25 + 38 points
Create Art "Under the Influence" by rongo rongo
May 1st, 2012 10:51 AM
Quick summary: No drugs. Various naked people.
Background: What does it mean to you when someone looks at you? Do you feel flattered? Embarrassed? Objectified? Threatened? I thought it was interesting that so many paintings or drawings in museums have nothing to say about how the model felt to be the object of the artist's and audience's gaze. Some traditional poses actually put the audience in the role of voyeur; for example, by posing the model as an innocent caught unaware as she steps out of the bath. To me, that feels creepy. There's no point in complaining about someone else's art; better to create something yourself. So here is my exploration of the experience of making art, under the influence of social norms and expectations --- an influence which is ubiquitous, yet often invisible. I wanted to find out what it means to be the model and the artist, and how that experience is shaped by the influence of cultural messages about sexuality, attractiveness, beauty, and modesty.
For this project, I discussed a lot of questions on these topics with a number of friends, and then asked individuals to participate as nude models while I sketched them, with the option of also reversing roles. My friends and I are a bit on the nerdy side. Probably 90% of the people I know are computer programmers, and we're in our 30's and 40's. Typical get-togethers involve board games and healthy snacks...so this was a real departure from normal activities.
My pre-drawing discussion questions (feel free to add your own answers in the comments to this task):
I am interested in drawing people and asking them about the experience of posing nude. I would make a few quick sketches of you, which would not be identifiable because I can't draw faces that quickly with any level of detail.
1. Would you be willing pose for me as a nude model? How do you feel about being asked?
2. If not, why? What aspects of the idea make you uncomfortable? Being looked at? Being looked at by a woman? Being looked at by me, personally? Or because there would be a drawing produced that other people could look at?
3. If yes, would you be willing to pose for other people? Would it matter if the artist was male or female? If it was an individual artist, or a group of people in an art class? If you knew the artist or if they were a stranger?
My post-drawing discussion questions:
1. Was that what you thought it would be like? How did you feel? Anything surprising?
2. Would you mind if other people saw these drawings?
3. How do you feel about the way you look?
4. How do you feel about people looking at you?
Background: What does it mean to you when someone looks at you? Do you feel flattered? Embarrassed? Objectified? Threatened? I thought it was interesting that so many paintings or drawings in museums have nothing to say about how the model felt to be the object of the artist's and audience's gaze. Some traditional poses actually put the audience in the role of voyeur; for example, by posing the model as an innocent caught unaware as she steps out of the bath. To me, that feels creepy. There's no point in complaining about someone else's art; better to create something yourself. So here is my exploration of the experience of making art, under the influence of social norms and expectations --- an influence which is ubiquitous, yet often invisible. I wanted to find out what it means to be the model and the artist, and how that experience is shaped by the influence of cultural messages about sexuality, attractiveness, beauty, and modesty.
For this project, I discussed a lot of questions on these topics with a number of friends, and then asked individuals to participate as nude models while I sketched them, with the option of also reversing roles. My friends and I are a bit on the nerdy side. Probably 90% of the people I know are computer programmers, and we're in our 30's and 40's. Typical get-togethers involve board games and healthy snacks...so this was a real departure from normal activities.
My pre-drawing discussion questions (feel free to add your own answers in the comments to this task):
I am interested in drawing people and asking them about the experience of posing nude. I would make a few quick sketches of you, which would not be identifiable because I can't draw faces that quickly with any level of detail.
1. Would you be willing pose for me as a nude model? How do you feel about being asked?
2. If not, why? What aspects of the idea make you uncomfortable? Being looked at? Being looked at by a woman? Being looked at by me, personally? Or because there would be a drawing produced that other people could look at?
3. If yes, would you be willing to pose for other people? Would it matter if the artist was male or female? If it was an individual artist, or a group of people in an art class? If you knew the artist or if they were a stranger?
My post-drawing discussion questions:
1. Was that what you thought it would be like? How did you feel? Anything surprising?
2. Would you mind if other people saw these drawings?
3. How do you feel about the way you look?
4. How do you feel about people looking at you?
Original and well thought out. I love it when you task :D