Am I a 40 year old Internet Whore ?
What does fine-art nude modelling have to do with sex ? We were all born nude after all. So what is it about nude modelling that tempts fine-art nude models to call their work porn ?
Yes, once again we are in the endless argument of “Is fine art-nude porn ?” Which I have posted on before. But now I want to consider it from the model’s point of view.
Consider the stunning Iona Lynn who has set up a blog called Integrated Internet Whoredom . Now I really love Iona’s work. Beautiful empowering images, of the Art Nude genre mostly, which have nothing to do with sex, porn or even posing provocatively. So why refer to whoredom ?
Perhaps I have no sense of humour. Yes, it's irony. Yes, it’s only a label, but to me, this will attract men looking for only sex, rather than repel them.
I’ve looked at many nude models’ portfolios, and some of their self descriptions just don’t fit their modelling style. Why refer to oneself as a sex worker or whore, just because the image is of a naked woman ? Just because you model fine-art nude doesn’t mean you are doing it to give viewers a sexual kick (although some guys do, no doubt; but to look at fine-art nude images for sexual kicks alone must be the most boring and non-sexually gratifying past-time known to mankind)
From a modelling point of view, surely giving yourself these labels is just pandering to men leering at you and finding you sexually attractive ? Playing the system ? What about other people (both men and women) who are looking at the images for Art rather than sex ?
I know well–respected fine-art nude photographers such as Marcus Ranum often call their work fine-art porn, in order to head off criticism that they are just shooting porn. If you call your work porn, then you are “up front” about what you do. I’m a pornographer, so anything I do shouldn’t surprise you. It’s kind of like saying “publish and be damned” or “expect the worst from me, and then you can’t label me or my images as being more depraved”. It’s giving the witty finger to those members of the general public who find nude photography outside their comfort zone.
I grow weary of this art-nude vs porn debate. In one respect, who gives a shit about labels as long as the images are beautiful, sexually or otherwise ? It’s all Art. Why does the motive of the viewer matter ? Do you actually care who sees (or buys) your images or how they judge you?
Well, in theory it matters depending on what market you want to reach. Labels of this nature may send the wrong message, and might possibly put off potential Art Galleries and Fine-Art magazines from featuring you. (I am thus assuming that you’d like to be featured in art-nude galleries and magazines, which might not be the case). On the other hand, it might attract magazines with a more sexual content, which might be more up your street.
From a nude internet model’s point of view, I guess the questions you have to ask yourself are:
1) Do you care about what happens to your images ?
2) Do you care about who sees your images and how they judge you ?
3) What are your career aspirations with regard to nude photography ?
4) What sort of market are you aiming for ?
Note I am speaking from the point of view as an ex-studio-fine-art nude model, who is contemplating which modelling direction to go in. Kind of like Candy’s Slippery Slope
Sexual posing sure is a lot more fun, and it makes more money (not to be trivialised). But if I pose sexually, and I have no control over what happens to my images, or how they are taken, before I know it I’ll be in “40+ UK Slapper Magazine” and crying myself to sleep every night.
So which market to choose ? How DO you choose ?
If I am in a studio, kneeling modestly on the floor, legs closed, staring off into space, the lighting falling in subtle ways so as to hide genitalia, then my B+W image would be classified fine-art nude. Brighten the lighting a bit, switch to colour, open your legs wide and put your hand between your legs (which takes about 10 seconds) and its instant porn.
Wham. I’m a 40 year old internet whore.
Rich wouldn't let me publish the image I had in mind for this post (on the grounds of good taste) so you'll have to make do with this one instead.
Yes, once again we are in the endless argument of “Is fine art-nude porn ?” Which I have posted on before. But now I want to consider it from the model’s point of view.
Consider the stunning Iona Lynn who has set up a blog called Integrated Internet Whoredom . Now I really love Iona’s work. Beautiful empowering images, of the Art Nude genre mostly, which have nothing to do with sex, porn or even posing provocatively. So why refer to whoredom ?
