Here, a serious series in two images.





The discussion begins with the concept of deviantART itself. This is what originally drew me to the site, these words from dA Policy: deviantART is an expansive, worldwide community of artists of every age, and every nationality who create works spanning every medium, every subject and every level of talent and skill.

Originally, I joined dA to share my poetry ... and still do through my other account. Though I soon found my life merging with some of the outstanding Art I was uncovering here and the path of self-exploration my life was taking me on began to include expression through Artistic Nude Photography. Of late I've found more and more commentary to be unworthy of this venue.
Now, in addition to that I have heard from more than a few of my dear dA friends that commentary on their posted Artistic Nudes almost always includes unnecessary content, in particular, sexist comments.

While I am the first to say that the artist and model should Never take personally any remarks about their work - because the viewer's interpretation is completely outside their control, let's consider 'context'.

I return to the fact that this 'venue' is appropriate for Art ... and Artistic interpretation and commentary of that Art. The venue must be the 'context'!

This is Not MySpace; This is Not a dating site; PERIOD - end of point!


So let's add some other elements to the discussion:

What defines Art as Art?

-according to Princeton University: the products of human creativity
-according to the American Heritage Dictionary: any of various creative forms of expression
-according to the Online Etymology Dictionary: Greek: arti "just" & artios "complete"// Armenian: arnam "make"// German: art "manner, mode"
Also: Fine arts: "those which appeal to the mind and the imagination" first recorded 1767
What does Critique really mean?

-according to the American Heritage Dictionary: A critical review or commentary, especially one dealing with works of art or literature.
-according to the Online Etymology Dictionary: Origin: 1575–85 - from: Latin: criticus//Greek: kritikós skilled in judging (adj.). <u.critic (n.), equiv. to Greek: krt(és) judge, umpire & (kr(nein) to separate, decide

What are dA's policies on commentary?

specifically it reads: Prohibited commentary is typically considered to be inherently disrespectful, aggressive, or otherwise abusive.

We must insist that you refrain from comments which are racist, bigoted, or which otherwise offensively target a philosophy or religion. In addition we ask that our members avoid making offensive remarks based on gender or sexual preference and that you do not make any remark, comment or critique which is intended to be a direct insult to an individual, group, or genre of artwork. Hate propaganda is met with zero tolerance. Comments which are overly aggressive, personally insulting or needlessly abusive are also prohibited.


although i prefer the clarity included in the section relating to Forums, and certainly believe it applies to all commentary as well. It reads: We encourage interactivity and we allow comments to be either positive or negative in nature providing that they remain constructive and promote a worthwhile dialogue. We insist that forum threads adhere to the same standard set forth for deviation, scrapbook, and writing submissions in terms of what is considered acceptable subject matter (i.e. no racist threads, no sexual discussions, etc).
It is important to remember to be as clear in your intent as possible while communicating on the internet. Text communications do not afford a clear representation of sarcasm. Please use common sense when posting to avoid confusion.


What is 'inappropriate commentary'?

Well ... that really is the question here! I am not suggesting that viewers should not comment unless they have an indepth interpretation or critique to share ... there are plenty of times when time constraints or other matters allow for little more than telling the artist that I've enjoyed or appreciated their work. However I do find it absolutely unnecessary to share a comment about the model's or the image's sexuality, I do not need to know that someone is turned on by an image - refer to context. If I was interested in that sort of commentary I would certainly have chosen a different venue for posting my work!!!
I find any such remarks sexist and very inappropriate.
So I am very interested in hearing your thoughts on the subject.

What is 'sexist'?

-according to Dictionary.com: –adjective 1. pertaining to, involving, or fostering sexism: a sexist remark; sexist advertising.
–noun 2. a person with sexist attitudes or behavior.

What does 'Concept' mean?

-according to Roget's Thesaurus: Part of Speech: noun
Definition: idea
Synonyms: abstraction, apprehension, approach, big idea, brain wave, brainchild, conceit, conception, conceptualization, consideration, hypothesis, image, impression, intellection, notion, perception, slant, supposition, theory, thought, twist, view, wienie, wrinkle
Antonyms: concrete, percept, sensation
**I find the Antonyms poignant!!**
-according to Online Etymology Dictionary: 1556, from Latin: conceptum "draft, abstract,"
-according to the American Heritage Dictionary: a directly conceived or intuited object of thought.

What is 'Context'?

-according to Roget's Thesaurus: Part of Speech: noun
Definition: circumstances
Synonyms: ambience, background, conditions, connection, framework, lexicon, relation, situation, substance, text, vocabulary
-according to American Heritage Dictionary: The circumstances in which an event occurs; a setting.
-according to Online Etymology Dictionary: Middle English from Latin contextus (from past participle of contexere), to join together : com-, com- + texere, to weave


Lastly
What is the role of 'Nude' in Art?
-according to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (online): The nude is classic, timeless, elemental, primal, and universal. Because we are all creatures of our own nakedness, it is the subject of ultimate empathy. And yet in the hands of an artist, that fleeting, imperfect, and fragile package that carries all of our souls gains a noble immortality and perfection that transcends its mere physicality.

<div align="center">
And some wonderful Quotes for contemplation:

Beauty is form contemplated without desire. (Eoin de Leastar)

There is no art without contemplation. (Robert Henri)

Realism and Naturalism rely mostly on the eye of the flesh. Abstract, conceptual and surrealistic art rely mostly on the eye of the mind. Great works of art rely on the eye of contemplation, the eye of the spirit. (Alex Grey)

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. (William Wordsworth)

Creativity is dynamic, it asserts life, frees the human spirit, conquers mental lassitude and illness, and makes real the outrageous potential of the universal imagination. (Robert Genn)

Life is raw material. We are artisans. We can sculpt our existence into something beautiful, or debase it into ugliness. It's in our hands. (Cathy Better)

A work of art is the unique result of a unique temperament. (Oscar Wilde)

Obstacles cannot crush me. Every obstacle yields to stern resolve. He who is fixed to a star does not change his mind. (Leonardo da Vinci)

A man paints with his brains and not with his hands. (Michelangelo)

Images also help me find and realise ideas. I look at hundreds of very different, contrasting images and I pinch details from them, rather like people who eat from other people’s plates. (Francis Bacon)

The pain passes, the beauty remains. (Pierre-Auguste Renoir)

I do not literally paint that table, but the emotion it produces upon me. (Henri Matisse)

The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls. (Pablo Picasso)

The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead.. his eyes are closed.
(Albert Einstein)

True art takes note not merely of form but also of what lies behind. (Mahatma Gandhi)

Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which there divines the spirit of which Nature herself is animated. (Auguste Rodin)</div>