Comments on Fluffytek Art Blog: The Price To Pay

I sincerely hope that what you write here never ap...

2008-01-25T21:16:00.000Z

I sincerely hope that what you write here never applies to Northern Continental Europe, where I come from. So far it doesn't. But Anglo-American moralitis is a disease that respects no borders. The UK (whose passport I still carry) is just about the most hypocritical society I know.

BTW, I don't have a model release clause in my contracts - in that way, my collaborators always have control of what happens to the photos I take of them.

Heady stuff! Your advice is spot on. Would the Wes...

2008-01-25T19:30:00.000Z

Heady stuff! Your advice is spot on. Would the Western-world be a less judgmental place if Victoria had never ascended to the throne? Or am I over-simplifying the problem? On the flip-side, would young, attractive, aboriginal females of the Amazon be chastised (by their own) for posing for National Geographic photographers while wearing clothing that covered them up?

There is no prejudice so strong as that which aris...

2008-01-25T05:05:00.000Z

There is no prejudice so strong as that which arises from a fancied exemption from all prejudice.
Author: William Hazlitt 1778-1830, British Essayist

Who wants to bet that those men that want to fire that teacher or not hire her at their corporation would not hesitate to look at her in all her naked glory time after time.

How is it that the Dad that is outraged that his daughter would pose nude, has no problem looking at someone else's daughter.

I agree that that the young girl should go into this area of art with her eyes wide open, but as we all know, the enthusiasm of youth often clouds their judgment.

It is so sad that a person is judged by what "part of society" feels is good or bad. I would rather my daughter posed naked than took drugs. But if she took drugs she would probably be sent off for rehab and then everything would be forgiven and their world would be right again. It's to bad there is not a rehab program for women that have posed naked.

As far as being in the sex industry your in good company. Every ad agency - media company is in the sex industry. If they didn't use sex to sell, we would only see about 25% of the advertising we see now.

I started this comment out about prejudice which I feel is some of what is being talked about here. I recently came across a Dude that is walking the talk when it comes to trying to change the world about prejudice and hatred. Google - The Scary Guy. He is great.

D.L. Wood

Just a clarification.... you start with: "A UK sur...

2008-01-25T04:22:00.000Z

Just a clarification.... you start with: "A UK survey last year found that over one in ten female students uses “the sex industry” to help pay study fees, by which they are apparently referring to glamour and nude modelling. Now I strongly object to Fluffytek being labelled part of the sex industry, on SO many different levels."

Unless it was clarified elsewhere in the article, it seems you were the one to make the primary association between modeling and "the sex industry". My reading of the article would consider stripping and escorting/prostitution, and hardcore porn as "the sex industry" with glamour and nude figure modeling possibly on the edges. (Especially in the UK... would Page 3 girls be considered sex workers?)

I agree with the rest of the posting, and am always chagrined that so many people would consider art nude modeling/photography such a transgression that it could cost careers/relationships. Funny how Rudy Guiliani is a serial adulterer and he was able to get elected mayor of NY and be considered a serious presidential contender, but someone who did art nudes in college would be pilloried. It's a crazy world...

My family, girlfriend, friends, and teachers suppo...

2008-01-25T02:36:00.000Z

My family, girlfriend, friends, and teachers support my nude modeling.. so does my old supervisor from the university library job I quit. And I'm going into a career where self-employment is very popular.
I guess there is a lot for other people to think about though, so this was a great post.

A friend of mine experienced this, her husband alm...

2008-01-24T18:15:00.000Z

A friend of mine experienced this, her husband almost lost his job and a child risked being embarrassed in front of his schoolmates. This is serious stuff, unfortunately, it shouldn't be but that is reality.

Thank you for publishing your piece and your entire blog.

Well put, the one thing that I make perfectly clea...

2008-01-24T17:13:00.000Z

Well put, the one thing that I make perfectly clear when having a model sign a release, is that they understand that there is good chance that the photos we create may in fact be published or exhibited at galleries or museums, perhaps being seen by thousands if not more. I want absolutely no misunderstanding.

I prefer to work with models a bit older, as I believe they understand the ramifications of doing so perhaps a bit better than younger models do (just a preference).

I make sure that they understand that modeling at this level is not a game...it's the real deal.

bt

again..great topic

Whew... Man, this is some truth staring you in the...

2008-01-24T16:58:00.000Z

Whew... Man, this is some truth staring you in the face. I think I'd like to use it for some of my model resource links. I counsel models upfront on the same thing when I do my first of two interviews with them.

But also, let me offer the same warnings to photographers. I made a choice last year not to hide from my art nudes and decided to use my name in all my work, blog postings, websites, and whatever. I think I am indeed paying a price that that decision. I am very proud of my art and stand behind it, but the truth is that I know it hurts me on my job search. Any potential employer can google my name now and I am sure becomes judgemental of what they learn that I do. So I have challenged myself to find a way around it. In 7 months I hadn't found it yet, but I am working on it.

Thanks Lin!