Thoughts on Public Art and the Nature of Pornography

I thought this was a good place to voice my opinion on something. There is a reason my husband and I are devoted to public art. We want to make quality - especially figurative - sculpture with classical elements available to everyone. Excuse me; not just sculpture but all worthwhile paintings and other media. This type of art is the opposite of porn.

What's that? You say that art is often porn in disguise? Yep, I've heard that. And yes, "art" can cross over the line. That's where I believe that a piece of work ceases to be a piece of true art. Growing up we were taught not to walk around naked, don't even look at somebody else who's naked, and for heaven's sake even turn your eyes in the locker room so you don't accidentally see someone naked. Who is the same sex you are.

Elizabeth Smart, victim of kidnapping

Body shaming is addressed so eloquently by Elizabeth Smart. We have been taught all our lives that if we cross certain lines (such as having sex or, gasp, seeing someone else naked) that we are damaged. Ms. Smart said,
        "I had a teacher who was talking about abstinence, she said, 'Imagine you're a stick of gum and when you engage in sex, that's like getting chewed, and if you do that lots of times, you're going to become an old piece of gum, and who's going to want you after that?" (Courtesy The Guardian)

Imagine being in her position, where this phrase goes through her head and she's being raped over and over again. Of course she wasn't damaged. She was the victim of a hateful crime that has now come out to tell people to stop it, to change our pattern of thinking.

That's what I'm here for too. My expressed opinions here are not about rape, but they are about trying to change the way we think. What do you think is going to happen when you pass Victoria Secret and you put your hand over your young boy's curious eyes? He's going to want to know what he missed later. We often hide truth thinking that we are protecting are children when in fact we are muddling it. If he sees it, maybe he'll ask you a question like, "What is that woman doing in her underwear?" To which you can truthfully respond, "It's an ad for an underwear store." What if the conversation goes further? Maybe he asks, "It makes me feel weird." To which you might answer, "It's too much, isn't it? Remember that women aren't meant to be put on ads that make you uncomfortable. They're meant to be respected and loved." You could go into all kinds of conversations from there.

Venus de Milo

We sometimes view Victoria Secret ads as that crossed-line that is a bit pornographic. It can be, make no mistake about it. When I talk to my kids about pornography, however, I often allow them to view photos of classical statues of both men and women in the nude. Then I ask them to describe it and if they like it. Then I ask them how it makes them feel. At first, my oldest son was embarrassed to be looking at statues of nude people. I explained that there is a beauty to classical art that is much like the respect doctors show to their patients. I was part of a lab that worked with cadavers once and we were taught that these were real people and we needed to show respect for them. Statues may not be real people, but they are designed to communicate messages or stories with real people. We can relate to art in a very similar way that we can relate to each other.

The Immortality Monument

The Immortality Monument sends a message. It teaches all of us to respect women and the sacrifices they make for us. As women, we bring children into the world. Even if we aren't able to, we help raise those around us, whether through adoption, being an aunt or friend, or a good neighbor. We deserve to be respected, and we can help teach others that this type of art expresses a story that demands respect and seeks to be understood.