Why do you think most people think nudity is offensive?

Question

As I have mentioned before, nudity is art, natural, and nothing wrong with it. So: why do you think most people make a big deal out of it and say it's bad? It isn't... Besides, we were born that way and it is in museums and paintings from the Christian religion. But what do YOU think about why a lot of people think it's a horrible thing?

Answer 1

Nudity in Art

Many people today blame religions and religious people for making nudity an evil concept. It goes to show that there is still stupidity in this world beyond belief. Grouping people of a culture, racial group, party affiliation, religion, etc… shows a lack of mental understanding. I do not say the word intelligence for it is a fact that many people can spend years in the educational system obtaining degrees, even degrees in art. These self-proclaimed geniuses are blinded by all their intellect and fail to look at the simple solution.

“There are people in this world just plain narrow-minded.” Look across the board at the human species. Not one individual will think exactly alike or have the same values as the next. Truly stereotyping does work but key factors have to fit criteria when making judgements. Usually two or three factors do not create a deduction.

Truly some people in certain religions might find nudity offensive. Others in the same religion may not.

The Pose

Posing of a human has a lot to do with how the art is received.
For example Michelangelo’s David is VERY nude, PROVACATIVE? Probably not to most people.
The centerfold of a Playboy mag? Maybe to some.
The whole picture layout in a Hustler mag? Is that really art? Believe it or not, the answer in today’s over indulged overly free America, yes. But there are still laws on who can view such works.

As for being BORN that way in your statement…
I don’t know about you. Buy my tiny bits have grown MUCH bigger over the years. LOL And bigger bits can be more offensive than tiny ones. You know that…..

As an Artist myself I do not see anything wrong in a TASTEFUL display of the body painted, sculpted, or whatever the case may be.

As an artist I really value the quality of an art piece before I will call it art. It will create various emotions. Some people out there create ART to hide behind the freedom of expression just to create a name. Some artists in my opinion are nothing but hypocrites, they offer nothing of value to the art world except a blink in the fabric of time. This ALSO is the SAME opinion I have of people who try and create mayhem over a “dangly bit” of human anatomy at an art exhibit.

Answer 2

Sounds like you're religious . Our body is not a thing or an art. Its a valuable gifted by god. In most of the religion nudity is prohibited which is later accepted by most of the people in the world. Those people are not fool to accept the religion who taught us nudity is bad thing. There must be some resion . Think out of your desire box brother, there are many consequences of nudity which leads our society in wrong direction (like porn graphic, fornication, premarital sex, extramarital sex, addiction of drugs and so many that I cant count). Try to puzzle those consequences, you will understand that all those came from nudity only. No one born with narrow minded nudity. Just keep your desire out of your mind. Our world will be better if there is no nudity. Nudity leading psychological corruption in humanity.

Answer 3

Unfortunately, in many cultures nudity is directly equated with sexuality, and therefore deemed offensive if it occurs within public view.

People need to realize the difference between sexual and non-sexual nudity, and react accordingly. For example, when I'm lying naked on a nude beach on a warm summer day, I can honestly say that there is no sexual component to my nudity, even though I'm in the company of hundreds of other naked guys and girls. I'm there because I enjoy being naked in an appropriate place for an appropriate purpose. The experience may be sensual (the warm sun and cool breezes washing all over your bare body is a very sensual experience, but it's not a sexual one...there IS a difference!)

Answer 4

Shamefulness about nudity had been around since Adam and Eve. For many of us, it is ingrained in our psyche.

My grandfather was a trained artist from Europe and incorporated a lot of nudity into his paintings, and I think they are quite beautiful. Some of his works , not all nudes, are on display in museums, hotels, homes and a library in Europe. One of the first pieces of art he created while still being trained at university or some short time later is a nude self- portrait that I have framed at my house. People who see it for the first time get a kick out of it when I tell them "oh yeah, that's my grandpa".

Europeans are not as uptight about nudity as Americans are; and notice that there are still many cultures and groups of people around the world that live day to day for the most part, nude.

Nudity will always be connected with shame in some pockets of the world big and small- and certain types of people will always feel offended by it.

Answer 5

I'm especially baffled by why some people think nudity in media or art is offensive but think that violence, shootings, explosions, or stabbings are acceptable. I'm always confused when "sex and violence" are phrased together, as if they're culturally equivalent. Perhaps both are inappropriate viewing for children, but for adults they're completely different concepts. Sex is something basically positive and pleasant, something most people want to experience in proper circumstances. Violence is horrifying, painful, and to be avoided in all circumstances. So is there a cultural connection that says "nudity=sex" and "sex=violence" and "violence=horror" therefore: "nudity=horror"?

