... sometimes I just wanna
... kick myself. i don't like being very excited about sharing or getting involved in a project, then descending into doubt and fears about results that could be disasterous. i was working on a post last night for my other site, something sketchy, and wifee brought up a concern that i would like to ask all of you about:
I'll start by stating the potentially obvious.... there's so much really offensive crap out there in bloggerland and the internet in general. believe me, i've seen it "pop" on my screen sometimes and once my eyes found their ways back into my skull, i've done whatever it takes to close the screen, delete the cookies, etc. so i don't have to be bombarded with what i find offensive online.
my something sketchy site was created 100% for me to express my artistic ideas and to post things i've drawn, painted, written, photographed and more. AS an artist, i want to encourage discussion, advice to help me improve with any of these medias and to simply share with the world how i see things.
the post i was creating is going to highlight a sketch, and hopefully a series of sketches i've done of nudes. there. i said it. nude people. online. omgoodness hide the children. these are called character studies. some i drew in college, others since. the human body is the most beautiful creation. i want to show that. i have expressed that through some of my studies. most important, i want to share it.
wifee brought up the point that i might risk offending some people who find or regularly read my blog. good point! well spoken, and not (i might add) in a manor that made me feel defensive. but, i did defend vigorously my position on the subject of art versus offensive material for a few moments... until i sat back and said, "huh..."
so, what do you all think? this is not 'graphic stuff' by any means. the catch is, it's not graphic to me. it's art. it's lighting, curves, shapes, even patterns and chiseled features that make us all who we are. works of art.
SHOULD I :
- should i care what anyone thinks and just post to my heart's content?
- should i censor my own works and not post anything potentially offensive?
- should i not post the picture, but provide a hyperlink that allows folks to choose to click & view?
- should i jes say "screw the world" and post post post and hope to get constructive criticism, advise, some pettin's and more? (see option #1)
wha???
15 comments:
S.C.
Life's Design demands that you are FULLY SELF EXPRESSED as an artist.
You are obligated to put up your work... not for the public- But for YOUR personal integrity.
Amongst your P.C. work-
insert a disclaimer:
---LEGAL DISCLAIMER ---
This site contains free art pics designed and intended SOLELY for adults who wish to view it, people who are at least 18 years old, who are interested in and wish to have access to visual erotic nature. The materials which are available within this site may include graphic visual depictions and descriptions of nudity and sexual activity and should NOT be accessed by anyone who does not wish to be exposed to such materials.
then hyper-link to the nude-art so that folks have a choice.
That should cover it, Eh?
(J.- (dan's friend) :)
do you really need to ask me MY opinion??
you already know my answer.
SHOW US THE PORN!
haha
I like the disclaimer idea, I dont see that as censoring your art, you are still making it available, you are also however giving someone more of a choice as to whether they view it or not, das just my two pennies :)
UPDATE- I've started to tally up the advice from this post and some emails. The Sketchy site does have a disclaimer of sorts shown on the RIGHT sidebar now.
still going to wait a bit until i make my final decision and all, but i appreciate everyone's candor and advice so far.
but, to disappoint kathryn, no porn. sorry.
;)
You raise an interesting question.
There is a lot of shytte out there. According to blogger help the flag button is a way for the viewer to alert blogger.com of objectionable material. It is then in the eyes of the beholder. This link lets you know that you can still publish, but access is limited, sort of.
The idea of posting the disclaimer seems a great one. I'm not a lawyer, so I can't advise you of the efficacy of that route.
You might google blog censorship to get more information.
You might, also, consider your motivations for wanting to post this material. (I have no more idea what they might be, than what you have already stated. I am not trying to be judgmental here. Just suggesting. A loud go to hell would be an acceptable response. lol)
Offensive is in the eye of the beholder. You can bet that regardless of the disclaimer, young people will find your work. Who knows, you may become a hero on Myspace. But those same kids will go to the art museums and be exposed to similar art. So I wouldn't worry about that.
