Why should Rodin's famous statue, "The Kiss", be allowed to be displayed in the BYU art exhibit of Rodin's work? There are several reasons
BYU paid for the ENTIRE collection, but did not adequately prepare themselves for what they were getting. Why should the students, who have studied and been looking forward for this once in a lifetime chance, not get to see it? “The Kiss” is considered one of Rodin’s best and most emotional works, and these students aren’t getting the opportunity to see it in person. Those that want to look at and study this piece of art, don’t want to see it second hand through a text book or powerpoint slide. You cannot see the whole majesty of the sculpture from a picture on a piece of paper.
In the end, censorship will create more curiosity about the piece, drawing more attention to it than it otherwise would have. Those that wouldn’t care that Rodin’s sculpture was at the exhibit, now will have heard about it and become more curious.
The point of the exhibit was to highlight Rodin’s use of hands as means of displaying emotion and art. "The Kiss", in my opinion, fills that quota. The way the two figures are embracing each other, of course their hands are displayed and add to the piece.
And lastly, Rodin’s best works are mostly in the nude. If you remove them all from the museum, you remove all the best pieces, the ones that everyone expects and wants to see.
Melissa, I like what you said about how the censorship would create more curiosity about the piece. I didn't think about that but it's so true. The first thing I did when I read the article is look up all the banned pieces.
ReplyDeleteI also liked what you said about how the hands. BYU argued that it had nothing to do with the hands and thus didn't fit the exhibit. I think the hands are one of the central features of the piece!
What you said about censorship is very true. One of my friends who I worked with last year is a well known LDS sculptor. His children who have been exposed to works of art such as "The Kiss" have learned to appreciate these sculptures for their artistic value. They don't giggle and become immature when they see a nude sculpture, they simply appreciate the artist's talent and move on.
ReplyDeleteI think pictures of Rodin's "The Kiss" do not do it justice. To fully appreciate his talent and to make the art display complete one would have to see the entire collection and in the correct medium.
I think what you brought up about "The Kiss" not being displayed creating more curiosity, for the wrong reasons, brings up an interesting point. Also, it would be interesting to know which nude, or partially nude figures, would be justifiable and which would not?
ReplyDeleteI agree with you on one thing here: people who had been expecting the displaying of the pieces would certainly be let down, but that is a small price to pay in order to guard the chastity and virtue of each one of us. What you said about attention from censorship is true as well, but only if people make a big deal about it. If the situation is taken care of promptly and neatly, then it wouldn't really be a problem. That was BYU's biggest mistake. I also want to point out that cost should not be considered in this argument, for whether the statues are kept or not, it would have already been paid for. In economics they call this a sunk cost.
ReplyDeleteMelissa I liked how you pointed out that the piece is meant to be studied and enjoyed. It is not there for the purpose of being provocative or crass but to instruct and enlighten. I think it really was a shame that it was withheld from the exhibit. You really can't get the same feeling about it on a piece of paper or a computer screen. Thanks for your thoughts!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed the points that you made in your argument. I agree completely with it causing more attention. Because they made such a big deal about it, it probably peaked a lot more people's interest that if they would have just displayed it in an area that was out of the way insetad of the main gallery area.
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