60-day returns • free shipping on USA orders $129+
What about nudity in art?
- This topic has 19 replies, 12 voices, and was last updated 11 years, 6 months ago by
.
- Posts
I am uncomfortable with many of the art books that our library has to offer because there is SO much nudity. Is this acceptable for children to look at? How do you decide what is acceptable and what is not? Would love to hear some opinions on this as my husband and I disagree on this topic.
*head in the sand* That’s why I buy the SCM artpacks!!! I don’t have to make that decision right now! *L*
My oldest is 9yo. And honestly, we have discussed nudity in art. Mostly because last year we did the Renaissance. Really, those people saw beauty in the naked human body. I’m sure some of it was because they weren’t thinking about modesty or what God wanted them to do. It’s a great opportunity to throw in the reason why you want your children to cover up/not wear tight clothes/ etc.
The human body is beautiful, as designed by God. However, God designed it to be enjoyed by two people – the husband and the wife.
I wonder what would have happened if Eve had children before she ate the fruit. Would they have been clothed??? Hmmmm. Someday when I have nothing else to think about I’ll wonder some more on that thought.
That’s neither here nor there. And those are my $.02
Growing up we went to the National Museum of Art in DC. We would giggle from time to time, but my parents did not stop us from viewing the nudes in art.
I guess I look at how “tastefully” it is done. Not all nudes are tasteful or artistic to me, but to others they are beautiful and well done. We have been to the art museum with our kids (7, 5 & 2) and they tend to not even really notice or say “they have no clothes” and we talk to them, but it does not bother them.
So not a lot of help. I would suggest if they see nudity in art to talk about it. Why art of the time it was common, cultural differences, style of art… but in the end no 2 families are the same. Good luck with the decision making process.
I took 6 art history classes in college. I think that the appropriateness of the nudity depends a lot on the time period and what is depicted. I think that we will a kid it for a while but at the same time at least renaissance nudes give our children realistic body images compared to today’s models. I would rather my kids see amazing works of art with some strategically placed fig leaves or breasts exposed (they see me nursing anyway) than flip through the latest copy of vogue.
I’m in the “tasteful is okay” category. I’ve yet to be bothered by a classic sculpture or painting, but I’d probably find quite a bit of modern art unacceptable. I think like anything else, you have to decide what’s best for your family.
We haven’t used any unclothed paintings for picture study, but they have seen them in some of their art books. There are so many pictures that it seems best to wait a bit on the more questionable pictures.
I don’t think we will purposefully use any prints with nudity for our picture study but we won’t be markering over pictures either. Tatsefully done is not offensive to me or dh so we’re ok with that. Of course there is also a difference between one or two pictures like that in a library book or half the pictures having nudity.
We studied Michelangelo our first year. We studied “David” and many other nude works. They are obviously not done in a sexual manner. Michelangelo’s works celebrate the human form.
I don’t want to be overly-Puritan about it as if there is something shameful about the human body.
If you are uncomfortable with it, then don’t. If you allow it then regret it, too late. If you don’t allow and regret it you can always change the exposure to broaden. I personally believe God’s standard on modesty is the only one to consider, ultimately as a parent I am fully responsible to God for the exposures I allow in my home. I play it safe and teach my children why we don’t participate in these ‘arts’. Considering the rise in nude addictions (p*rn) for both boys and girls and also the low self image of girls appearance might be other factors to consider.
Another consideration– we have only daughters….(ages 9,7,5,3) so I was really glad that SCM artpack didn’t include all of Michelangelo’s David. *L*
We’re also dairy farmers. Since my 9yo loves to be outside, she’s seen what happens between a bull and a cow. And just two days ago, I explained the birds and the bees. (*sigh* that age already!!) The main thing is to always answer their questions until they’re satisfied. Our girls keep questioning us until they get all the info they can handle….it’s been a learning experience.
I do have to say, that for a farmer, my husband does a pretty poor job of explaining!! *L* I always tease him about how he’s the farmer and grew up with all this sex ed out in the open and yet I’m the one he sends the girls to. I’m glad he does, and it doesn’t bother me, but it makes me laugh!
LIke the other posters said, there’s definitely art meant to be art and “art” meant to be provocative. I’m so glad it’s us as homeschooling parents guiding our children and not their peers!
Thank you all for your responses. I was feeling a little panicky about it, like it might be harmful for them to see it. I’m not ashamed of the human body, I know that it is created by God to be something beautiful, but also want to teach them that it is something private that they keep as a gift only for their future husband’s eyes.
Valle, that’s exactly what you need to tell your children. And as they ask for more detail, tell them what they need to hear. Better to hear from you than from anyone else.
When you’re in a circumstance where you’re viewing art-nudity, you can point out the beauty – symmetry, etc., how the artist did this or that; and always point back to honoring God. Perhaps the artist wasn’t honoring God – but we can honor God by appreciating the beauty and protecting the beauty.
“I personally believe God’s standard on modesty is the only one to consider,”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This is how we approach it also. I find that God gave Adam and Eve clothing for a reason.
We always purchase our own art books or calendars so that I can ‘black out’ private parts. There are some paintings that are otherwise lovely and that I want the children to know…but without the nudity. I am excited about doing the SCM art portfolios next year – I know I can trust the content.
Not trying to start anything but God did not make Adam and Eve clothing, they made them selves clothes after they sinned.
“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” (Genesis 2:25 NKJV)
Kayla, look now at Gen 3: 7. It tells us that then their eyes were opened and, yes as you mentioned, they did sew fig leaves together beacause they were ashamed of their nakedness at this point. Verse 10 and 11 shows us this. Then look at verse 21 of the same chapter. Here it says: “Unto Adam and to his wife also did the Lord God make coats of skins, and cloth them.” This was a more suitable and lasting colthing. This tells me that because they now knew sin, God was helping them to avoid it. Before they knew sin clothing was not necessary.
- The topic ‘What about nudity in art?’ is closed to new replies.