Comments on: Tushies & Taboos in Museums

By: Dr. Bruce Porter

Dr. Bruce Porter — Sat, 12 May 2007 20:14:25 +0000

Nude art, unless in the form of sculpture or paintings (in the classical sense) is entirely inapporpriate for persons under 18 years of age. While it is considered chic and avant garde by some among the liberal-left, the vast majority of people in our community object as I do to inadvertantly exposing my 11 year-old daughter to posed or live nudity in a museum. I would object vocally to any such display.

By: Deborah Draper

Deborah Draper — Sun, 13 May 2007 19:50:43 +0000

Who said anything about live nudity? The teacher in question was suspended for exposing students to statues and paintings. And she did so in the un-sexually-charged environment of a museum. But according to some outspoken, uptight folks, the human form is obscene and we should all be ashamed of it. Now there’s a lesson for the kiddies. If only we could rip them away from the “real” education about their bodies that they’re getting from MTV and the like.

By: Tom McHenry

Tom McHenry — Tue, 22 May 2007 19:05:20 +0000

Has this come down to a “liberal” left and “conservative” right issue?

So liberal lefties believe their children should go to museums and conservative righties don’t want their children exposed to the terrible things they could see in a museum?

Of course conservative has come to be a shield that these devisive religous zealots hide behind. War is good, our bodies are bad. Buy video games for your kids that allow them to blow someone’s head off, but God forbid they see a nipple at a museum.

By: James Peterson

James Peterson — Wed, 23 May 2007 13:12:22 +0000

Dr. Bruce Porter states, "the vast majority of people in our community object as I do"

Sorry Dr. Porter, you have not been appointed to speak for the entire community, not even a minority, just yourself. Please speak for yourself, not the community at large.

For that matter, why are you immediately trying to escalate this to a political discussion? As a doctor, I would think that you would have the resources available to seek professional help.

By: Virginia

Virginia — Wed, 23 May 2007 21:22:48 +0000

I think it's a shame when children are taken to an art museum and not expected to see a nude. Hello! It's an ART MUSEUM.

It's also a shame when people can't tell the difference between fine art and a Playboy magazine. Shows you where their minds are.

Maybe next time the teachers who are trying to bring culture to young minds should tell uptight parents to provide their precious little ones with blindfolds. They can be led through the museum by a rope and only be allowed to peek out at the landscapes.

By: Keith

Keith — Wed, 23 May 2007 23:04:28 +0000

The human form is in itself art magnified. It takes a very closed minded person to equate the human body with sexual content only. Indeed, where is the mind set of someone that can’t see the difference? Dr. Porter, get your mind out of the gutter. A glance at a nipple doesn’t have to be followed up with an erection.

By: Dale

Dale — Thu, 24 May 2007 01:48:22 +0000

Dr. Porter, You have terrific points overlooked by those that are more concerned with YOUR opinion than expressing their own…without attacking either side.
I am an artist of the human body. I enjoy quality art AND nudes. It is important to include that many forms of nude art are intended to arouse the observer and many are just capturing beautiful moments.
Both sides have points to be considered.
My children may view nudes in the classical and tasteful versions. We ALL know what is argued as art that IS intended for mature audiences. My contributions have a great deal of portraits that allure the viewer without showing nudity…but still may be innapropriate.
I would wiegh my decision to have children view this subject based upon my children’s ability ro maturity and either attend with them or previously view it.
Neither side should believe children are so innocent that they aren’t curious about what is in plain sight. It isn’t evil, but discretion may be appropriate.
Quit the blog bashing and state YOUR opinion…if you’re so “open-minded”.
State your own reasons.

By: Mark

Mark — Fri, 25 May 2007 16:58:27 +0000

Parents should be at least as smart, knowledgeable, and well-informed as their children. If a parent is signing a consent form to go on a field trip to a museum, that parent should know what’s in the museum before the child does. This seems so elementary that it’s borders on satire when I actually put it in words. But it appears that many parents who signed the consent form had no idea what their children would be viewing when they got there. So put the bucket of KFC down and get to the museum! If you don’t approve of what you see, then don’t sign the consent form to let your child go.
Parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit. If they want their children to have exposure to nude art, that is their choice. If they feel that it is innapropriate, that is also their choice. But if they are uninformed, then it is impossible to make a choice.

