Rather than simply post a reply to [link]http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/18.215060-My-Background?page=1[/link], I think my discussion actually deserves its own thread, so see how it goes.
Disclaimer: While most of these images are perfectly fine, some of them are a little risque, so you might not want your boss, mother or dog watching behind you - (it's alright, the dog can look.)
Paragon Fury was discussing how people judge him based on his scantily clad anime based desktops, and it got me thinking about my own experiences.
Judgement about your desktop, particularly as a man, is rife. We are human beings, with human urges, but a expression of that fact through a desktop image, is deemed unacceptable, atleast in my case. We are given funny looks, judged and ultimately, rejected.
Now, I am not advocating that everyone should display big wobbly udders on their desktops and expect no reaction, sexual arousal is too intimate a topic to brandish to all and sundry, particularly when all and sundry is your family!
Yet, on the other hand, even the slightest hint of female appriciation in desktop form, can invite comment. Let me give you some examples to make my position clear:
I am a hetrosexual male, by no means particularly leering but I do like to "admire" the female form. I tend to want to have my desktop reflect whatever game or film I am in to at the time, and often that would involve a female protagonist. Many years ago I was a big fan of Final Fantasy and the character of Yuna in particular so this seemed like a good desktop to have:
Granted, it's a bit of an ass shot, but I was young! and foolish! and I didnt think of the children! However, sister got sight of it and thought it was hilarious, and to this day comments have been made.
Mother - "Oh, that's your sort of girl is it? Like hotpants do you?"
Since then I have felt constrained to have much more boring backgrounds and as a result things even as tame as this:
Were definite no nos.
And not just CG characters. I am a huge fan of Delta Goodrem, one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard and she just so happens to be quite beautiful herself:
While I'm not saying that people would actively take issue with these images, it would invite comment, as I showed earlier. Comment that is embarassing, and thus I feel I must remain tame in my choices.
To make matters even more amusingly irrational, muscle bound men is on the other hand, quite acceptable:
This would invite no comment and raise no eyebrows. Logic would seem to dictate that perhaps I was homosexual and instead was admiring the male form, but it doesnt seem that is the case.
Edit: Apparently the Noble team just IS NOT muscley enough so here is a picture of Arnie to be a better example.
So, finally, what are we left with? Perhaps what Jeremy Clarkson referred to as Car Porn:
Perhaps these?
Too depressing, wherever you are reading this, it is highly unlikely out the window looks like that.
Too much water, you might need the toilet
This one is just filthy.
So, my question to you is this: If a scantily clad anime character, thrusting her boobies at the screen is too far, where do we say the line is? When does admiration of a person, or an actress, or a game charcater become leering at a woman? When is it appriciation of the female (or male) form, and when is it objectification?
These are our questions ladies and gents and here is some things to consider.
I had intended to compare 2 Megan Fox photos however she rarely seems to have her clothes on. Yet, this is effective too. On the one hand we have Delta Goodrem, who despite wearing a coat, is still very attractive, her hair, the subtle smile and the way the belt draws in across her waist. Now, it is in sharp contrast to Megan Fox who now comes across as obvious and vulgar.
But which is the most sutible for your desktop? Most certainly the first.
This is a difficult one because the outfit is quite revealling anyway. However, it does illustrate my point, One is attractive and playful, with arms in a playful yet still attractive way, and on the other, a virtual upskirt - bringing attention to her long smooth legs which draws the eye up to her... skirt....
.....
.....
Wait, what was I talking about?
Oh yes, so the first would be again, the most acceptable.
Then again, this is in my eyes, perhaps others would argue that even the tamer of the two shots, is still objectification since by having a photograph of them on my deskop - is turning them into an object, something to be looked at.
So, what are others thoughts? In a world where sexualisation is everywhere, EVERYWHERE, can we really be blamed for retaining a piece of it for a desktops? Are we not allowed to see a person on the television, in a film or a game and think, that particular face, that particular hair, that particular person is one I would like to be reminded of when I turn on my computer?
They say you know it (objectifcation/pornography) when you see it, but since everyone is different, who has the final say?
I will leave you with 2 gorgeous actresses. Though I am not brave enough to adorn my computer with, perhaps one of you will.
Edit:- I edited in some other safer examples, to show you (other than Space) what has not been metioned.
Disclaimer: While most of these images are perfectly fine, some of them are a little risque, so you might not want your boss, mother or dog watching behind you - (it's alright, the dog can look.)
Paragon Fury was discussing how people judge him based on his scantily clad anime based desktops, and it got me thinking about my own experiences.
Judgement about your desktop, particularly as a man, is rife. We are human beings, with human urges, but a expression of that fact through a desktop image, is deemed unacceptable, atleast in my case. We are given funny looks, judged and ultimately, rejected.
Now, I am not advocating that everyone should display big wobbly udders on their desktops and expect no reaction, sexual arousal is too intimate a topic to brandish to all and sundry, particularly when all and sundry is your family!
Yet, on the other hand, even the slightest hint of female appriciation in desktop form, can invite comment. Let me give you some examples to make my position clear:
I am a hetrosexual male, by no means particularly leering but I do like to "admire" the female form. I tend to want to have my desktop reflect whatever game or film I am in to at the time, and often that would involve a female protagonist. Many years ago I was a big fan of Final Fantasy and the character of Yuna in particular so this seemed like a good desktop to have:
Mother - "Oh, that's your sort of girl is it? Like hotpants do you?"
Since then I have felt constrained to have much more boring backgrounds and as a result things even as tame as this:
And not just CG characters. I am a huge fan of Delta Goodrem, one of the most beautiful voices I have ever heard and she just so happens to be quite beautiful herself:
While I'm not saying that people would actively take issue with these images, it would invite comment, as I showed earlier. Comment that is embarassing, and thus I feel I must remain tame in my choices.
To make matters even more amusingly irrational, muscle bound men is on the other hand, quite acceptable:
This would invite no comment and raise no eyebrows. Logic would seem to dictate that perhaps I was homosexual and instead was admiring the male form, but it doesnt seem that is the case.
Edit: Apparently the Noble team just IS NOT muscley enough so here is a picture of Arnie to be a better example.
So, finally, what are we left with? Perhaps what Jeremy Clarkson referred to as Car Porn:
Perhaps these?
So, my question to you is this: If a scantily clad anime character, thrusting her boobies at the screen is too far, where do we say the line is? When does admiration of a person, or an actress, or a game charcater become leering at a woman? When is it appriciation of the female (or male) form, and when is it objectification?
These are our questions ladies and gents and here is some things to consider.
But which is the most sutible for your desktop? Most certainly the first.
.....
.....
Wait, what was I talking about?
Oh yes, so the first would be again, the most acceptable.
Then again, this is in my eyes, perhaps others would argue that even the tamer of the two shots, is still objectification since by having a photograph of them on my deskop - is turning them into an object, something to be looked at.
So, what are others thoughts? In a world where sexualisation is everywhere, EVERYWHERE, can we really be blamed for retaining a piece of it for a desktops? Are we not allowed to see a person on the television, in a film or a game and think, that particular face, that particular hair, that particular person is one I would like to be reminded of when I turn on my computer?
They say you know it (objectifcation/pornography) when you see it, but since everyone is different, who has the final say?
I will leave you with 2 gorgeous actresses. Though I am not brave enough to adorn my computer with, perhaps one of you will.
Edit:- I edited in some other safer examples, to show you (other than Space) what has not been metioned.
