As storytellers, we choose to write the stories we write. Specifically for fiction writers, they are often topics that intrigue us, and that we want to know more about. I am fascinated with the future, and any series of events that might unfold there. It intrigues me to discover what sorts of things the future might hold. Due to the very nature of my online graphic novel, Spaghetti Strap Western, I am faced with the crucial task to make the story as relatable to audiences today. I need to ground the story in real and believable characters, so that the fantastic elements of the story are accepted by readers.
In my particular story, Cass Torrez is a former prostitute. Why is she a prostitute? Why not an innocent rated-G school teacher. Allow me to answer that with another question. Why is Moby Dick a whale? why isn’t he a shark? Because he just is. That is what Herman Melville decided for him to be, because it was a crucial element in his story. Cass Torrez is a prostitute, because it is what I needed her to be to serve my story. Even then, you may ask why nudity is necessary? Because I’ve deemed it necessary, to achieve what I want artistically and emotionally with my characters. In the controversial pages 70 and 72 of Spaghetti Strap Western, (incidentally the catalysts for this article,) our lead character Cass Torrez is naked and engaged in sexual intercourse with a lover. Although her groin area is never shown, she is shown straddling her lover. I chose to show this the way I did, to demonstrate their passion for each other. I’m not doing anything new with Spaghetti Strap Western. Countless hollywood films, television, and other graphic novels have done this to no ill fate. Movies like Desperado and Taking Lives come to mind. Television series like Entourage and Dexter(recently) show mass amounts of sexual activity. In the graphic novel, Watchmen, we have a character, Dr. Manhattan, that is completely nude for most of the story. And that is in addition to the several sex scenes throughout the story. Yet, the glorious Federal Communications Commission deems the aforementioned, decent for public viewing, and not pornography.
I suppose I should get to the point of this article. The whole reason I’m even writing it. There have been some people who believe my work is and should be considered as pornography. Fortunately for me, this isn’t a new topic of discussion. In the article “Drawing the Line Between Art and Porn,” by Zou Hanru, Zou uses definitions of the words themselves to solidify hi point. He states that
“The New Oxford Dictionary of English defines art as, ‘the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination … producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power’. As for ‘pornography’, the Oxford Dictionary describes it as being ‘intended to stimulate erotic rather than aesthetic or emotional feelings’.
There is little more I honestly need to say after definitions like that. They are right on the money. My only purpose with showing nudity is to convey a sense of emotionality that my readers can sympathize with and understand. To further the definitions, I believe that that must be their intention by the artist. For example, if someone see’s page 72 of my comic and it invokes an erotic reaction for them, it still isn’t porn. People are too different from each other to use that as the defining factor. As I have intended it as art, it is then therefore, art.
I believe the real reason for the controversy is it’s lack of context to most who arrive at the site disagree with its presence. I suppose this puts the spotlight on the the weakness of online graphic novels that use the one-page-per-week storytelling format, such as SSW. And that is that you always have new readers. When you go to a Barnes & Noble bookstore and pick up a copy of Watchmen, or a book showcasing Manet’s nudes, you know what you’re buying. There are no surprises. However, if you happen to stumble across a link that brings you to a picture of a naked woman, you can’t help but to be a bit put off. There is no context at that point. That is completely understandable. However what isn’t understandable is inability to derive that context, before making a firm and rash decision about what you’re seeing.
This website has a warning at the top of the right sidebar. It says “This Online Graphic Novel contains explicit language, violence, and nudity. Viewer discretion advised.” This warning has been there for the past year, at least. The violence and explicit language has gone unchecked, but the real problems arise when the forewarned nudity arrives. Because of this any arguments against the nudity on sswestern.com are null, whether or not you believe it is porn or art, and can only be viewed as impulsive illegitimate reactions.
At the end of it all, writers write their stories the way they want to write it. My story has nudity, and much more of it coming up as the story progresses. It is just what Spaghetti Strap Western is. Hopefully this article can open up some minds to what constitutes art versus porn. And I hope you can all continue to enjoy Spaghetti Strap Western.
Cited:
The Plagiarist Blog – “Drawing the Line Between Art and Porn,” by Zou Hanru, 2007
I’m with you on this one. There is a difference between nudity in art and pornography… sometimes the line is thin and hard to find, but it’s there. And as an artist, I’m extremely opposed to censorship of any kind- I’d rather risk someone pushing nudity too far and into the pornographic realm than stop someone from using the reality of human beings’ physical anatomy (that, hello, everyone has, so really, who cares) to tell a story.
I think that since you’ve put yourself out there saying that your comic saga contains “mature content” and is intended for “mature” audiences, that you’ve been as socially responsible as you possibly can be without sacrificing your integrity.
right on
It’s an interesting blog post about censorship and nudity, but it failed to answer an important question for me regarding comics 70 and 72. What was your intention of showing those two moments? Why did you chose to have a full body nude shot in 70 and a shot of her riding him in 72?
For a while I was considering an Intro page that would warn visitors, but honestly, like you said, it would sacrifice my integrity and it would only hurt my argument that it isn’t art.
I am also against censorship of any kind. I hope that people (and parents) are responsible enough to decide for themselves.
Thanks
I chose to show the nudity, in order to instill a strong sense of passion and emotion in the reader. To bring you into the scene as much as possible. Labeling SSW as an adult comic, I don’t have restrictions preventing me from using the most direct, effective, and potent vehicle for achieving my artistic goals. I want you to really feel the sexual intimacy between them. This is them in this scene at their most vulnerable. It’s very important scene for the development of these two characters. I feel the subject matter is in line with the visual presentation.