Does buying gay art make ppl think you're gay?

[hh5]

the good question was the art worth 33K?

 

One Direction’s Harry Styles buys ‘gay, erotic art’

 

British singer reportedly spends $33,000 on several pieces including one reading: 'If I wasn't straight, I'd definitely be gay'

- See more at: http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/one-directions-harry-styles-buys-gay-erotic-art060214#sthash.Zik9y34n.dpuf

 

 

 

 

[Valkyrie]

Apparently it was to him.   I know that art is highly subjective, but I'm willing to bet that 'artist' is laughing all the way to the bank. 

[Astro]

If he finds some meaning in it for him, then go for it! It is your money!

[layla]

At least for me, if i like something, if it resonates with me, if it catches and holds my attention, then i really don't worry about what people think of me for it. I was goth before it was 'cool' to be goth, I played metal guitar back when few females did, and when it comes to art, as an artist myself I know how hard it can be at times to make a connection with a piece, I have sent things for publication that were rejected 10 times from magazines before someone snatched it up and wanted to publish it. Peoples opinions  are like ice cream flavors, there are so many of them anyway, why worry about what the 'vanilla' group is gonna say. 

[Ron]

If he is buying for fun, at least he hasn't spent an extraordinary amount of money. If he's serious about art then he should definitely get an art advisor to improve both his thinking and collection.

[Kitt]

All very interesting comments, but none addressed the question asked in the thread title. 

 

Does buying gay art make ppl think you're gay?

 

I suppose that would depend on how you define "gay art". Is it the artist that is gay - or the subject matter? I don't see as the artists sexual orientation has any bearing on me or how others see me.Perhaps a print of two well defined gentlemen would suggest something, but if a piece speaks to me and I can afford it I shall buy it.  I read m/m erotic fiction - that doesn't seem to color the opinions of anyone I have spoken to about it. Worrying overly about the opinions of others is how prejudices get started in the first place.

[Ron]

While one question was posed in the thread title, hh5 did pose an additional query in his leading post: ' . . . was the art worth 33k?'  Which gives room to discuss the arts value. But the value of a piece of art isn't limited to the price tag alone and so, it offers more room for further discussion and comment.

 

My response to the topic question then is, that it depends. Is it one or two pieces of a much larger collection of art? Or is it part of a more far ranging representation in the collection? The first scenario would be meaningless in drawing any conclusions about the collector but the second would raise speculation in regards to the collectors sexuality, I think.

[Irritable1]

I'm with Kitt---what is gay art? Is a Mapplethorpe nude devoid of value to a straight audience because it might have an erotic aspect to a male gay viewer? Or how about the works of Elizabeth Bishop? Or could you turn it around and argue that an interest in, I don't even know, Robert Bly or Charlotte Bronte means that people will think a gay reader is straight?

 

Then you've got the whole realm of erotica, which is a whole additional kettle of Freudian fish.

 

My take is that people I don't care about will choose to believe whatever appeals most to their prurience, and people I do care about will be interested in what I'm interested in because they care about me.

 

Edit: but I must admit that I have a rather defensive attitude about this stuff because my reading and viewing have always been a little bit off the beaten path for my nerdy milieu, no matter how mundane I thought they were, and I've come to think of the question "Why do you..." as sort of hopeless when it comes to art... I can answer it, but it's always come as more of a challenge than a real attempt at getting information.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Irritable1

[Graeme]

Unfortunately, the article only showed two of the pieces of art. I actually quite liked the second, though I'm not sure it was worth a thousand pounds. I also liked the two listed at the end of the article:

 

I think about sex every sex words

It's a beautiful day outside. I might just go to the park and stare at my iPhone

 

If the buyer thinks it's worth it, then it's worth it He bought about 20 items, each for about a thousand pounds, one of which is explicitly listed as having a gay reference (the one quoted above). The others mentioned don't, so I think the headline may be misleading. Of course the 32 crude drawings of penises are very suggestive....

Edited April 23, 2014 by Graeme

[Ron]

'Gay Art' by definition, to me, must needs imply that there is no mistaking it's meaning, and it is by this yardstick that I would measure if I were to need a reason. Irregardless of the artist, Mapplethorpe or other, I wouldn't think that a male or female nude portrait alone could signify anything. It is when they are become part of a greater context, other works that have a meaning which cannot be misinterpreted, that they may take on a more defining nature. I must say, this gay male, finds the human body to be incredibly beautiful and that means both the male and the female body. Sexual inclination, or identity, has nothing to do with it, the human body can be exquisite. I would be very pleased to have a fine nude of either sex on one of my walls.

