Even though we've pretty well established that the Texas case isn't directly
about nudity viewed at the art museum, it is important for us museum folks
to understand childhood development so that we can respond appropriately.
4th-8th graders are either on the edge of puberty or right in the middle of
it, depending on individuals. As kids start becoming aware of their own
bodies...they take a greater interest in the bodies around them. And of
course a heightened interest in nudity, body functions, etc. If you've ever
been around kids this age in an informal/relaxed setting you're surely aware
that much of their humor is scatological. It's embarrassing and you want to
wring their necks, but it's perfectly normal. 
 
If you bring this age group into an art museum without preparation you're
likely to hear: "oooooh you can see the boobies on that statue" and much,
much worse. Years ago I was making my way to a museum conference room for a
meeting and passed several little boys staring at ancient statuary just in
time to hear, "Look at the d*** on that one!" The problem was that their
teacher had allowed the kids to split up into groups of 3-4 to tour the
museum, leaving behavior management to the security guards. So.the kids were
doing a self-guided tour, looking at the things that interested them! If
only the teacher had given them some preparation and clues to look for in
the art it would have been far different. (A good friend/colleague was with
me, and we still use the boys' exclamation when we're privately describing
ANYTHING of great interest.) :-)
 
Becky Fitzgerald
Susquehanna Museum
  _____  

From: Museum discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Darryl MacKenzie
Sent: Wednesday, September 27, 2006 12:18 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: REsponses to nudity
 
I wonder how many of these parents know their children are listening to
'immorality' in country and western music, or watching MTV, playing video
games? We can go on and on about the relative 'morality' of different
assaults on fifth grade sensibilities.
Recently I took my children to the Bodyworlds 3 exhibit at Telus World of
Science in Vancouver, British Columbia. The exhibit was treated
reverentially by the exhibitors and therefore by my children, one of whom is
a 7 year old with pervasive developmental disorder. He spoke in hushed
tones. He did not focus on the nudity displayed, but on the beauty of the
human body.
If a 7 year old with challenges can understand this, so can normal 10 year
olds.
All this hoopla serves to do is create shame of the human body, including
the bodies of the children seeing the display.
Darryl
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