Erica Gamester - Art and the Human Body

The human body has been one of the most notable and primal portrayals of art. It can be appreciated through many artistic means, such as sculpture, fashion, literature, and dance. Commonly, the female body is utilized in the realm of nude artwork for various purposes. However, there is a fine line between artwork and female objectification, which is often pushed by the media in recent decades.

 Feminist theory notes that female subordination is a relatively universal occurrence.  Some theorists have condensed this global issue due to women’s connotation to nature. Women are associated with submissiveness and giving life, (i.e. “mother nature.”). Meanwhile, men are more associated with culture, implying that they are more multifaceted and complex. While this argument is conceptual and recently challenged through the recent alteration of gender roles, it exemplifies the underlying dichotomy of the sexes as it manifests in occupational segregation, societal norms, rape culture, etc.

In recent news, Hugh Hefner recently passed away at the expired age of 91. His career, often referred to as a “sexual revolution,” was clouded by misogyny and sexual exploitation. However, the media tends to gloss over the testimonies of his ex-Playboy Bunnies who were drugged and assaulted within the mansion. On the contrary, they pay their respects to Hefner as a revered mogul who revolutionized the sex industry through the artwork within his magazine. Regardless on how available these appalling witness accounts were, Hefner was continuously portrayed as a man of distinction and nuance, reflecting the complexity of culture.

Some may argue that this female portrayal in Playboy is a certain type of modeling with aesthetics appealing to a certain audience. These suggestive images illicit emotion from the viewer, whether it is disgust or intrigue, as art is designed to.

While it’s banal to say, “art is in the eye of the beholder,” is there a line where art is drawn pertaining to the human body?