Nudity In Art

[jess]

Hey everyone just a question for all of you. Do you think it's alright for art classes in college to hire models to pose nude so that the class can draw them? Or does this promote people into sin? Our art class is starting this and it is a requirement for the class, to learn the human figure...is this alright as long as peoples minds and hearts are pure and free of lust or dirty thoughts? Just want to know peoples thoughts. Thanks and God Bless!

In Christ;

jess

[Dave]

Hmmmm . . . that's a difficult question.

Nudity in and of itself isn't a bad thing. The human body is not something bad. But at the same time, due to man's fall, we have concupiscence. And because of our concupiscence, nudity could lead a person into sin. So there are several factors to consider. However, someone more knowledgeable than me would have to help me out here.

[Thomas Michael]

Concu-what-since?

I say, as long as all the students keep their hands on top of their desks, there shouldn't be a problem with a nude model at an art class. ;)

[Dave]

Concu-what-since?

From the American Heritage Dictionary:

concupiscence

SYLLABICATION: con·cu·pis·cence

PRONUNCIATION: kn-kyp-sns

NOUN: A strong desire, especially sexual desire; lust.

ETYMOLOGY: Middle English, from Old French, from Late Latin concupscentia, from Latin concupscns, concupscent-, present participle of concupscere, inchoative of concupere, to desire strongly : com-, intensive pref.; see com– + cupere, to desire.

OTHER FORMS: con·cupis·cent —ADJECTIVE

[jess]

i figure as long as one keeps their heart and mind pure from any sort of sexual desire or anything that that individual will be alright...in essence drawing the human figure undraped can help one appreciate God's craftmenship when He created us each having a unique body. it's still something i'm leary about in some sense, but drawing is a talent from God and if we don't invest in our talents to develop them they will just dissappear.

In Christ;

Jess :)

[cmotherofpirl]

Don't assume all the models will be young or beautiful.

Old age has a beauty and dignity all its own.

[BLAZEr]

The issue, when we talk about sin, is always intention.

If you are in an art class and the a person is brought in to teach you how to draw the human body artfully, I would say that it is not a real problem. You should do your best to give reverence to God's creation of the Human Body and to honor it as the likeness of God. We are made in the image and likeness of God, and in a holy and tasteful way, your learning to draw the human body gives glory to that.

I would say a prayer to St. Therese or St. Joseph to help me to honor this woman (or man's) body the way I would want to honor Mary or Jesus' body. I would also say, if you have a problem with pornography, maybe you should find a way to exempt yourself from this class or try to be seated in a place where you will not have to focus your attention on parts of the anatomy that would cause you to lust. This could be an occasion of sin, but it could also be an ocassion to learn to look at the human body for its goodness and beauty and not as a means to your selfish pleasure and sexual objectification. That's the real problem with pornography, you know . . . not that the people are naked, but that the intention is to help you to become aroused and cause you to lust and perform acts of impurity. They rob that person (in the photo) of their human dignity and wholeness.

Anyway, thems my thoughts . . .

[cmotherofpirl]

Take a class in Anatomy and Physiology, where you have to draw all the muscles and tendons on your classmates body. You'll never quite look at shapes the same way again.

[dUSt]

I saw my dad's butt once when I was 14.

[Dave]

I saw my dad's butt once when I was 14.

dUSt, you're on a roll with the wisecracks tonight! How do you come up with them?

[dUSt]

       

dUSt, you're on a roll with the wisecracks tonight!  How do you come up with them?

Nyquil and Pibb xtra.

[littleflower+JMJ]

as long as they have clothes on it shouldn't be a problem

[cmotherofpirl]

as long as they have clothes on it shouldn't be a problem

Nude models are usuallly naked

[littleflower+JMJ]

Nude models are usuallly naked

i know cmom :lol:

[Birgitta Noel]

Here's an interesting question....

When I was in College, they always paid the nude art models 2-3x more than a normal work-study job would pay....

Was this an explotive practice?

We always debated that! I'm curious what others think....

