Artistic intention defined

For centuries the human body has been considered a piece of art. From the works of Michelangelo and Sandro Botticelli to the cover of Vanity Fair, images of the body have the ability to mystify and attract us. It has been marveled and gawked at, painted, stained, scarred, pierced and tattooed, and, it has been photographed.

In today's issue of the Gater, there is a display of tastefully and artfully photographed nude pictures, but this decision to run these photographs did not come without controversy or discussion.

In our effort to explore the activities, likes, dislikes and tastes of SF State students, we hold that if taken as an art form, exposing the reading public at SF State to nude photography would be acceptable and appreciated.

We have all seen paintings in museums of beautiful nude women, but the issue goes beyond what the eye actually sees, and becomes what is acceptable in what form of media.

It is acceptable for frontal nudity in paintings to be viewed in museums by people of all ages and backgrounds, but when it comes down to viewing on television, magazines and newspapers the issue becomes much more cloudy.

In an effort to identify and place a label on these products, movies are rated R or X, television channels are extra-pay stations, and some magazines have a plastic wrap over them so no one can just view the contents without proper identification.

The Golden Gater however is offering this photographic experience for free, without special packaging because we feel we are exposing it for what it really is -- art.

It was never our intent to offend any of our readers, but, we do hope that it is understood that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and the body is beautiful.

[ Golden Gater Online February 29, 1996 ]

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