special children’s day. There are no restrictions as to which areas of the
museum are open to the children, including the photography exhibits. Apparently
there is no potential harm to children in a museum or in public places, yet
nude photographic art is still widely rejected.
Why?
Are these images
objectionable?
Should they be banned from
Facebook?
I have never been able to
get any satisfactory answers if these rules by Facebook extend to other forms
of art as well. Is it permissible to
show a picture of Michelangelo’s David, or of the Venus de Milo?
Objectionable images?
From a recent Matisse
exhibition at the Minneapolis Institute of art.
Objectionable?
I must emphasize that the
key word here is art. Many of the great
photographers have produced fine art nudes like Alfred Stieglitz, Edward
Steichen, Edward Weston, Man Ray, Helmut Newton…, just to mention a few. Of course, just as with other art forms, some
like Robert Mapplethorpe or Jeff Koonz, for instance, have pushed the envelope
by producing images that are questionable to some, but such work should not be
generalized and held against other serious photographers.
How much out of touch Facebook's policies are
is further underlined by the fact that the above mutilation
of the original Venus de Milo is perfectly acceptable.
As it stands right now, I
could not write an article about any of the above mentioned artists and show
any of their nude art on Facebook. Their
unilateral rejection of nude art is disturbing, not only to me but to many
other members of Facebook as well.
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Thank you enthusiastically for your no-nonsense argument - I couldn't agree more!!
ReplyDeleteMolto bella
ReplyDeleteonce I studied the "pathologia sexualis" by Krafft Ebbing. Such an attitude is a good example for a puritane Psychopathology
ReplyDeleteI am glad you wrote this article. You expressed rather eloquently what I have been thinking for quite a while already.
ReplyDeleteThis has been discussed in the past, and I don't recall any comments that were in favor of Facebook. I guess they rather cater to the puritanical dimwits among their members than to display an attitude that fits into the 21st century.
ReplyDeleteI certainly see nothing objectionable on this blog. It seems that some people have difficulties to distinguish between art and porn. Must be the result of living in a rather puritan society. As far as depicting nudity in public, places like the Sistine Chapel and just about any rococo church should be added to the discussion also because based on Facebook rules, it cannot be shown because it depicts nudity.
ReplyDeleteThere is a long list of examples. For instance, Lady Justice is often depicted nude or with her breasts exposed. This has been done for centuries. For example, Lucas Cranach the Elder created a painting called "Gerechtigkeit als nackte Frau mit Schwert und Waage" (Justice as a naked Woman with Sword and Scales). It is displayed in a museum in Amsterdam. To my knowledge, nobody has ever been harmed by viewing this piece of art.
ReplyDeleteStrange rules indeed. its a pity FB doesnt hold the same "high standards" when it comes to publishing "trending" comments from internet trolls claiming to have political or ethical insight fueled by talk radio and cable news! They are disgusting, full of hatred and intolerance! Instead they come down on man's eternal obsession with light and the human form. I wonder what zuckerberg and his hooded sweatshirt brigade thinks of Courbet's L'Origine du monde?
ReplyDeleteI totally agree. I find it disturbing that pictures and videos depicting violence are totally uncontrolled by Facebook as well. I wonder which is more harmful to kids?
DeleteAnswer is to stop posting to Facebook... Indeed, stop using it altogether, I have managed to get by without it and Twitter.
ReplyDeleteMr. Jobs was afflicted with similar puritan mores too if I remember correctly.
RSS rules.