Cardinal sin: my practice figure drawings with no stars or bars
Some people of a different generation may remember Scope magazine. Stars expunging or blocking out nipples, and little bars blocking shocking private parts. This form of censorship prevailed for decades. One wonders about the censorship board at the time. Probably only men, looking at all the dirty, naughty pictures. Listening to songs with so-called banned or prohibited words, reviewing edgy plays. Feasting their eyes on all that they were going to ban.
Tut-tut, dirty old men. Was society better for it? What it did was spawn an underground network of picture porn and banned vinyl records and cassette tapes. If you wandered around Hillbrow, Johannesburg, a lot of under-the-counter trade was going on. You can’t stop this stuff.
Morals change. Society mores change. People change. Mother Grundies and Daddy Grundies get worse. Imagine going to the Louvre. You see the paintings with stars on the nipples and little black bars on the private parts. Shocking. Disturbing. Progress goes backwards. Yet, it’s the big social media companies like Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube who have their censors. Censors huddle around computer screens. They program their AI and chatbots to catch artists with anything that looks like provocative nudity. It’s as if this was progress. So they block artists. They also limit or restrict the number of people who can view artists’ posts.
What’s wrong with nudity? It makes me think of a life-drawing session I went to some time ago. A 14-year-old art student attended and drew very well, I must say. She drew the nude female model. This is the way artists become artists. By drawing the human figure. Okay, so this group wasn’t on social media, nor on YouTube. So it escapes the radar of the social media censors.
Social media is where we share our deepest thoughts and celebrate life’s milestones. And, of course, we debate pineapple on pizza. Yet, in all this digital noise, there is a deeper controversy. It pits timeless art against the ever-watchful censors of the Internet. Yes, I’m talking about the great war on nudity in art. Get your fig leaves and strategic emojis. We’re diving into the weird hypocrisy of social media’s approach to nude art.
Picture this: you’ve spent hours, days, perfecting your latest sketch of a person. You’ve captured the delicate curves and the subtle shadows. You’ve shown the essence of humanity in its rawest form. You post it on your favourite social media platform. You are proud to share your masterpiece with the world. And then, quicker than you can say “Renaissance,” it’s flagged, removed, and you’re left with a stern warning about community guidelines. What gives?
In the eyes of social media algorithms, a nipple is more dangerous than a conspiracy theory. We live in a world where a painting of Adam and Eve could be too risqué. But, a cat video can go viral in minutes. It’s as if the Mona Lisa would have to wear a turtleneck. It would be to avoid offending delicate sensibilities. Leonardo da Vinci must be rolling in his grave—or at least updating his privacy settings.
We can’t expect algorithms to have the sophisticated taste of an art historian. After all, their job is to keep us safe from the scandalous sight of… an elbow? Yes, we have censored elbows. This shows that algorithms have serious commitment issues with human bodies. Have you ever wondered why people refer to a chicken breast as white meat? A euphemism in the nineteenth century by those too genteel to use the word breast.
The irony, of course, is that the very platforms that expunge these artistic expressions are the same ones that thrive on art and creativity. They host digital galleries of memes, fan art, and stunning photos. But, a sketch like Michelangelo’s sends them into a puritanical panic. Imagine telling Botticelli to put a towel over Venus. Good luck with that clam shell!
The best part is the funny prudishness. It has caused a culture of workarounds. Artists have become modern-day Picassos of pixelation. They censor their own work with well-placed fruit, foliage, or, in a pinch, a rubber duck. It’s a creative rebellion against an algorithmic overlord. The overlord seems to have the taste of a broken Roomba.
So what’s the takeaway from this absurd dance between art and censorship? it’s that art, in all its naked glory, continues to push boundaries and provoke thought—even if that thought is, “Why does this stick figure need to wear pants?” As artists, we adapt, we persevere, and we continue to create, even if our masterpieces occasionally have to hide behind a strategically placed houseplant.
In the end, the joke might just be on the algorithms. For every deleted post, a dozen more emerge, each one a testament to the resilience of art and the human spirit. And who knows? Maybe one day, the web gatekeepers will relax their grip. Then, we can all appreciate the beauty of the human form, including elbows, without worrying about getting banned.
Until then, keep drawing, keep posting, and remember: the fig leaf emoji is your friend.
Sources for further investigation (no stars or bars)
https://visual-artists.org/resources/how-to-avoid-being-banned-on-social-media
https://www.news24.com/citypress/news/how-girlie-mag-scope-pushed-our-boundaries-20181126
The backlash to social media censorship of nudity in art has been significant and multifaceted. Here’s a detailed look at the reactions and implications of this practice:
• Artistic Suppression:
• Many artists have experienced personal and professional hardships due to the suppression and erasure of their work on social media platforms 2.
• The censorship has been particularly challenging for photographers and other artists whose work includes depictions of the human form, especially when it comes to nudity 2.
• Gender Disparities:
• There’s a noticeable disparity in how nudity is treated across genders, with women’s nipples being censored while male nipples are not, leading to a state of control that has concerning repercussions for artists and marginalized groups 2.
• Legal and Policy Issues:
• Laws and policies regarding nudity and censorship have been questioned and challenged, highlighting issues related to property rights, freedom of expression, and equality .
• For instance, a federal judge stopped Seattle from enforcing its anti-graffiti law, calling it overly broad, which raises questions about how such laws are enforced and whether they violate the First Amendment .
• Cultural Impact:
• The censorship has raised questions about the value of art and its role in society, as well as the potential for self-expression and creative freedom within the digital realm 1.
• Technological Solutions:
• Some artists have turned to technological solutions, such as using stickers or other methods, to circumvent censorship and assert their right to display their nudity without fear of erasure or suppression 2.
• Public Support and Activism:
• There has been a visible shift in public opinion and acceptance, partly influenced by increased visibility on social media, which has led to changes in how certain forms of nudity are treated in public spaces and perceptions of what constitutes acceptable behavior or imagery 2.
• Corporate Responsibility:
• Companies like Instagram, owned by Meta, have faced criticism for their content moderation practices, which some argue are biased and unfair, particularly towards women and marginalized groups 2.
In conclusion, the backlash to social media censorship of nudity in art reflects a broader societal conversation around the value of artistic expression, the impact of technology on creativity, and the ongoing struggle for equality and fairness in the digital landscape.
