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Response to All right, let's push the envelope a bit here

from Larry H. Smith (LaryHS@webtv.net)
Peter,

I am going to try to keep my necessarily "personal" response "objective".

I grant that you have indeed " pushed the envelope". But I am not sure in what direction, or why. Even while I begin to express the reaction that I find myself having, it is with misgivings... somehow I feel that I am permitting myself to be "led" to a place I would not choose to go, on my own.

First, I should establish that I am commenting on what I THINK is in the photo. ( dirty-looking marks on the inner thighs... blood?) ( vague object between legs...crumpled aluminum foil "tray"?) (dark substance in tray... blood?)

Trying to grasp the Point?..Statement?..Theme? No success. Seemingly unashamed (proud?) display of "symbol" of femininity (menstrual cycle)... VS seemingly ashamed covering of "symbols" of femininity (breasts).

Re. "women not posting to this site" because of the type(s) portrayed in the postings here; judging by the reaction of my (intelligent, adventurous, proud-WITH-"attitude") girlfriend, if there are postings here that she sees as less than complimentary to womankind, this depersonalised, unflattering, crudely-intimate shot heads the list.

Re. "menstruation as taboo"/"menstruation as photo-subject"; permit some (somewhat lengthy) analogies - It is one of the miracles of human (female) experience that the womb "prepares itself" to nourish a new being. Another such "miracle is the coagulation of blood at a surface-of-the-body wound (stops blood loss/covers,protects wound during healing). Still another "miracle" is the assimilation of nourishment into the body from the ingestion of food. And one more ("miracle"), is the contribution (male) of sperm to the formation of the "new being".

It does not follow from the fact that these phenomena are "wondrous" though, that anything associated with them is somehow a "treasure", with esthetic qualities which make its preservation on film, and prominant display, desirable. This observation accounts for the fact that (respectively) menstrual discharge, scabs, feces, and spent semen are usually consigned to the sewer, rather than the mantlepiece.

Re. the "images" men have, of women...and the "images" women have of themselves; I am wondering if the subject of this photo is "proud to have participated" in this graphic statement, and if so, why? And, with no intention to give offense (this is all "subjective", remember!), I find that there is a hint of "look at the demeaning manner in which I was able to get "her" to pose, in this display. (I am stating my reaction to the photograph...of course I have no way of knowing the thoughts of the photogapher.)

So, I am left wondering what this is all about...other than just "stirring-the-pot" for its own sake. I constantly marvel at the things some of us choose, from all that there is to do with our creativity...but hey!, some people choose to be undertakers. Different strokes I guess!

Long live free expression... "warts" and all!

(posted 8786 days ago)

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