Art, BYU and stupidity

[_Joseph]

BYU censored the Rodin sculpture exhibit. This after knowing for more than two years each piece that would be in the exhibit and signing paperwork agreeing to show the entire exhibit.

A bit tongue in cheek, the link is accurate on the attitude of "The Lords University".

http://www.lds-mormon.com/thinker.shtml

And some wonder why there is no great Mormon art?

[Guest]

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[_Spider-to-the-Fly]

Mr colbytownsend,

Stupid to post because it happened in 1997? Can you point to either a pronouncement by BYU having since changed its policy with regards to nude art or a display of nude art allowed at BYU since 1997? If not, the 1997 Rodin incident appears to be quite relevant, yet reflecting BYU's immature and prudish policy towards fine arts.

And what specifically in the article is it that you cannot belief? and why?

Regards,

Spider.

[_Sethbag]

Lol, that article reads like something out of the Onion, on which it was obviously modeled. Well done parody.

"'The Thinker' does not represent the sort of activity that we believe is appropriate for the BYU setting," said BYU official Alan Wilkins.

It literally doesn't get any better than that. Damn straight, all that thinking, next thing you know those BYU students will actually be harboring and nurturing ideas of their very own! What's next? That's right: dogs and cats living together - mass hysteria!

[_Trevor]

I recall the Rodin Exhibit controversy quite well. I even went to a meeting that was held for the purpose of mollifying the outrage of the faculty and students. At the time it was clear to me that nothing would come of faculty and student objections to the removal of these Rodin pieces from the exhibit. The meeting only happened so that faculty and students could feel like they had had their say. I also recall quite clearly that Eugene England was present and that he was one of the more vocal of the faculty expressing concern about the removal of the pieces.

Although it seems like a small thing in the scheme of things, and probably is, this event made quite an impression on me. First, I noticed that the offending pieces were all male nudes. Evidently people had no problem with an exhibit full of nude women, but a penis or two was crossing the line. I recall something about people thinking it inappropriate to depict John the Baptist in the nude because he was a prophet, or some such stupidity.

Later I discovered from insider sources that the removal of the statues had come in response to Provo Mormons, not students or faculty, who were outraged that nude art would be exhibited at BYU. They had petitioned the BYU Art Museum to remove the pieces, and that is why they were taken away.

And the truth is that this is much of the reason why BYU can seem intolerable at times. It is not the faculty or church authorities that cause problems, but the kids, their parents, and local LDS, who demand Pharisaical purity from BYU at every turn. They essentially want the university to be as strict as the MTC. Fortunately, the majority of people are not like that, but the vocal minority of Nazi Mormons can be ridiculous and when they are people accomodate them.

[_harmony]

Fortunately, the majority of people are not like that, but the vocal minority of Nazi Mormons can be ridiculous and when they are people accomodate them.

And that is why, when push comes to shove, we know who is in charge... and who isn't.

[_moksha]

BYU was not able to make a concession on The Thinker, for by doing so, they would be condoning the art on the Sistine Chapel ceiling.

Besides, BYU's team of lawyers concluded that The Thinker really had no relevance to academic life at BYU.

[_Danna]

I think it was stupid to post this. It happened in 1997, it's old news. Plus, I couldn't believe a lot of the stuff that was actually in the article.

Delurking to say:
eh?

[_Trevor]

And that is why, when push comes to shove, we know who is in charge... and who isn't.

I tend to think it is more of a "squeaky wheel" thing, but I will grant the tendency is to err on the side of priggishness.