Naked Statue Triggers Mental Imbalance

[blawless]

I recognize that there are some important things going on in the world today-- the war in Iraq, scandals in Washington, the continuing challenges of rebuilding New Orleans, and one lucky turkey who gets to take a free trip to Disneyland with our president. But I am amazed that this story isn't getting more attention:

Michelangelo's David, regarded as the world's most beautiful statue, can trigger mental imbalances in overly sensitive and cultivated onlookers, according to a top psychiatrist in Florence.

Graziella Magherini, president of Italy's Art and Psychology Association, reported the preliminary findings of her year-long study at a symposium at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence where the naked marble man attracts 1.2 million visitors a year. She said David can have a particular emotional impact on a certain kind of visitor.

My question to you, the good people out there: Why is this naked man on display in the first place? Really, what other response would these so-called Italian academics expect?

Herewith, for you to satisfy your sick, lascivious cravings:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news/briefs...ffect_hum.html

[scrotum boy]

I blame Stallone.

[Scott Dolan]

Frank or Sly?

[clinthopson]

When we were in the Accadamia scoping out Dave, a young woman who was walking behind me said "Nice buns."

I turned around and said "Thank you very much."

[patricia]

Originally Posted by blawless

I recognize that there are some important things going on in the world today-- the war in Iraq, scandals in Washington, the continuing challenges of rebuilding New Orleans, and one lucky turkey who gets to take a free trip to Disneyland with our president. But I am amazed that this story isn't getting more attention:

[I]Michelangelo's David, regarded as the world's most beautiful statue, can trigger mental imbalances in overly sensitive and cultivated onlookers, according to a top psychiatrist in Florence.

Graziella Magherini, president of Italy's Art and Psychology Association, reported the preliminary findings of her year-long study at a symposium at the Galleria dell'Accademia in Florence where the naked marble man attracts 1.2 million visitors a year. She said David can have a particular emotional impact on a certain kind of visitor.

Michaelangelo's "David" is one of the most perfect examples of the male face and form that has ever been sculpted. I would not consider the reaction to be to it's nakedness as much as to the sheer beauty of the statue.

[Jazzooo]

It's amazing, but if it were a perfect example of a male body, it would look quite different. More like mine--it is a typical midlife male body, with glorious bulges and wrinkles. His is a bit more idealized, kind of like saying Kate Moss is the perfect example of a woman's body.

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Jazzooo

It's amazing, but if it were a perfect example of a male body, it would look quite different. More like mine--it is a typical midlife male body, with glorious bulges and wrinkles. His is a bit more idealized, kind of like saying Kate Moss is the perfect example of a woman's body.

Goes without saying, Doug, IF "David" was a typical midlife male body.
We have many other examples of the idealized male body represented today, starting with the Calvin Klein ads. They are also beautiful to look at and appreciate for their perfection. But, once you've seen them, you've seen them and can glory in that perfection, always knowing that they are certainly not common. They are rare.

[Brian Olewnick]

When I saw it, I thought it was kind of interesting that David's anus was lovingly sculpted. Really! Not sure how common or not this is in Renaissance sculpture.

[blawless]

In Ren-WHAT-ance sculpture, Brian?

[Noj]

I was in the pool!

[clinthopson]

How come, for a nice Jewish boy, Dave wasn't circumcised?

[Dr Dave]

The overly sensitive can always avert their gazes. Heaven knows there are many other beautiful things to see in Firenze.

[Jazzzoline]

David's hands are too large for his little wee wee

[patricia]

Originally Posted by Jazzzoline

David's hands are too large for his little wee wee

The hands/feet/whatever correlation myth is just that, a myth.

[Noj]

The hands and head on the statue are disproportionately larger by design, enhancing the grandiose appearance of what is already a massive sculpture. It was a celebration of the heroic man, master of his universe. With that in mind the diminutive phallus has never made much sense to me! However, I recall reading it was PC for the timeframe of its creation.

[Jazzzoline]

Knew it couldn't be the right proportions.

[Jazzooo]

"With that in mind the diminutive phallus has never made much sense to me! "

It's still a helluvalot bigger than yours, isn't it? I remember it being about the size of my head.

Of course, so is my penis.

[Noj]

Are you kidding? I'm a tripod. Looks like a baby's arm holding an apple.

[Monte Smith]

F. Scott Fitzgerald was an insecure man and evidently his wife Zelda didn't help matters. There is a wonderful chapter in Hemingway's A Moveable Feast where Fitzgerald comes to Hemingway and wants to compare dick sizes to make sure he's within normal range. Papa balks at that. Rather, he takes Fitzgerald to the Louvre and the two of them peruse the equipment of statuary, Hemingway saying "That one is small" and "That one is grotesquely huge" and "That looks right." Too funny. Me, I did rather the same thing at Place de la Concorde and found the structure ambitious but inadequate.

[Jazzooo]

Mine is so big, there's still snow on it in June.

The only pain from my vasectomy was when they tore the tape off my chest.

[Jazzooo]

I am not hung like a horse. Horses are hung like me.