Sally Mann great photographer or glorified child pornographer?

Anyone looking at those images would notice an element of sexuality. That is the point of the images. But that in no way means they are pornographic, or in some ways abusive to the children. They simply reference those elements. They also reference Romance photography. That does not make me want to fall in love with children like I might with a grown-up person, just like the sexual reference does not make me actually want to have sex with them. The point is to tweak those elements. But of course the American Taliban will be first to yell Child Porn, because in the US there are so many people who can't WAIT to tell other people how to live their lives, and what they think is wrong. You are asking a cultural question. And this is an American forum. American culture is based on a Christian Calvinist basis, and one of the tenets is "Forgive me Father, I had bad Thoughts." This is not the case in other cultures. As a Jew, we define ourselves (in part) as the difference between what we think, and what we actually do. There are no impure thoughts.

I would take my kids out of school for two weeks and travel half-way around the world if my kids could be part of a Sally Mann project. She has a wonderful, gentle eye, and sees how kids emulate grown-ups. It's why I try (and fail) to watch my language around my three kids, because they will say things at school that make the normies blush.
 
Sally Mann is one of my all-time idols. I think her photography is breathtaking, insightful, and a fantastic insight into the life of a mother in absolute wonder of what she has created. I have her books, and study them constantly. In my eyes, she can do no wrong, but that being said....

I believe her work is classified under "artistic nude" - and clearly has a respect and awe toward the beauty of life and the freedom of childhood. I know that "a sense of privacy" has been mentioned, but consider that everyone's is different. In Mann's family, being nude was completely normal and not frowned upon as immodest. Everyone is born that way - and we all should have respect for that, and for each other. Pornography, by definition - implicates exploitation and a disrespect for human dignity and a focus on the physical/sexual appeal of a subject. Her work, in my opinion, does not do any of that. But how "the line" is defined between artistic nudity and pornography is so different for so many different people, and many are afraid to actually draw that line.

Honestly though - Sally says it best. If you haven't watched her documentary called "What Remains" - you really really should. She talks about the controversy surrounding her work and why she approached things the way she did, and I honestly respect her for that. Even if you don't like her work, hearing her explanation is interesting. Here's part one:



Anyway, that's just my input, but this is a great question to ask - so I'm glad it was brought up!

Heather Clemons~
Save the Artist - a creative community
[email protected]
 
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I don't consider her work pornography or sexual at all.

Then again , cultural background of the viewer matters. Me being of Scandinavian background vs Americans.
 
I don't consider her work pornography or sexual at all.

Then again , cultural background of the viewer matters. Me being of Scandinavian background vs Americans.

Exactly. Americans are super touchy about nudity and sexuality sometimes (and that's coming from one). If you grew up in a family that respects the human body as a beautiful thing, I think you'd have trouble finding problems with Mann's work. Clearly, there are far worse representations to which this cannot be compared.
 
(Cloudwalker.. I apologize if that is not what you meant!)

No apology needed. It is only a part of what I meant but the biggest one. The second part to that would be that the religious propaganda gets to people who are not otherwise religious. The third part is that one can be religious or spiritual (although not christian, I am) and not be twisted about it.

I am always astounded by anyone saying that nudity is not natural. What could be more natural? That's the way we were born. And clothes were invented not to hide ourselves from each others but because it was cold.

I am always astounded by anyone who hasn't understood that the more you forbid something, the more people want it.

I am always astounded by anyone who says that children are out of the sex world. Do they have children? Young children play with themselves, young children are sexual beings even if they don't know it.


And, yes, I find beauty pageant much more obscene than the cover of the Scorpions' album.
 
Let me ask this question -- let's assume that Sally Mann was not a woman, but instead was a man. Would that change your opinion of these images? Why?
 
Let me ask this question -- let's assume that Sally Mann was not a woman, but instead was a man. Would that change your opinion of these images? Why?

No. I've done similar stuff. Not good enough to be shown but in the same vein. And with kids of friends of mine who I have no intention of foo*ing. Get your head on straight.
 
No. I've done similar stuff.

I'm not surprised.

Get your head on straight.

I beg your pardon? Get my head on straight? WTF is that supposed to mean? I asked how this would change things which is an honest question. Where is your head, dude? Get MY head on straight? You're the one taking images of nude children. Where are your morals? Lost in European society it seems.
 
I beg your pardon? Get my head on straight? WTF is that supposed to mean? I asked how this would change things which is an honest question. Where is your head, dude? Get MY head on straight? You're the one taking images of nude children. Where are your morals? Lost in European society it seems.

It means get your head on straight which you sure as hell don't seem to have.

And your twisted response tells me your question was anything but honest.

If you have a problem with nudity, deal with it and don't try and imposeyour twisted views on me.
 
Where are your morals?

What are you basing this question on???? Your MORALS? Do you really think you have the right to judge another based on what you believe? Whatever happened to "judge not, lest thou be judged"? (since I am assuming this is coming from some sort of "Christian" background).
 
jwbryson1 said:
I'm not surprised.

I beg your pardon? Get my head on straight? WTF is that supposed to mean? I asked how this would change things which is an honest question. Where is your head, dude? Get MY head on straight? You're the one taking images of nude children. Where are your morals? Lost in European society it seems.

Wow!
 
I beg your pardon? Get my head on straight? WTF is that supposed to mean? I asked how this would change things which is an honest question. Where is your head, dude? Get MY head on straight? You're the one taking images of nude children. Where are your morals? Lost in European society it seems.

There's nothing wrong with being European.

This is an issue everyone will approach differently based on their cultural views and ideas. Backbiting isn't going to make anyone change their mind, and insults waste time and don't get us anywhere.

I'm going to make a humble request that we respect each other's views - no matter what we happen to think of them. The point is to have a civil discussion and present thought-out and intelligent commentary. Once we divert into angry yelling, it's no fun. :(

Heather Clemons~
Save the Artist - a creative community
[email protected]
 
There's nothing wrong with being European.

Agreed

This is an issue everyone will approach differently based on their cultural views and ideas. Backbiting isn't going to make anyone change their mind, and insults waste time and don't get us anywhere.
I'm going to make a humble request that we respect each other's views - no matter what we happen to think of them. The point is to have a civil discussion and present thought-out and intelligent commentary.

Agreed.. I just hate it when someone pushes an agenda or opinions based on something that has nothing to do with the real issue!

Once we divert into angry yelling, it's no fun. :(

Sorry.. can't agree with this... someone has to enlighten the "heathen"! :)
 

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