My guess is that you will produce some very fine art and some not so fine art. After all, you are inviting us into the process by asking for feedback. That is a very courageous step. It takes a solid ego to make that effort. (I know, you did have that little dust up with wifee. tee hee.)
In the end, since you asked for my advice, go for it. Not everyone has the talent to do it. Good luck. (ukykfy)
-b, here is something I ran across from your Seattle online newspaper. It has to do with racism and, obliquely, censorhip.
While it doesn't directly respond to your question, it does give me pause about anyone in your area who might stumble across your artistic efforts.
Hell, for that matter, there are others out there who hold similar ideas/views of the world. Too bad for them.
jack - thank you very very much for yet again, your sage advice.
my motivations behind my wish to post an occasional "life drawing" (most people relate to that verbage used for drawing/modeling course or form of study) is to merely share HOW I DRAW! it's really that simple.
i like feedback. i like compliments. i like criticism. it all makes me better in whatever it's directed toward.
plus, overall, i think i'm likely just going to say collectively "SCREW YOU ALL" in the sense that anyone can pay their $100 at a local community college and look at naked models to draw if they'd like to.
Not one damned thing I'd ever post will be any "worse" (if one feels that way) that anything a person could see there.
thank you, jack. you're second comment regarding the Seattle article kinda blew my mind tho.. people/ethics/interpretations can be so annoying.
cheers, my friend!
B
My first thought was "did he get permission from the models to post the drawings?" That is my only concern.
Hell, if people are offended by the naked human form, they must not have mirrors in their houses cuz they'd be offended by themselves all the time.
Drawing models was one of my favorite things we did in the drawing classes I took. Still lives, kill me now...
B, you are most welcome.
I am honored to be considered your friend.
You, too, do to ride the river with.
And, Shannon, is it still lives or still lifes? I am never sure. lol
The human form can be quite beautiful.
As for the mirror, they have them and they looked. Oops. We can't all look like anorexic models that pass for this cultures beauty. Thank goodness for that.
Y'all make it a great day.
hey again everyone.
New post(s) on Something Sketchy completed.
Blogspot is being annoying tho, and I couldn't post just one entry with (2) pics, but hey... I can deal....
can you all? bwa ha ahahaaaaa...
thanks again for everyone's feedback. means a lot to me..
shanny, i will indeed get written permission if/when needed from any contracted work. in essence tho, being the original artist, I can display the works anytime given that I still retain the copyrights on my work. -- thank you
jack - you calling me fat or my models fat. careful, some of them may be dainty, but they're fast...
J - gonna try it like this for a bit. my "material" is really quite tame, so I'm going to avoid the hassle of hyperlinks unless people's eyes start bleeding.
kathryn - still no porn... sorry! (giggle)
lil' gelfling - see my comment for J, it's applicable. Thank you for your 2 cents worth. you'll be glad to know I don't owe you any change.
B
I think we have to do things for ourselves, and do our best to avoid offending the majority of other people ( without compromising our own agenda). Regardless of what you post someone will probably be offended.
Post the art! The human body is a beautiful form, and should be seen as such. Art is art, and there will always be someone who will object to it.
Again, POST THE ART! I wanna see it!
B- I agree with the majority here and think that you should post it. Blogging to me, is a place when you can write whatever the hell you want and post whatever type of pics that you want, whether it be photos, art etc.. I have come across some pretty nasty stuff on here. But the way that I look at it is that it's MY choice to scroll down the blog to look at the postings. No one is MAKING me do it. Throw a disclaimer at the top if you want to protect your ass but I think you should post it! :)
I vote #1 and the last one, which kind of are one in the same....no?
I like your idea of a disclaimer. I have come across some blogs that made me exclaim "HOLY COW", blinked and immediately closed the window down, lol. But that is *my* choice to do so, I don't believe it IS my choice to tell that person to NOT post it. It's there f'ing blog, right?!!?
I am in full belief that if you don't like it, don't look at it, don't read it. :)
Ummm, I just read what Sarah said, and uh, what she said.
LMAO!!!! (gotta learn to read OTHERS comments before making my own...sorry ;)
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