Angela Putney schrieb:
> >>> "Verlag Dr. C. Mueller-Straten" <[log in to unmask]> 02/05 11:07 AM >>>
> >Robert and Deborah Bain schrieb:
> > I am preparing a Valentine's Day family program that focuses on the
> > representation of Cupid in painting.  Some of the paintings I would like
> > to include have women with bare breasts. [snip] Do you have any suggestions
>  for
> > dealing with nudity in art if a parent or child feels uncomfortable with
> > the situation?
> [snip]
> are you kidding? The parents for shure have studied every detail of the
> confessions of a president and the kids know the Playboy since some years.
> Nudity as such is not bad, nudity in art no problem. Your project does not
>  deal
> with porn, isn `t ist?
> [snip]
>
>  I cannot remember if the original poster was from the U.S. and what part or
>  somewhere else, but if it were the U.S., then no, they probably weren't
>  kidding. We are exceedingly bizarre in our reactions to nudity (I think it
>  stems from the odd mix of religions, particularly those groups that left
>  Europe centuries ago to avoid persecution, but I haven't studied it in
>  depth). I have noticed that Europeans take nudity all in stride and realize
>  how natural it is, whereas we (Americans, not necessarily me) tend to think
>  that nudity=sex=morally wrong=will_go_to_hell (well, maybe not that strongly
>  by all, but some sure do). European magazines often show women's bare
>  breasts (and more) without being a "porno" magazine. Impossible in the U.S.
>  since a child might see it and think ... um, I don't know nor do I know what
>  some people seem to fear, but whoever these people are, they have clout with
>  laws. [one time while I was working in a university library and trying to
>  determine the actual!
>  holdings of an Italian magazine, I noticed that someone had drawn boxes or
>  colored over all the "naughty bits" on each issue that had some nudity. I
>  was appalled that someone had defaced the magazines!  I could see no reason
>  for it other than misguided morals especially since the photos were not
>  pornographic (the students were old enough to see the photos even if they
>  were)].
>
>  I thought you might want to understand a bit more about U.S. culture and how
>  bizarre and illogical it is (and perhaps understand a tiny bit why our
>  President is having such problems. As ridiculous as I think the whole thing
>  is, I see what forces started and keep it in motion - and they are hard to
>  stop).
>
>       Angela
>       [log in to unmask]

Dear Angela,

thanks for your comments. Visiting my emigrated family once a year and being
several times in the US, I know, that your first analysis is right. But
nevertheless, I had to say: ARE YOU KIDDING? We are not living in the 19th
cent., even if some people wish us there. The media are full of crime and sex,
but this misleads us to a totally wrong impression of reality. If the guy from
the chainsaw massacre or Fargo existed: he never had felt real love, the beauty
of bodys or the luck growing up in a family with sound values. From the
sexual neurotic to the outburst there is sometimes only a beer away...
>
My advice: Concentrate on professional museum work, disregard the neurotics.
There will be alsays someone against you!

Best regards


Christian
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>                                                                    !

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