Perhaps I have no sense of humour. Yes, it's irony. Yes, it’s only a label, but to me, this will attract men looking for only sex, rather than repel them.
I’ve looked at many nude models’ portfolios, and some of their self descriptions just don’t fit their modelling style. Why refer to oneself as a sex worker or whore, just because the image is of a naked woman ? Just because you model fine-art nude doesn’t mean you are doing it to give viewers a sexual kick (although some guys do, no doubt; but to look at fine-art nude images for sexual kicks alone must be the most boring and non-sexually gratifying past-time known to mankind)
From a modelling point of view, surely giving yourself these labels is just pandering to men leering at you and finding you sexually attractive ? Playing the system ? What about other people (both men and women) who are looking at the images for Art rather than sex ?
I know well–respected fine-art nude photographers such as Marcus Ranum often call their work fine-art porn, in order to head off criticism that they are just shooting porn. If you call your work porn, then you are “up front” about what you do. I’m a pornographer, so anything I do shouldn’t surprise you. It’s kind of like saying “publish and be damned” or “expect the worst from me, and then you can’t label me or my images as being more depraved”. It’s giving the witty finger to those members of the general public who find nude photography outside their comfort zone.
I grow weary of this art-nude vs porn debate. In one respect, who gives a shit about labels as long as the images are beautiful, sexually or otherwise ? It’s all Art. Why does the motive of the viewer matter ? Do you actually care who sees (or buys) your images or how they judge you?
Well, in theory it matters depending on what market you want to reach. Labels of this nature may send the wrong message, and might possibly put off potential Art Galleries and Fine-Art magazines from featuring you. (I am thus assuming that you’d like to be featured in art-nude galleries and magazines, which might not be the case). On the other hand, it might attract magazines with a more sexual content, which might be more up your street.
From a nude internet model’s point of view, I guess the questions you have to ask yourself are:
1) Do you care about what happens to your images ?
2) Do you care about who sees your images and how they judge you ?
3) What are your career aspirations with regard to nude photography ?
4) What sort of market are you aiming for ?
Note I am speaking from the point of view as an ex-studio-fine-art nude model, who is contemplating which modelling direction to go in. Kind of like Candy’s Slippery Slope
Sexual posing sure is a lot more fun, and it makes more money (not to be trivialised). But if I pose sexually, and I have no control over what happens to my images, or how they are taken, before I know it I’ll be in “40+ UK Slapper Magazine” and crying myself to sleep every night.
So which market to choose ? How DO you choose ?
If I am in a studio, kneeling modestly on the floor, legs closed, staring off into space, the lighting falling in subtle ways so as to hide genitalia, then my B+W image would be classified fine-art nude. Brighten the lighting a bit, switch to colour, open your legs wide and put your hand between your legs (which takes about 10 seconds) and its instant porn.
Wham. I’m a 40 year old internet whore.
Rich wouldn't let me publish the image I had in mind for this post (on the grounds of good taste) so you'll have to make do with this one instead.
posted by Lin at 6:55 AM
3 Comments:
Excellent post. I mean, really excellent! Couldn't have said it better myself, at least from the photographer's viewpoint, and believe me I've tried.
Being a photographer and not a model, these questions weren't aimed at me, but I'm a contrarian like that and I actually have answers to most of them:
1) Do you care about what happens to your images?
Yes...and no. Yes, I care that they get seen, but if you mean do I care if people take them as art or as wank material -- no. The viewer is entitled to take from my images what they wish.
2) Do you care about who sees your images and how they judge you?
If I cared about how people judged my images I wouldn't make the images I do. Fear of judgment is the first hurdle for any artist to climb over.
3) What are your career aspirations with regard to nude photography?
This is obviously a trick question.
4) What sort of market are you aiming for?
There's a market for nude photography? Do tell.
I miss your blog Melvin!
Hope you post soon :-)
Lin
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home