When is art Art? And when is art Obscene?

[KillaCrab]

Is obscenity relative or are there rules that binds it?

When is an action or subject or "art" obscene or when is it really "ART"?

[bishop]

Pareng killa..

This is a Catch 22.

Art is a form of expression. Expression is relative to the individual.

So to qualify Art to a specific definition, isolates it to the definition of one. Then by default, this ceases to be Art. As it is no longer a form of relative expression.

Even as to what is to be considered "obscene" is also a relative interpretation. What is "obscene" to one may not be considered "obscene" to another.

[suave]

Ang obscenity ay parang beauty....

It's in the eye of the beholder.

[FreyaLuna]

My friends and I have been mulling this over for several years, and up to now the lines between obscenity and art are hazy. I suppose -- and am just spitballing here -- that a piece of work may be considered obscene if:

- It depicts or describes sexual acts or behavior that are offensive to a particular community, as based on that community's (or country's) laws.
- It provokes lustful thoughts in the community it is shown to, based on that group's standards.
- It presents little or no artistic, literary, political, social, or scientific value. In other words, it doesn't do much but sexually titillate the audience without offering any other aspect of intellectual enlightenment whatsoever.

Since both art and obscenity are highly subjective, it is still hard to tell where one ends and the other begins. This is particularly true of those who apply unconventional means to presenting their message (e.g. Mideo Cruz). However, there are also those who attempt to pass off obviously intentionally pornographic pieces of work as 'art,' when it clearly meets all of the aforementioned criteria for obscenity (e.g. Seiko Films).

[KillaCrab]

here is the picture that got me thinking...

[ironman]

art vs obscenity, depende sa culture or nakalakihan ng tao, meron obscene para iba, para naman sa iba ay art ito. tulad nalang nang nangyari sa poleteismo, art para sa ilan, para naman sa karamihan ay hindi.

[voltaire]

The boundaries of art is defined by a collective who appraises certain artifacts as works of art or not. If a certain opus is accepted and acclaimed, then it is considered a work of art. Labeling it as "obscene" or "scandalous" in sexual or political terms is as subjective as those people in the know who label it as works of art.

Sometimes, all it takes for anything to be considered a "work of art" is a respected figure in the Art Circle and a grand pedestal in a renowned art gallery. Take for example this work of Marcel Duchamp called The Fountain:



nice, isnt it?

[KillaCrab]

is art like morality?

[bishop]

is art like morality?

IMO, 'no' it is not.

Art is an expression of one's self. That expression can be one's feelings, thoughts, or emotions.

An exampe of this, is when someone writes and sings a song.

The song can be a number of themes: happiness, sadness, story of one's life, story of another's person, etc.

A person's point of view of morality can sometimes manifest itself into the artform. This is un-avoidable. But this does not equate Art as ultimately one's reflection of morality.

Because what if the song written is purely instrumental. Life Jazz or an Oppus. These would not reflect the person's belief, but it would mirror his 'being' during the time he wrote the song.

---------- Post added at 06:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:32 AM ----------

here is the picture that got me thinking...

Again, pareng killa, IMO I do not find this obscene at all.

And my basis for this is in history.

What would be the difference in the above to Michealangelo's 'David'?:



Or a Renaissance classic:

[XellosMoon]

why do both have to be different? Obscenity can be a powerful form of artistry.

[holydevil]

Depende yan sa taong mag-interpret on how the subject was made and ofcourse depende din yan sa gumawa ng piece on it was intended to be.halimbawa yung "david" ni Michaelangelo with an erect penis?how can a person interpret that?

[nightcomer]

An art becomes an obscene when it leads to commit evil.

[KillaCrab]

@nc

so any art that depicts war and or promotes a "nationalistic" war or promotes a war for a cause is evil?

[bishop]

An art becomes an obscene when it leads to commit evil.

Sir,

Site one particular instance wherein a person commited an "act of evil" after looking at an art.

Example:

A person looks at Michaellangelo's 'David' statue, and afterward went and kill another person.

Can you site such an instance?

[voltaire]

Sir,

Site one particular instance wherein a person commited an "act of evil" after looking at an art.

Example:

A person looks at Michaellangelo's 'David' statue, and afterward went and kill another person.

Can you site such an instance?

Pareng bish, if I may,
There are certain works of art such as propaganda art that were used to heighten certain emotions. These type of stunning visuals were used extensively by Nazi Propagandists during World War II to rally their citizenry to their cause. Here are examples: