h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Ah. So the dividing line is aroused, and therefore parted, female genitalia?

What about, eg, this: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L'Origine_du_monde

(WARNING: May be considered NSFW. It's by Gustave Courbet)

Or this bit of kiddie porn by Caravaggio?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Amor_Victorious.jpg

I personally think that context makes things ugly or beautiful, rather than just an object itself, be it or a flower.

And I dont see why artistic allusions to genitalia using other objects as attractive metaphors is even in the same ball-park?

Isn't that what long-bonneted sports cars are supposed to be about?

L'Origine du monde reminds me of something my Biology teacher said, years ago during a Sex Ed. class - not exactly in these words though. 'The hairy muffs you often see on porno pictures are really hairbrushes...'

BTW combining what I said earlier about 'No use unless you can feel it' witrh s being beautiful. I must emphasise here that I mean completely natural s. I detest enhancements. They neither look nor feel nice. Natural s have a kind of to them that one justr doesn't get with enhancements. Might as well go and fondle a M&S mannequin!

'Isn't that what long-bonneted sports cars are supposed to be about?'

Well, ANYONE must admit that the bonnet of an E-Type Jag is a hell of a lot more exciting and attractive than the male member which it's said to represent

Take those horrible images away, EB

Robyn:
>>I personally think that context makes things ugly or beautiful, rather than just an object itself,

So, for example, a pornographic image might magically transmogrify into a beautiful work of art if hung on a gallery wall by a posh person?

Or what?

>>Well, ANYONE must admit that the bonnet of an E-Type Jag is a hell of a lot more exciting and attractive than the male member which it's said to represent

But not intrincically, surely? It's a purely cultural thing. The Romans, for example, were so fond of representations of erect male members that they hung them around their necks. Surely that wasn't simply because nobody had invented sportscars?

(cars have never done anything for me anyway)

'...a pornographic image might magically transmogrify into a beautiful work of art if hung on a gallery wall...'

That's absolutely true. Your images of flower petals are far more attractive than the aroused labia that they imitate (wonder if it's accidental that labia and some flower imitate each other . Wonder if this woyuld make a good 'Talking Point' .

'The Romans, for example, were so fond of representations of erect male members that they hung them around their necks. '

Well, taken together with their other antics (vomitariums etc etc) no one could pretend that they were a cultured people.

Someone said something along the lines that a scrap of red seen in a forest is beautiful when we think it's a flower, but ugly if we know it's a Kit-Kat wrapper.

Personally...I like labia. I agree with Georgia O'Keefe:
'I detest flowers. But they're less expensive than models and they don't move around so much.'

Supplementary question:

Is Art allowed to be arousing?






(John Mortimer's definition of obscenity:
'Anything capable of giving a judge an erection. As judges age, more extreme images are required.')

'Personally...I like labia. I agree with Georgia O'Keefe:'

Well, paraphrasing George Orwell, 'Some labia are more beautiful than others'.

I mean, what's your opinion of the Hottentot Apron A48873667

Well...again...it's a cultural thing.

I'm suggesting that in an intimate moment, for instance, with an aroused partner, each other's genitalia could be the most beautiful and erotic things you ever saw.

On a brightly lit staged set with actors and actresses pulling funny faces (or in the case of films) making funny sea-lion sounds, I find it crude rather than beautiful.

It's the same with written erotica. A 'problem page' letter in the daily filth paper is unsavoury at best. Some stories are stunningly written and beautifully told.

This allows for the context and therefore the perception to change...

<'I'm suggesting that in an intimate moment, for instance, with an aroused partner, each other's genitalia could be the most beautiful and erotic things you ever saw. '>

Hmm, I remain to be convinced...




Returning to Mayfair magazine, that used to have beautifully-crafted stories. I remember one letter recounting a sexual encounter in the 'Literature' section of the unversity library, where the two 'heroes' were discussing the merits/demerits of Shakespeare, Chaucer etc etc, before getting down to slightly more asmorous activities. The male writer finished by saying that he was '...looking forward to introducing her to the joys of Kipling' .

Sadly, I never got read any sequel

Not to mention Dickens.

You're talking about The Old Days, of course.

>>or in the case of films) making funny sea-lion sounds, I find it crude rather than beautiful.

Nowadays, when pornography can de produced and disseminated extremely cheaply....there's bound to be far more chaff than wheat. Or goats than sheep. Or something. Plus - on the wole, aesthetic appreciation is not its primary purpose.

Well, IMO, if it's not aesthetic, it's not sexy

(I'd forgotten about Dickens )

I went out today partly to buy a calendar as so many important appointments to remember and there were 2 left in shop. One was about Birds as in Robin, Wren, etc the other was about another sort of birds, it was Hollyoaks Babes.
Well I got the Hollyoaks one as more likely to look at it and actually remember the appointments. It is actually more of a Lads Mag without the words as if I remember from TV the Hollyoaks girls all seem to be picked to be in show as pretty, they also have been on Lads Mags covers a lot!
.
I expect many Lads Mags are at risk of closing as many magazines and newspapers are. Lads Mags, one would imagine, are more a luxury where as a daily newspaper is more essential. I too have only seen inside a Lads Mag will waiting, for a a haircut actually, and found them pretty harmless and would be sad to see many close as any type of magazine really as think a recession helps no one.

I'm disappointed in you SS. I thought you were more of a fan of the feathered variety of rather than (/\) s, and so would be more likely to look at a calender with s in it than the latter

I think what it was the calendar with feathered birds on it was fairly small and to be honest quite dull and old fashioned, not exactly inspiring to look at so unlikely to.
The Hollyoaks Babes is very tastful and bigger and more interesting to look at. It really is just like watching the TV programme really as the girls look pretty much the same.