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Crowds Amused by Naked Balloon Sculpture [what is art?]
AP via MyWay News ^
| 5/10/07
| Colleen Barry
Posted on 05/10/2007 3:11:11 PM PDT by verum ago
MILAN, Italy (AP) - It would take one very large fig leaf to restore modesty to Milan's main park after the installation of a 70-foot floating sculpture of a naked man. The balloon self-portrait by Polish artist Pawel Althamer has been hovering outside the Renaissance Palazzina Appiani in Parco Sempione since Monday, drawing second takes, amused looks and some reprobation about exposing children to nudity.
[snip]
"This wouldn't fly in the U.S.," observed 31-year-old American Adriana Spatafora, an English language teacher passing by.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
TOPICS: Arts/Photography
KEYWORDS: art; balloon; italy; naked
Yeah, I know, it's a somewhat dubious post. But it raised a few questions in my mind that I'm interested in getting to know some FReepers' opinions on:
1) What is art, and what is obscenity? Can something be both?
2) Would this fly in the US?
3)Hypothetical question: if your answer to #2 is no, then suppose it's a balloon depicting a naked Jesus. Does your answer change?
4) What is appropriate for display in public places (what should be kept in a private art gallery?)? Who decides and how? Is it a matter of free speech?
and finally, another hypothetical question:
5) If something is agreed upon by a town's residents as being obscene but attracts visitors (and therefore revenue for the town), is it in the town's best interest to allow it or even subsidize it? Does it depend on the magnitude of the material benefit to the town, or is it always/never okay? (Is it a matter of principal or degree?)
1
posted on
05/10/2007 3:11:14 PM PDT
by
verum ago
To: verum ago
don’t even want to know where they blow the air in. nope.
2
posted on
05/10/2007 3:13:19 PM PDT
by
Rio
(Don't make me come over there....)
To: verum ago
This thread is worthless without.....
3
posted on
05/10/2007 3:13:27 PM PDT
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
To: verum ago
If thats art, the Macy’s parade must be heaven.
4
posted on
05/10/2007 3:14:08 PM PDT
by
toast
To: tet68
To: verum ago
![](http://ak.imgfarm.com/images/ap/ITALY_NAKED_SCULPTURE.sff_MIL102_20070510094558.jpg)
Imagine the size of the woman who bought this blow up toy!
6
posted on
05/10/2007 3:16:29 PM PDT
by
Reaganesque
(Romney 2008)
To: tet68
This thread is worthless without.....
see post #5
actually, I like posting my threads without pictures just to see how long it takes for people to compulsively post them. And to see how many times the exact same picture gets posted.
7
posted on
05/10/2007 3:17:11 PM PDT
by
verum ago
(The Iranian Space Agency: set phasers to jihad!)
To: verum ago
Reminds me of the time...I went to the L.A. Art museum with my little 5 year old sister....and my mom.
My mom and I both noticed this statue of a naked man doing a handstand at about the same time...and my little sister screams out.."LOOK AT THE BIG BALLS!" as she runs by us...to a huge modern art sculpture of a racked set of billiard balls.
Twas funny....
8
posted on
05/10/2007 3:18:24 PM PDT
by
Osage Orange
(Every attempt to make war easy & safe will result in humiliation and disaster.-W. T. Sherman)
To: verum ago
Well, I suppose it's art in the same sense that singing bawdy songs in a tavern is music.
The fact that so many people have no notion of what is fine art and can't distinguish it from the pedestrian or even from depictions that used to identify brothels is just another proof that Western Civilization is in an advance state of decay. For centuries people had no problem telling the difference.
To: verum ago
Since it’s totally subjective, I’m sure it can be both...but probably not to the same person.
No
No
Depends on where and when and what
10
posted on
05/10/2007 3:24:53 PM PDT
by
stuartcr
(Everything happens as God wants it to.....otherwise, things would be different.)
To: abner
![](http://www.f-troop.net/images/frank.jpg)
IT IS BALLOON Ping
To: verum ago
Why would they make a balloon sculpture of Hillery! laying on her back?
My eyes aren’t as good as they once were. but I’d know those
saggy breasts anywhere.
12
posted on
05/10/2007 3:29:55 PM PDT
by
tet68
( " We would not die in that man's company, that fears his fellowship to die with us...." Henry V.)
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