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Rambling With Resnick
Hey Kids, Let's Open A Pandora's Box...
Why should it be so difficult to say that no nudes is sometimes
good nudes?
By Mason Resnick
I know I'm about to dunk myself in deep doo-doo for what I am about to write.
I fully expect to get blasted for what I'm about to say (but if you blast in newsgroups, please be sure to get B&W World's URL right...http://www.photogs.com/bwworld).
Deep breath. OK. Here goes.
It has always been an unwritten policy here in Black & White World to avoid linking to nudity of any kind. Occasionally we've let one or two slip in, but as time has gone on we've become more and more convinced that keeping this a nudity-free site is the right thing, and have therefore become more vigilant. And now it's a written policy: we will not knowingly link to sites that contain to nudity in our most popular section, the top ten List.
Breaking With Historical Precedent
I know the arguments justifying nude photography: not only is the human body an essential part of our being, it is also a great vehicle for showing one's prowess in photographing form and light. It is an intrinsic part of western culture. What would art history be if it weren't for the nude? Would we censor Michealangelo for chiseling David, or Raphael for his chiariscuro-filled cherubs? What about Delacroix and his elongated ladies? In photography, there's Edward Weston's series of his son Brett (sure to get him arrested in this day and age), nudes by Imogen Cunningham, Jody Dater, even Cartier-Bresson and Elliott Erwitt. The examples are countless.
In other words, nudity has earned its place in the annals of photographic history. Therefore, it should not be kept out of Black & White World.
But out it stays. Here's why:
I have found that if there is no nudity on a web site, nobody misses it. Next month will be Black & White World's 4th Anniversary (!) and in the entire time I've only had one email complaining that there should be links to nudes. You see it's very simple. There is so much fantastic photography out there that needs exposure and so many other places you could go for nude photography that it never made much sense for Black & White World to link to nude photography sites. Take a look at this month's List. People are doing great work and thanks to the web, finding a place to publish it. Giving such sites publicity is one of the reasons Black & White World exists.
I am gratified that students--especially grade school and high school students--visit Black & White World often, and a side benefit of the no-nudes policy is that this particular audience can come here and not be made to sift through material that may make them feel uncomfortable or lead them in an inappropriate direction.
Then there's that finnicky legal issue: is it Porn? I don't know and frankly, that side of it never really concerned me. The law keeps on changing anyway.
A Public Expression of Modesty
Finally, and most controversially, there's the issue of modesty. There is a wonderful book called Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore? Reclaiming Intimacy, Modesty, And Sexuality by Manis Friedman. The gist of the book is that many of the ills of our society can be traced to the fact that our culture looks down on modesty and encourages public displays of the human body, through modes of dress, what you read in magazines and advertising, as a form of self expression. People are less likely to blish because things that would have made us blush a generation ago are now part of popular culture. The book goes on to encourage readers to reserve healthy enjoyment of their bodies and their sexuality for their private lives, and that true freedom comes from public expressions of modesty. I like this concept.
So, you could say that the no-nudes policy is my expression of personal freedom, a public expression of modesty.
Because it is a free society, you are of course free to disagree and post sites containing nude photography and call it Art. And nobody will stop you from submitting them to search engines and indexes that welcome your work. There's even a Black & White photography forum that lets users post nude photos. Just keep in mind that submitting your URL to B&W World will be a waste of time. And for those who are looking, there are plenty of places to find nude photography on line. Not here.
Still feel like I've singlehandedly signalled the downfall of modern (or post-modern) culture? Feel free to go to the Creativity, Etc. Forum and offer your response. Remember--keep the blast limited to the ideas, personal attacks will be deleted or edited out as appropriate.
A New Feature
If you've visited our homepage since October 1, you may have noticed something new: Out of This World, a list of links to other sites with a shared B&W-oriented topic. Every month we will choose a topic (this month it's pinhole photography) and link to a bunch of relevant outside sites. Why do this? To add to the site's functionality and to further improve its mission to be the primary source for Black & White Photography on the web. I hope you enjoy this new feature.
About the author: Mason Resnick, the editor and publisher of Black & White World and now a contributor to PhotoHighway.Com, did not write this Ramble in his skivvies, despite the rumors. You can send fan mail to him at bwworld@mindspring.com.