Naked nymphs removed from Manchester art gallery

HAL9000

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-42904024

Apparently it’s not censorship; a representative says it’s raising questions about how art should be displayed... As far as I’m aware it’s normally displayed by hanging it on a wall in a gallery. I really can’t think of any real variations.

Also, If it’s not censorship then why remove the postcards from the gallery shop? Unless, perhaps you can ask for ‘something stronger’ from under the counter ;-)

I suspect the curator has an agenda. What say you?

richardhomer

Personally I’m sick and tired of people telling me what is and isn’t acceptable. There are many good things about my city - but this isn’t one of them....

ICBM

Ridiculous.

fields5069

"Tricky issues about gender...".

Er, both are represented in the painting.

freakboy1610

"And it's not about saying these things can't exist in a public gallery - it's about saying, maybe we just need to challenge the way these paintings have been read and enable them to speak in a different way."

webrthomson

ICBM said:

Ridiculous.

Yup - what has actually happened to this generation that they can't deal with anything in any way challenging to their view of the world? Did I miss a meeting or something because to me this all seems to be manufactured outrage over nothing.

vasselmeyer

It's pretty ridiculous, but at least they've given the public the opportunity to offer an opinion on what they've done.

Personally, I'm for how Warner Brothers have done it with Tom and Jerry. They haven't edited them at all, just put the following text before each cartoon:

“Tom and Jerry shorts may depict some ethnic and racial prejudices that were once commonplace in American society,” the disclaimer states. “Such depictions were wrong then and are wrong today.”

People can make up their own mind without cutting up cultural icons.

Clarky

it don't matter to me if this is censorship, some sort of political statement, trying to raise awareness of some sort of issue or something else I've not thought of..
it's just plain stupid...

I think too many people make or try to make far too much out of far too little..
the world is not without it's problems..
but this thing with the painting, girls at darts matches and F1 races is not exactly up at the top of the serious stuff to sort out list
seems that too many folks are making hobbies and careers out of being outraged

ThorpyFX

webrthomson said:

ICBM said:

Ridiculous.

Yup - what has actually happened to this generation that they can't deal with anything in any way challenging to their view of the world? Did I miss a meeting or something because to me this all seems to be manufactured outrage over nothing.

why do you assume its someone from this generation?

VimFuego

you will conform. resistance is futile.

Sassafras

I think it's a good idea.
It will stop men getting uncontrollably aroused and women won't be subject to crippling attacks of 'the vapours'.

Sassafras

"And it's not about saying these things can't exist in a public gallery - it's about saying, maybe we just need to challenge the way these paintings have been read and enable them to speak in a different way."

How are they going to do that if the paintings aren't on show?

Moe_Zambeek

Sassafras said:

"And it's not about saying these things can't exist in a public gallery - it's about saying, maybe we just need to challenge the way these paintings have been read and enable them to speak in a different way."

How are they going to do that if the paintings aren't on show?

They’re speaking in a muffled way from inside the store room....

guitarfishbay

This has been all over my Facebook feed for a while now.  An artist I know was there on the day it was removed...

To be honest at first I expected it to just be a publicity stunt type of thing, it's clearly evolved in to a bigger debate now.

ESBlonde

And all the great works of art that Hitler confiscated should now be destroyed because they are tained!

This discussion immediatly moved away from the 'me too' or modern  view of feminism to one of censorship and art - the two seem quite quite different, or is it just me.

JezWynd

VimFuego said:

you will conform. resistance is futile.

It's starting to seem that way. When people are sleeping in the streets it verges on tasteless to obsess over a painting in this way. Are we not allowed to admire the young female form anymore? It's one of nature's highlights.

axisus

Thank goodness that we have men in suits to think for us. Before you know it Artists with think they can be radical and edgy. I hope they have replaced it with something nice like a Maeve Binchy book cover.

beed84

This demonstrates that some numptees think they know better than everyone else. The painting had never caused issues before, so why now? And this ‘not censoring but reimagining’ rubbish might as well by synonymous with ‘we want you to think like we do’. Utter nonsense.

boogieman

webrthomson said:

ICBM said:

Ridiculous.

Yup - what has actually happened to this generation that they can't deal with anything in any way challenging to their view of the world? Did I miss a meeting or something because to me this all seems to be manufactured outrage over nothing.

I don’t think it’s to do with anyone from a particular generation. If you want to see naked people it’s never been easier than now, just click a few buttons on your phone or tap your tablet. This is all about someone wanting to be seen to be morally superior and/or wanting to take offence on the public's behalf. It is indeed ridiculous... I thought we’d left all this moral outrage over public art behind, in the Victorian era.  

Phil_aka_Pip

Dress all wimmin up in burqas! Stab with pitchforks and burn anyone who looks remotely attractive!

FFS!!

ICBM

boogieman said:

I thought we’d left all this moral outrage over public art behind, in the Victorian era.  

Which is, ironically, when the painting in question was painted...