[JP2Iloveyou]

IMO, I would not participate. I would tell your teacher that you are exercising your First Amendment rights to the free practice of religion (I'll bet (s)he wouldn't force your classmates to look at Catholic paintings and artwork). I mean, here's the question you have to ask yourself. What would my spouse think? If you were married (maybe you are, I don't know) what would your husband or wife think of you going to a class where naked people are going to be parading around? I would wager to say that your spouse would not be too comfortable with that idea. So, if you're not married, I would not do this out of respect for your future spouse. I realize that the human body and sexuality are not bad things, but I just think this crosses the line. This happened at my old college as well. Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with it. While the intention may not to be to sin, you still are intentionally putting yourself in the occasion of sin. My advice, just avoid it all together. If you can be in a romm with a anked member of the opposite sex and not sin in thought, word, or deed, you are a MUCH stronger person than me my friend.

[Don John of Austria]

Well my father is an Artist professionaly he supported his family his whole life as an artist, for years he went every week to practice life drawing( thats an artsy name for nude drawing) my mother neve3r thought anything of it, she encouraged him to go, if you want to be able to draw or paint or sculpt the human form well then you must practice drawing the human form. He still goes 20 or 30 times a year to a class that a friend of his teaches and helps hime out, and sculpts nude models. I can't see that it has ever been anything but art to him. Nothing is wromng with nudes there on the sistene chapel for God's sake.

Now Cmom is right about anatomy, I can remember my father going and taking classes at the mogue with the doctors to be, he got to learn abot muscles and such by feeling them and actually seeing them in there appropriate layering. It did help him as an artist( but I think it also increased his wonder in the human form and there by increased his faith).

The question you should ask are you there to learn art or to see nude people, and of course remember don't assume models are going to alwayss be of the opposite sex.

Edited September 27, 2003 by Don John of Austria

[cmotherofpirl]

IMO, I would not participate.  I would tell your teacher that you are exercising your First Amendment rights to the free practice of religion (I'll bet (s)he wouldn't force your classmates to look at Catholic paintings and artwork).  I mean, here's the question you have to ask yourself.  What would my spouse think?  If you were married (maybe you are, I don't know) what would your husband or wife think of you going to a class where naked people are going to be parading around?  I would wager to say that your spouse would not be too comfortable with that idea.  So, if you're not married, I would not do this out of respect for your future spouse.  I realize that the human body and sexuality are not bad things, but I just think this crosses the line.  This happened at my old college as well.  Fortunately, I didn't have to deal with it.  While the intention may not to be to sin, you still are intentionally putting yourself in the occasion of sin.  My advice, just avoid it all together.  If you can be in a romm with a anked member of the opposite sex and not sin in thought, word, or deed, you are a MUCH stronger person than me my friend.

Have you ever seen David by Michelangleo?

Or been to a great museum?

Louvre, the Met, the Smithsonian?

God made the human body and He made it well.

To appreciate beauty is not to sin.

When we get to heaven we will be only wearing our good deeds and a smile. :)

[PedroX]

I once read that the church had given its approval of nude art. See Cmom's post on "David" by Michaelangelo.

I agree with the rest that your internal motivations and thoughts are the key to this question. I also agree to seek protection through prayer,or holy water, or whatever you normally use to avoid temptation.

C'mom, your point on older people is right on target. Once again, you rock!

peace...

[JP2Iloveyou]

cmom and others, don't misunderstand me, I am not saying that the human body is bad or that sex is bad. Sex is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given us. Our bodies are the temples of the Holy Spirit. To say that they are eveil would be the heresy of gnosticism I believe. What I am saying is that it is irresponsible to put yourself in an occasion of sin. For me, that would be an occasion of sin. I personally am far to weak to see a naked woman and not have lustful thoughts. If that's not an occasion of sin for you, then I suppose it might be OK. Read Theology of the Body to be certain though. I think it would be comparable to me going to a place where alcohol is served. I've never struggled with alcoholism, so that would not be an occasion of sin for me. It would be though for a recovering alcoholic to stop by the local bar. We have to know our weaknesses and not tempt them. Satin knows our weaknesses better than we do and he will use them against us. I am just saying that if that is an occasion of sin for you, don't do it.