Art or pornography? Where would you draw the line?

[AFireInside]

Ok so my boyfriend and I had a pic of me painted. He works on a boat and is gone for 28 days. He has his own room and wanted to hang the painting in it. The captain says its pornography. In the painting I'm not completely nude,you can't see any thing other than my back and the painting is only about 20 inches.

 

[brad.a.c]

Well, not trying to pry or anything, but did it actually show anything other than your back?

 

[Jaiden23]

There is a really fine line between art and pornography, and unfortunately unless you are dealing with someone involved in art you are going to get different responses for different pieces. In the art world (someone correct me if I'm wrong here) I believe that it is generally accepted that pornography is anything showing a sexual act. Being nude, even fully, is not enough to be considered porn, it's simply another form of human art that has been around for thousands of years. Take a look at the Greek and Roman statues, most of which are nude but are certainly not considered porn.

Unfortunately, there are alot of people that do not take part in the art world. You're going to find people that look at a painting or sculpture and do not see the artistic value of it. People have different levels of moral values, as well, perhaps there is an unseen reason as to why the captain is offended by the painting.

 

[AFireInside]

Well, not trying to pry or anything, but did it actually show anything other than your back?

i mean a BIT of my rear but it is from the side. no crack or anything. and there is a blanket covering the front of me.

 

[brad.a.c]

Well, then that's not really porn if you covered up everything.

 

[98XJSport]

Unfortunately what the captain says, goes. Art is subject to the viewers interpretation, thats what makes it work. His opinion is the only one that matters. Even if you argue it, and prove him "wrong" your boyfriend would then be on the bad side of the captain. Make for a long 28 days

 

[Lena]

Sounds like the captain's jealous. :main_laugh:

 

[RepBex]

does the captin have the ability to stop ur hubby haveing the painting in his room ?

 

[Mel&Keith]

It's kind of lame that he won't let him hang it in his private room. I could understand if he wanted to hang it in the galley or something but...I guess I'm an art fan though! We have a lot of artwork painted by friends and tattoo artists that has to come off the walls when family comes over. Some people get it, some people don't. Ultimately, I guess he has to go with whatever the boss says.

 

[jblayza]

I don't think i'd consider it porn just cause your showing skin unless there's either a sexual act being committed or the pose is somethin sexual like nude and spreading legs or touching in certain places, but i wouldn't consider all nude photography or paintings porn.

 

[Halley]

Sounds like the captain's jealous. :main_laugh:

 

[MonteQ's]

I was formally trained in art... We'd spend 20-30 hours a week working from nude models. After years of that, nudity just doesn't have any effect.

But it never fails when I show drawings/paintings to people that some will get uncomfortable. Even if the pose isn't racy...I think it just depends on what your exposed to.

Shame that the captain couldn't see past the subject. Might just be that he knows it's of his girl friend?

 

[Amber7399]

well that is really crappy. i'm sorry to hear that he won't let your b/f display it.. i would consider it art... but hey i'm pro-just about everything but i guess if you were to look at it from the captain's possiable point of view....what if someone else were to see the painting in your b/f's cabin and take some sort of offense to it..and come back at the captain for allowing it. :main_huh: :main_huh: still very sorry it's not allowed

 

[AFireInside]

I can see if it were a really vulgar pic but it isn't.

 

[98XJSport]

You've also gotta take into account that if the captain lets one person hang a picture of a mostly naked person on the wall, he has to let everyone...

Many probably won't choose an artistic painting.

 

[Leonardo]

In the art world (someone correct me if I'm wrong here) I believe that it is generally accepted that pornography is anything showing a sexual act. Being nude, even fully, is not enough to be considered porn, it's simply another form of human art that has been around for thousands of years.

You are correct. To me a naked body is another form of beauty.

Unfortunately, it is the captain's boat. It is his rules that go. You have to treat it like if you were to move back into your parent's house. They pay the bills therefor they own the walls and what rules they set are what you have to follow. If the captain owns the boat then he can tell you what you can and cannot put on the walls.

It does, like several people said, have to deal with what you have been exposed to. It isn't pornography but it does make him uncomfortable so he is going to call it whatever he wants.
That doesn't mean it isn't art.
Your boyfriend will just have wait to hang the painting in his own house when he gets home. 28 days without it wont be so hard.

There's no way you can change the captain's mind and I would suggest not trying. When it comes to art it is almost pointless to argue with most people. Arguing only causes each viewer to feel stronger about their own opinion and creates even more tension between the opposing ideas.

 

[fallen_angel]

You've also gotta take into account that if the captain lets one person hang a picture of a mostly naked person on the wall, he has to let everyone...

Many probably won't choose an artistic painting.

I would definitely agree on this one!

 

[moosassah]

Captain's boat. Captain's rules. If he wants a paycheck, he'd better take a picture of the painting & keep it under his pillow. Or get creative with a matte that blocks the part of the painting the Capt feels is inappropriate.

 

[MonteQ's]

You've also gotta take into account that if the captain lets one person hang a picture of a mostly naked person on the wall, he has to let everyone...

Many probably won't choose an artistic painting.

Definitely could snowball out of control...:main_rolleyes:

 

[AFireInside]

So that captain says the real reason he can't have it up is because(like you've already said) others would put up pictures that would definitely not be art.