The backstory: I recently joined a Flickr group that requires you to rate and comment 5 photos from the previous poster in the group’s photo pool. I thought it was a great idea because I personally love commenting on others’ photos and getting them in return, but a lot of people join groups just for personal exposure and don’t necessarily like to return the favour. Unfortunately, in a group like this, you have no way of knowing who will end up commenting on your photos, which can lead to a number of problems: you might get someone who leaves a short, obnoxious comment just to get the job done, you might get someone who knows nothing about photography and leaves a very idiotic commentary, or you might get an uneducated asshole whose comments are some combination of both the ‘obnoxious’ element and the ‘idiotic’ element.
In my case, the person who ended up commenting my photos doesn’t seem fond of self-portraiture. Normally I’d be fine with that — there’s plenty more on my Flickr to look at, I think. However, he commented mainly on my self-portraits and insisted on mentioning in each comment how narcissistic I am. This is something every artist who has ever taken a self-portrait has probably heard — people are quick to simple-mindedly dismiss the entire genre and reduce it to narcissism without recognizing its artistic capacity because all they see is you wanting to show yourself to the world rather than your photography. However, what really bugged me about the comment was that he attacked my personal beliefs while giving his perspective on the photo. Apparently isn’t not fit for a feminist to “expose her naked body online.” (‘Naked’ meaning topless. WITH MY ARM COVERING MY BREASTS. Scandalous, right?)
Joking aside, this could’ve been a fully nude portrait for all I care, and the fact that it’s exhibited online is merely a reflection of our generation’s culture — where else does one collect and show their work nowadays? Even our journals are now published blogs (or even vlogs) and an outline of every aspect of our personalities is available on facebook.com. But anyway, had I been male, I obviously would not have received this comment. Men can take off their shirts and walk around topless all they’d like — and believe me, there are plenty of men out there who would require much larger bra sizes than my ‘Nearly B’ cup if it were common for men to wear bras in our society. In fact, that’s just the type of double standard much of my photography seeks to explore — the idea that as women, we’re taught to cover up our bodies and fear our own sexuality rather than openly and freely expressing it. But it’s perfectly acceptable to show it in a more exploitative way, of course. Male recording artists can have all the tits and ass they want in their videos, but when a woman wants to explore her own sexuality or even talk about it in a mature fashion, it’s complete taboo. It’s a shame that so much of our society is still stuck in that mindset.
For reference, you can view the photo and comments here.
I don’t understand what the point of his comment was. To make you feel bad? But yeah, there’s definitely a double standard when it comes to women. If you’re a man and you’re interested in sexuality, you’re awesome, you’re a pimp, you get high fives from your “bros.” If you’re a woman and you’re interested in sexuality, you’re a slut. It’s stupid.
As a random side note, in the town I live in, Austin, Texas, it’s perfectly legal for a woman to walk around without a shirt. It’s kind of silly, but still pretty awesome.
I love how he said something along the lines of “exposing your naked body”. Sure, you’re naked, but you can’t even see anything to be classified as “nude”?
I think he’s just embarrassed, because he fails to get any females nude anyways. You broke his “seeing a woman nude” virginity.
First of all, I think this particular self portrait is absolutely beautiful. Not only are you gorgeous, but your lighting, angles, and expression are also beautiful. It’s a classy and artistic photo, too.
That being said, there are always going to be people who need to feel elitist and pick apart other people’s work. It’s rather unfortunate but it’s just the way it goes. I find that the better something is, the more people need to find something wrong with it.
As I told you, the guy seems like a douchebag.”Feminism is meant to protect the interest of women” or whatever? Isn’t that what your photos are representing? I think they look beautiful and vote for more self-portraits. Self-expression is different than simply being narcissistic, but if that were the case, since when is it a bad thing for artists to be narcissistic?
I always thought the definition of narcissism is the excessive love of self. From what I see from your photos, you are exploring yourself (not that way.. *raises one eyebrow*) through self-portraiture, which doesn’t really coincide with the definition of narcissism that I am aware of.
But what also got my goat was that he had a very poor understanding of feminism. I find that unfortunate.
Like a previous commenter said, it’s normal for art to be picked apart by a viewer. All creative types have to undergo that type of scrutiny, even from the ones who don’t seem to understand anything at all.
Seems like you started a feminist “awakening” of your own in Flickr account by expressing these sentiments both in text and photos. From one feminist to another, I say good job. =D
Taking a self-portrait is one of the most difficult things to do. I remember doing one for my photography class, and it just made me cry. Props to you for so boldly willing to make yourself vulnerable to the world.
I disagree with the comment about narcissism, as one can assert that photography itself is narcissistic. In fact, all art forms can be asserted as such.
Is my view of the world correct? Art shows us different perspectives, but there is always that tenderness an artist feels when one considers their perspective. Narcissism is an attempt to get others to consider you. An artists worse fear is their work fading into obscurity.
Feminism, on the other hand, is no longer applicable to many of its traditional forms. Feminism, especially in literature, is not only focusing on the rights of females, but of many other minorities. It promotes the acceptance and validation of all people.
I think this comment was lewd and made in bad taste. Even if a viewer is not a fan of your work, it is always disgraceful to de-validate the expression.
I am quite a fan of this work.