3 ms·

I wonder if she understands the role of idealized forms in art, or idealized forms fit into everything. We see them not only in comic books, but also on the co

by MollyR 12y ago

I wonder if she understands the role of idealized forms in art, or idealized forms fit into everything. We see them not only in comic books, but also on the covers of romance novels. We also see them in roman statues for both genders. Edit: Personal anecdote: My asian friends are big fans of bishonen tropes or mangas, which seems to be the manga counterpoint to western comics beefcake/cheesecake tropes.

Retra 12y ago
Why wouldn't she? Idealization in art is not a problem. Her boss didn't put the poster up because it was an idealization. If he had, there wouldn't have been any concern in switching it with another idealization; he would have simply appreciated the new poster. But he did appreciate it: not for it's "sexy woman" idealization, but for the statement it made, and for being a reminder about what is important in a workplace. There is more to art than pretty pictures. Focusing on sexy pictures in the name of "artistic appreciation of idealizations" is narrow-mindedness, no matter how you spin it.
- MollyR 12y ago
  I agree, it's not professional. Those don't belong in the workplace, and I admire the way the guest poster went about convincing her coworkers. Sorry I wasn't clear, when I was referring to she, I meant the creator of the website, not the guest poster. >Focusing on sexy pictures in the name of "artistic appreciation of idealizations" is narrow-mindedness, no matter how you spin it. I think it would also be narrow-minded to not think that "sexy pictures" could be a component of art or art in themselves. My main thoughts are that humans didn't evolve or create things in vacuum, why do we even value art ? and where in our biological wiring do they values come from ?
  - Retra 12y ago
    It is just very easy to appreciate a sexually-charged picture in a superficial way. It is so easy, in fact, that I would be hard-pressed to claim there were any actual value in doing it. It's like talking to someone who wants to eat chocolate cake every day. Sure, chocolate cake is good, and we could talk for days about the nuances of cake making. But if you eat it every day saying "I just like it," you're not being nuanced. You're being crude and childish. Now, if you 'went meta' and artfully maintained an appreciation for hedonism in a way that communicates it well, then that's different. But sticking a poster in your office is not that, either, because it doesn't really communicate that intent. Putting a complementary poster next to it as an act of social awareness or even irony might.

by MollyR 12y ago

Retra 12y ago

Why wouldn't she? Idealization in art is not a problem. Her boss didn't put the poster up because it was an idealization. If he had, there wouldn't have been any concern in switching it with another idealization; he would have simply appreciated the new poster. But he did appreciate it: not for it's "sexy woman" idealization, but for the statement it made, and for being a reminder about what is important in a workplace. There is more to art than pretty pictures. Focusing on sexy pictures in the name of "artistic appreciation of idealizations" is narrow-mindedness, no matter how you spin it.

MollyR 12y ago
I agree, it's not professional. Those don't belong in the workplace, and I admire the way the guest poster went about convincing her coworkers. Sorry I wasn't clear, when I was referring to she, I meant the creator of the website, not the guest poster. >Focusing on sexy pictures in the name of "artistic appreciation of idealizations" is narrow-mindedness, no matter how you spin it. I think it would also be narrow-minded to not think that "sexy pictures" could be a component of art or art in themselves. My main thoughts are that humans didn't evolve or create things in vacuum, why do we even value art ? and where in our biological wiring do they values come from ?
- Retra 12y ago
  It is just very easy to appreciate a sexually-charged picture in a superficial way. It is so easy, in fact, that I would be hard-pressed to claim there were any actual value in doing it. It's like talking to someone who wants to eat chocolate cake every day. Sure, chocolate cake is good, and we could talk for days about the nuances of cake making. But if you eat it every day saying "I just like it," you're not being nuanced. You're being crude and childish. Now, if you 'went meta' and artfully maintained an appreciation for hedonism in a way that communicates it well, then that's different. But sticking a poster in your office is not that, either, because it doesn't really communicate that intent. Putting a complementary poster next to it as an act of social awareness or even irony might.