 

But perhaps, I would prefer a fine, male nude.

Edited April 23, 2014 by Ron

[Ashi]

I am not answering the original question, which is just tabloid material. At most, it's just Harry Style being Harry Style. End of discussion.

 

On the other hand, the Mapplethorpe discussion is more intellectually stimulating. I've been a few of Mapplethorpe's work, though I must say our local museum wasn't focusing on the erotic portion of his artwork in that special exhibition, but they also showed some photos from that genre (it was the most famous portion of his work after all). Given that, I think Mapplethorpe himself did say he was curious about the underground aspect of S&M culture. And does that really equal that Mapplethorpe's artwork is "gay?" I personally don't think so. His work is really an inquiry of human sexual behavior, rather than homosexuality specifically. Yes, some of them can be homoerotic, if the viewer thinks it that way.

[W_L]

Leaves too much to be desired

[Irritable1]

'Gay Art' by definition, to me, must needs imply that there is no mistaking it's meaning, and it is by this yardstick that I would measure if I were to need a reason. Irregardless of the artist, Mapplethorpe or other, I wouldn't think that a male or female nude portrait alone could signify anything. It is when they are become part of a greater context, other works that have a meaning which cannot be misinterpreted, that they may take on a more defining nature

 

I'm interested in people's views on whether the greater context is established by gay subject matter or a "gay sensibility," to the extent that something like that can be defined. I mean, would you call Joss Whedon a gay artist? Or rather, a Gay Artist?

 

Edit: er, if it's not totally hijacking your thread, hh5..

Edited April 24, 2014 by Irritable1

[C J]

It's all about perception, whether it's art or something else someone created.  I think perception is one of the more complex things to deal with.  There is no standard for it, and it can be manipulated to whatever degree your skill allows.  Gay art may not be seen as gay art by some, unless the artist labels it so.  There might be a majority perception, but that doesn't really matter given the fact that most majority opinions are based on social influences more than anything else.

 

This is too complicated, and I'm not in the mood so I'm done here.  For now. 

[Celethiel]

From what I understand One Direction plays to the "We may be Gay, but we're Strait" crowd a lot. IE purposely trying to give fans ideas that members are gay, even though members aren't nessarilly.

[Ron]

I'm interested in people's views on whether the greater context is established by gay subject matter or a "gay sensibility," to the extent that something like that can be defined. I mean, would you call Joss Whedon a gay artist? Or rather, a Gay Artist?

I would call Joss Whedon a fan-boy and would say that he has a comic-book sensibility, but he does know camp. Being able to incorporate camp into his work does not make him a gay artist, no matter that some of his shows greatly appealed to a gay audience.

 

From an article in backstage by Erik Haagensen – June 2003, Craig Lucas likens "gay sensibility" to a tautology . . . "Every artist has an individual sensibility that they infuse their work with. If an artist is gay, then the work has a gay sensibility."

 

I would have to agree with Mr. Lucas, his observation is hard to refute. A work of art created by a gay artist would necessarily involve their perception and understanding of the world. And a gay person's viewpoint is not the same as that of a straight person—having said that, it doesn't automatically imply that anyone would detect, or need to, any of the differences in a work of art.

 

So, to answer, I think the greater context is better established by subject matter than any "gay sensibility".

 

 

 

And a Happy Birthday to you, hh5.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Ron

[hh5]

@Graeme did he really buy art or just printed words for 33k? if its words he could have bought a tablet that would display gay quotes on the wall than to pay 33k??

 

@Ron THanks

 

@ALL

 

Long ago, ppl would collect naked marble statues ... some are solo ... some would be a in pairs or an orgy

 

What would be said?

A - A lof female solo statues

B - A lot of male solo statues

C - A mix of A n B

 

D - A lot of male erotic statues depicting sex

E - A lot of female erotic statues depicting sex

F - A mix of D n E

 

vs

 

G - A lot of same sex erotic statues depicting sex

 

I think I saw in movie where a rich party would have real ppl posing as a statue.