By: Brian

Brian — Sat, 26 May 2007 02:49:37 +0000

As mentioned above, the human body IS in itself a piece of art…short, large, muscular, fatty and colorful…clothed or not. The degree to which we define “age-appropriate” artistic nude displays/shows presents an interesting challenge in the “grey” area between provacative, invocative, levels of dress/undress, etc. Some people call porn art and I believe some can be considered artistic & erotic. The degree that I/we judge what is appropriate for ourselves and our children is our strict freedom. The way in which we judge and condem “nude art” in all its forms and others opionions toward this subject provides an often scary insight into the conciousness of such individuals. Some lefty’s call xxx porn art (I disagree) and the consertative-right folks (men) at times appear to want women wearing burka’s (while compartmentalizing their possible meth-feuled gay sexual affairs/fantasies…re: CO Springs Cult Headquarters). The Dr. Ego above is not a mouth piece for the majority and neither is the far-lefty. My contrasting point is that a balance and appreciation for our human-ness in all our “beauty and shortcomings” must be respected. And those with differing views must take responsibility for themselves and their famlies but respect (and not shame or guilt) other peoples opinions. We don’t have to agree with each other, we just need to take the energy to step out of our “safety zone” and embrace our diversity, to challenge ourselves. If I/we don’t have the skills and am unwilling to put in the effort to see and explore within ourselves and with our children what is underneath my/our “reaction” to the grey areas that life presents (including luxury topics such as nude art), then perhaps it would be better for me/you to shield ourselves and our children from reality until we have the skills, want and capacity to recieve and process the “art” that is all around us, calling us to live more fully and encouraging us to break free from the ignorant and mundane!
ps. I’m naked right now.

By: Kim

Kim — Sat, 26 May 2007 03:28:31 +0000

Why on Earth are we, as a society, so bloody fearful of a nude body? In any context. We are a society of guns, violence, obesity (morbid and “manageable”), rude behaviour and illiteracy but, God-forbid, the kid catches a glimpse of a booby and their world goes to pot. Everything in this world is art to someone. No one shall be The Judge.

By: Stratisphere

Stratisphere — Fri, 15 Jun 2007 21:25:30 +0000

Nudity is only taboo because people in America, mainly, are stuck thinking that it is bad. It is my belief that his stems from idiocy and ignorance. The nudity in art is an expression of human form. We are all humans and all have forms. When it comes to children and nudity… again, as with anything else deemed taboo, children will question why and usually rebel, that is human nature. If it wasn’t taboo, it wouldn’t be a big deal. People are too caught up in their own insecurities to realize freedom isn’t about censorship. I await a time when we can look past our own insecurities and enjoy life to it’s fullest.

By: kai

kai — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 05:16:35 +0000

When I was 10-years old, I thought to myself, “In about 30 years,
children will be allowed to see naked people in art”. I can now
see, with 31 years of hindsight, that I am SADLY MISTAKEN. In other
words, I am VERY DISAPPOINTED with American society. Some things
NEVER CHANGE do they…………????????????

By: John

John — Fri, 28 Sep 2007 17:43:47 +0000

I may be wrong here, but the above debate seems a little out of place since it does not recognize the very region in which it is taking place. Has it occured to anyone to not only notice that the issue that has sparked this debate has its origin in texas (the state with the most number of banned books in the US), but also that Denver is NOT (despite its best efforts) a cultural focal point. As a fifth generation Denverite I can at least be realistic about where I live and understand how backward, uneducated, and hickish my city is. I know Denver is trying to change, but perhaps more attention should be paid to those elements holding it back from becoming a respectable center of culture and learning - IF that is in fact what this city wants to be. Again, we are not far off from the shameful state of Texas, before deciding the cultural future of our city we should be realistic with its position in the present. ALSO, I would like to say Thank God for the Denver Art Musuem and I hope more people will give their support to it and the new Contemporary Art Museum - but then again maybe they won’t. I’ll be there will you? Isn’t that the only question that matters? Support the arts or not. Let’s be honest. No body cares about your opinions and whether you agree with a particular piece of art or not. It really doesn’t matter. What does matter is whether you pay an admission fee to the museum or not. Talk is worthless compared to that - pure, simple, support. But I don’t mean to condemn people for not going to the museum either. Supporting the arts or not is the best way for people to show their opinions about art as well as declare their desires for the cultural future of their city. Whether you are in either camp I suggest you be patient and wait for the city to catch up with you. Will it go the way of most cities in Texas or become a unique addition to the countries cultural centers?

By: kate

kate — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 18:01:57 +0000

I don’t mean to condemn people for not going to the museum either. Supporting the arts or not is the best way for people to show their opinions about art as well as declare their desires for the cultural future of their city. Whether you are in either camp I suggest you be patient and wait for the city to catch up with you. Will it go the way of most cities in Texas or become a unique addition to the countries cultural centers?

By: Joseph Markey

Joseph Markey — Sat, 09 Feb 2008 19:05:49 +0000

As a child and teen-ager I was aware of specific interest in nude sculpture and painting when taken to museums in a nearby large city. In the course of medical training and as a physician I examined significant numbers of nude people, including more than 25,000 men at the Great Lakes Naval Training Center. While travelling, I was surprised how often nudity was a normal part of using a public bath or beach, with men and women bathing together (Germany and Japan). After 50 years of medical practice and a lifetime of experience my impression is that curiosity has a lot to do with interest in nudity. Having said that, when in the course of my own medical treatment my own hormones were raised, lowered and then raised again I was surprised how much my feelings about nudes changed. Consequently I believe that parents do need to assess the level of development of their children in deciding about exposure to nudity in all areas of life. But all in all it’s not a big deal and making it so is a waste of energy.