Answer 6

It stems from the "Puritan's" and their believe system.
It was a way to Govern and Rule in that point in history.
North America in general is still an extremely puritanical society,
Most people coming from Britain and her isles come as direct decedents of puritanism.
You do not experience the same attitudes toward nudity in Europe as you do here.
Prior to this time in history almost all of the Worlds Peoples in their Cultures were less Pudico.

Answer 7

Nudity is art. The problem is with the way common society displays nudity. Pornographic nudity is not art because it is associated with sex, or it's presented with a sexual context. Nudity in itself is art. Pornography is not art.

Why do you think society doesn't accept nudity? I believe it is because society looks down upon pornographic material.

Answer 8

I've had quite a few debates with people on this and here's what I've come to understand.

THEY'RE IDIOTS!!!!

Ok, Following the trend of being politicaly correct, Some have found it offensive because it puts women in the place of an object not a person. However the same women that said this would drool over a guy she thought was hot in a magazine. (Same thing don't ya think!) Also I've heard the argument that it puts thoughts into mens heads that could lead to rape. ( Same argument as porn,). I've also had the classic argument that it's just not up to public standards of decency. ( What and who makes those!? Those with money and power that try to force their beliefs on you!) Then there's the all time classic, it leads to temptation! (Bring on the fire and brimstone!)

Think about it, look at womens fasion in the last hundred years. It started out being completely covered and has only been really the last thirty years that things have gotten to the point that it's, (for lack of a better term at this point.) slutty. ( Not knocking anyone that dresses this way just couldn't come up with a better way to put it. Believe me i'm not saying it's a bad thing.)

Personally I think the problem (Now) lies with whats in their own heads. I think they come up with all kinds of excuses to hide the fact it reflects back on their own vanity and they don't like what they see in themselves. They wish they could look one way but they won't or can't so they act out and call it offensive. Whatever, it's usually the same people that are out banging hookers in an alley or having sex with the pool boy. How many people go to the gym to look a certain way, do you really think all of them are there just to be healthy? No, they want to look hot! I've known chicks that were chubby (Not knocking chubby chicks I've dated quite a few!) and covered up so you couldn't see anything. They lost their wheight and got hot now they barely where anything. One of them was one that used to give me crap about naked chicks in the stuff I do. Funny how things can change. She went from it's offensive to wanting to be in something. Vanity at it's best! (I told her no, if it wasn't good enugh for her before don't bother with it now.)

Let's face it for a country that is so free when it comes to the arts people still have a prudish attitude. Look at Most European countries and the thought is the opposite, nudity is welcome and the human body is a thing to be admired not hidden away.

It's funny because you brought up a good point about nudity being in church art. I've actually had this said to me on more than one occasion, "It's ok because it's used in telling the stories of the bible and there were no clothes." (Adam and eve, the beginning of man.) So as long as it's in the bible and it fits with the story you have free reign! How rediculous!

I've put tons of nudity in stuff I've done, gotten a lot of flack and my response has always been "If you don't like it don't look at it!" Let the prudes say what they will. Believe me there are more people that will dig it than those against it. I've degraded women and made them look cheap, I hate them because of the stuff that has been portraid, on and on. It's just the opposite, How can you not think the female form isn't great? It's curvy and soft and really to me the most beautiful thing going. Why wouldn't I use it in the stuff I do? Hey some people put guys in for the same reasons. Whatever floats your boat.

As silly as people react on this subject I;ve also had conversations with people that don't like nudity out in public view but would also fight for your right to use it in art. I don't have a problem with this even though it may seem they're being hipocrytical. They (the individual) think this way and while they don't find it offensive they think it should be kept in your own home but won't press their views on other people because that would be wrong. They also believed that just because they don't like it doesn't mean it should be kept from the people that do. It's nice to know that there are a few out ther that don't let personal taste ruin things for everyone else. To those select few I give you a huge thumbs up!

Hope in some way this helps.

Answer 9

I don't get it. The human body is a beautiful thing in all its forms. Small minded people who think they are doing a good thing will see nakedness as they are 'supposed' to see it- as something that is shocking and immoral. What is ugly is their own lack of appreciation for natural beauty.

Answer 10

Nakedness is the organic state of the person....yet, maximum can't look after seeing bare bodies. no depend if that is no longer recognized as 'grimy' there's no longer something offensive some human physique. all of us have them! Violence could in no way be widely used as a existence-style. i do no longer settle for violence.