(possibly done in ancient times as well as present day)

 

What would be said about real ppl in erotic same sex poses?

hehe would it promote the guests to have sex at the party?

( I wonder how many caligula orgies were ever done? )

 

What message is sent to his girlfriend when she see's gay art at his home?

 

I forgotten what ppl think about naked erotic photos ... don't most think of its as playgirl\playboy magazines (porn)?

Yet statues from the ancient times would be consider art

 

Does the degree of the topic needs to be based on how many ppl visit a person's home to render a self comment?

 

lol, joke, it be funnier if he collected harry potter gay eroctic art, nobody would mind it at all

Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Harry Potter movies, went on Conan O’Brien’s show recently.  Partway into the interview things got super sexy creepy when Conan asked Felton about the fan-made slash fiction and fan art that casts Draco and Harry as a couple (AKA “Drarry”).  Luckily, Conan had pictures to show him.

 

Not only was Felton a good sport about it, but he also shared that he’s very familiar with one of the pictures.  When Conan showed a photoshop of Felton and Daniel Radcliffe cuddling in bed, Felton said his brother has been using that one as a screensaver on his phone and telling people it’s a real photo he took himself.  We also learned Harry Potter never takes his glasses off and, even in bed, Draco still doesn’t smile.  We also learned the pick-up line, “If I show you my wand, will you show me your golden snitch?”  It was a very educational interview.

 

Edited April 24, 2014 by hh5

[Irritable1]

I never get invited to that kind of party so I have not had the opportunity to form a definitive opinion :-( But I believe I would reach conclusions about the host's sexuality if I saw gilded naked people, yes. If it were a mixed group I suppose one would have to count and go by percentage.

 

Edit the story is about Tiberius I think.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Irritable1

[Adam Phillips]

It's worse than any of you seem to realize: Buying gay art turns you gay.

 

[rustle]

Buying a bunch of pics of penises makes me fairly certain he's gay. The other pieces? Less so. But I really don't care. I don't know his music, and I don't find him at all attractive.

 

As for the value of the art he bought, value is set by two things. How much does somebody want to be paid for it, and how much is somebody else willing to give for it?

 

My opinion? The pieces depicted aren't worth the price paid, and I wouldn't want them at any price. They evince no artifice, and they don't move me, but rely on their novelty alone. I can go to a t-shirt shop to find that. But it's Harry's money, and Harry wants to spend it on the stuff, so I hope he enjoys it.

 

I don't know what gay art is.

[Ashi]

I don't know why people think I am gay just because I write gay stories.... Why so many labels?

[Sasha Distan]

very few people can actually agree what "art" is, so I think trying to define "gay art" is a bit of a moot point.

 

just love what you love, and buy it if you want it and can afford it, and screw everyone else's opinion.

[Celethiel]

@Graeme did he really buy art or just printed words for 33k? if its words he could have bought a tablet that would display gay quotes on the wall than to pay 33k??

 

@Ron THanks

 

@ALL

 

Long ago, ppl would collect naked marble statues ... some are solo ... some would be a in pairs or an orgy

 

What would be said?

A - A lof female solo statues

B - A lot of male solo statues

C - A mix of A n B

 

D - A lot of male erotic statues depicting sex

E - A lot of female erotic statues depicting sex

F - A mix of D n E

 

vs

 

G - A lot of same sex erotic statues depicting sex

 

I think I saw in movie where a rich party would have real ppl posing as a statue.

(possibly done in ancient times as well as present day)

 

What would be said about real ppl in erotic same sex poses?

hehe would it promote the guests to have sex at the party?

( I wonder how many caligula orgies were ever done? )

 

What message is sent to his girlfriend when she see's gay art at his home?

 

I forgotten what ppl think about naked erotic photos ... don't most think of its as playgirl\playboy magazines (porn)?

Yet statues from the ancient times would be consider art

 

Does the degree of the topic needs to be based on how many ppl visit a person's home to render a self comment?

 

lol, joke, it be funnier if he collected harry potter gay eroctic art, nobody would mind it at all

i've seen those pictures before, a long time ago... i just don't remember where... lol.

[hh5]

oh if erotic words gets him started .. there some lovely song titles we could sell him

 

ie: David Cassidy - Get it up for love 1975

     if not viagra will be helpful

Edited April 25, 2014 by hh5