Drawing a line.

When it comes to nude photography, people are often still narrow minded. It is difficult for them to see nude as an art form. They criticize and protest against exhibitions, photo books etcetera. (New York Magazine, 2008)

Fortunately, some people seem to disagree with them. People like Marilyn Monroe, Ruth Bernhard and Spencer Tunick. They are icons when it comes to nude photography. But why is it, that in what we call a modern world, Spencer Tunick still has to fight the same offending criticisms that Marilyn Monroe heard in the early sixties? (New York Magazine, 2008) Thousands of people undress in front of his lens and still his work hasn’t been fully accepted.(Miami Herald, 2007)

How can we call ourselves contemporary and respectful when there are still countries like Vietnam that wouldn’t allow any nude exhibited until last year? It has taken them years to finally show nude to the people. I find it strange that in such a modern world people can’t seem to enjoy or even accept an art form. They criticize one of the ways that shows people in there most intimate and yet vulnerable forms. (Inquirer, 2007)

One of the comments you hear the most is ‘When you pay for sex, it is pornography.’ Yes, you often have to pay to see an exhibition, but I thought it was already decided that a (photographed) kiss isn’t sex. That nude body parts were accepted. Just look at a random music video and you’ll see those flashing around. And celebrity’s, well, you can hardly call the little pieces of fabric that cover them up clothes.

I’m sure that the narrow minded people have pictures of themselves from when they were children. Cute baby pictures, naked on the rug in front of the fire. Well, I suppose that makes their own parents pornography artists then.

I’m glad nude photography is an art form that’s getting more appreciated. Even though we are taking very small steps at a time. My opinion is that a well taken nude photo shows a human in his purest and most innocent form.

I hope that one of these days a great artist like Spencer Tunick will bring the conservatives back to the way they were born. Naked and vulnerable.(Miami Herald, 2007)

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Toen het begin dit jaar bekend werd dat elke leerling voor Engels een aantal artikelen moest schrijven leek naaktfotografie mij meteen een interessante invalshoek. Tenslotte viel dat goed te rijmen met de andere twee projecten waar wij in periode 1 van jaar drie aan werkten. De versie die hier staat is de tweede versie. Ik ben, over het algemeen genomen,  tevreden omdat ik er veel tijd en moeite in heb gestopt. Vooral de juiste bronnen vinden was een ware hel. Uit nieuwgierigheid ben ik eens in mijn vriendengroep gaan rondvragen en het bleek lastig om mensen te vinden die dezelfde perceptie deelden als ik als het aan kwam op de grens tussen porno en kunst. Ik vind het dan ook een onderwerp dat mij in ieder geval erg aan het denken heeft gezet. Mijn artikel is onderdeel van een groepsproduct en ik vind dat mijn groep en ik een sterk product hebben neergezet omdat iedereen elkaar regelmatig feedback en hulp bood.