Comments about ‘UVSC drafts nude-modeling rules’

If nudity is no big deal, then why can't students model?

On the other hand, if nude modeling is embarrasing, are non-students lower class or something.

By the way, at Snow College models are not nude; they are "undraped." :-P

I'm sure someone will call me "pollyanna" for saying this, but many schools do these classes with models who are nude, except for the genitalia and breasts. A man wearing just an athletic jock strap still reveals all the muscle groups and anatomy art students need to capture the essence of human appearance. There is no need for the genitalia to be displayed. The artist in the article who used Michelangelo's David as an example of the beauty of nude art misses the point. The David would have been a supreme work of art even had David's genitalia been in a loin cloth. There are no muscle groups around the genitalia, so what need is there for an artist to see and sketch them when rendering human form on canvas? The same is true of breasts. One can readily picture their form and appearance when covered by an athletic bra or similar covering.
The value of imaging the nude human body is evident in the field of medicine, but what great revelation comes to those who view nude art? The beauty of the human body and its complexity is obvious without any need for artists to interpret it for us.

"how important is Michelangleo's "David"? "take away the nude aspect and what do you have"?
Ummmmmmmm......decency?
If Michelangelo did it then it MUST be OK, right?

I was a nude model AND student when I was in college. I think this is "much ado about nothing" - and I think this type of action is likely to call more into question the "appropriateness" of nudes in art class. Too darn much political correctness going on here; grow up! Allow adults to make their own decisions; allow students to be hired if desired; don't treat models like "objects" and second class citizens by rules that only allow "outsiders who you don't know" be on the drawing platform.

enough said

I'm really disgusted with UVSC. This is one alum that will not be supporting them with my money.

I agree with this article. Drawing a nude person, and doing it well, is probably one of the most difficult things to do artistically. The human body-- all of the human body-- is an impressive work of art that it is difficult to replicate.

As an Art History major at the U, I laughed at the previous comments. David clothed would be "decency?" I hope you aren't serious. There is definite difference, especially in the art world, between nude and naked. Nude is appreciating the beauty and perfection (or imperfection) of the human body. It is human in the simplest form. Naked is more awkward, just someone unclothed.

We are not talking about naked. We are talking about nude. In most classical history paintings, the monumental nude is a crucial feature. Therefore, in learning art, it is important to learn how to draw, or sculpt, the nude.

"Human essence" can be captured in the face of a person, or even in just a single eye. But, we do not limit ourselves artistically in just that matter.

I couldn't agree with you more. I actually am a physician and an anatomist, and RARELY in medicine is it necessary to disrobe a patient completely. Even in relative trauma situations there is an important sense of modesty, and always that is the case in less acute settings.

All these simantics between Nude and Naked.

I am laughing at the people whose essential argument is that: "the human form is so challenging that alas, it is the only avenune we as artists reluctantly must ascend to hone our skills to the lofty heights of Michalangelo in our enlightened noble craft...." Bla! Bla! Bla! You mean there isn't anything else challenging to draw?

Listen People. You have the right to disrobe and have someone else paint, draw, take pictures of, you naked in umteen different private settings if you really want to spend your time like that.

But IT DOES NOT BELONG AS A FUNDED PROGRAM IN A PUBLIC, TAX SUPPORTED SCHOOL.

Thanks for the compliment. I am proud that rules of decency, modesty, chastity - safeguards to our young people and citizens at large - are alive and well to a greater degree in Utah County than other parts of the country.

One need only look to Spitzer and Clinton to realize there is nothing good that comes to a society who "disrobes" itself of its morals.

Call it whatever you want. Nude is the same thing as naked. And being naked is indecent. Why is it okay for a naked sculpture to be in a musuem, but I can not walk outside with a little sign on me which reads" I am art, appreciate me." If it is so good in a musuem then I should be allowed to share it with people outside of the musuem. I mean its not fair to shaft the poor who can't afford to pay to go see the art!

Moreover the arguement that the art crowd might be offended is lame to those that believe that nakedness is art. The arguement that it is offensive to everyone else is lame to the art crowd.

Ulitamtely speaking here one group must be right and the other wrong. There are absolutes in this world and for any who dare to oppose that fact you put yourself in the shoes of Fredrick Nietzsche. You may recall he said " God is dead so ANYTHING goes."


Really think about!

Legal Beagle- I support your views!

One has to wonder about the kind of world people like "Legal Beagle" live in, where genitalia and breasts have to be covered by jock straps. Reminds me of a Sunday School teacher I had a few years back that referred to the Venus DiMilo as the "pornography of the ancient world".

I know for a fact that nobody in Utah County has ever been nude.

Actually, you could probably do that, and get federal funding to boot! I don't know much about art, but I know what I like☺.

I have come to realize that Utah is full of Prudes. I think the people that get offended by Nude Models in Art Classes, are probably fat and look bad in the mirror.

Just because you get offended by your body, doesn't mean that its wrong. And for Legal dude... ya, I'd like to see David in a Jock Strap - it would make for great discussion as to the significance of what it represents.

So for all the Prude LDS individuals that judge others before themselves, Why don't you do something worth while and build someone or something up, instead of offering your shallow commentary and tear things down.

The reason you can't walk around outside nude but it is displayed in a museum is because of personal choice. Inside the museum the people are choosing to come in and see that Nude, outside you are choosing to force people to see you nude.
I am not an artist, I don't understand this, but I do realize that in all aspects of life people have things that are good and accepted in their arena and I accept nudes as a perfectly acceptable form of art. Artists painting or drawing nudes is their choice and why should we push our views on them, they aren't telling you that you can't let your spouse see you nude. Or maybe since the bathrooms at school are a public place then you shouldn't pull your pants down to use them. Or maybe the worst one of all is showering in a public place, such as the gym at the school, we had better all through a fit about these practices because letting someone see us "nude" is really against everything we know of!

I will send you all the petition to ban showering in public!

If you try and put funding to a school who does not have nude modeling, you will be hard pressed to find it.
BYU does not. But when my wife took courses there some professers pointed out 'private' drawing sessions that took place in art studios, and local museums that the students should attend.
And as for Jeremys comment earlier, about not donating. Odds are that he never donated anyway.

This is such a non-issue. Schools all over the nation both public and private have classes where the students sketch nudes. Why people are getting up-in-arms about this, I find it comical. Who cares? There's nothing inappropriate about this. If there were sexual activity involved, then it would be inappropriate but if it's merely modeling in a tasteful format for ART students, what's the issue? If you see this as indecency then you've got problems.

As for the rules defining who can and cannot model, this merely is to protect the college from any potential liability issues. It's all about risk management in a world full of litigation.

I told my wife. Sure we are drawing NAKED people but you can't believe how BORING it is!