I just had to update with a bit of a rant. I am a bit pissed off at deviantART. Recently I was checking my notes and found a message from the admin. Someone had notified them saying one of my deviations needed a “mature content” warning on it. I was surprised because I didn’t even recognize the title of the artwork. When I follow the link it is to a piece in my scrapbook of a mother nursing a baby. What I was so surprised about was that this piece is buried in my scrapbook, not to mention that it is so abstract it bordered on non-representational abstraction. Yet someone found this, took offense to it and then turned me in to the dA police! Here is a link to the offensive art I am typing about: [link] This is the second time one of my deviations have been turned in for not having a “mature content” filter on it. The first was this drawing here: [link] Now, before I get into my rant let me make something very clear. I fully understand the policy of deviantART to flag artwork containing nudity as “mature content” and this has since expanded to images depicting gore, and adult themes which may be disturbing or too edgy for some of the younger viewers of this site. I also understand that I agreed to these terms by becoming a member of this site. But I have to challenge a few of the blatant contradictions in policy.

First of all here is exactly what the terms of service states:
Section 19 Conduct, number 2 You agree not to use this service to upload, post, or otherwise transmit any material that is obscene, offensive, blasphemous, pornographic, unlawful, threatening, menacing, abusive, harmful, an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, illegal or otherwise objectionable;

Now this is some of the vaguest legalistic language one can concoct! It is just an attempt for the powers that be to cover their ass and punish those they see fit to punish. They offer no further definitions of these terms and if you have browsed dA for long you will find many deviations which are “obscene, offensive, blasphemous, pornographic, unlawful, threatening, menacing, abusive, harmful, an invasion of privacy or publicity rights, defamatory, libelous, vulgar, illegal or otherwise objectionable.” I’ve even seen works given a DD that fall into these categories!

Now, I tried to find a few regulations regarding depictions of nudity, sexual acts, and bodily fluids that dA used to have rules about. I couldn’t find any but would have included them here if I had. If memory serves correctly they basically said no representations of sexual acts, bodily fluids even if simulated, and nudes need a “mature content” flag. Ever see a deviation with blood in it? I think there was a DD photo just the other day of a woman with fake blood oozing from her neck! As for the others, well we can pull up representation of these just by using dA’s emoticons! Here are a few for your viewing pleasure!
deviantART’s mascot showing his anus for you!
Something for the anal penetration lovers
Bunny humpers
just a few more highlighting bodily waste and one-finger gestures.
And one last thought, let me recreate the nudity in my flagged art using only emoticons

Legalistic contradictions really piss me of when it comes to stuff like this. I understand that I agreed to dA’s terms when I became a member of this website. Nevertheless, shit like this makes me want to leave! I plan on starting a page on My Art Space{ dot } com soon. They seem to have less bullshit and more serious art. The best bet would just be to create my own webpage featuring my art. There I could post what I want without any hassle or silly policy; however, I just don’t have time for that now. But it is coming someday.


Just one last thought. When I was 8 and in second grade, I remember going over to the high school in my small town to see the annual student art show. My teacher, Miss Bev Hackley, told us that we would see representations of the nude figure, and we were not to point and laugh, but treat the art with respect. She went on to say that there was nothing shameful or dirty about the art and that it was beautiful. She wanted us on our best behavior and I was a very serious young boy. As I went through the halls of the high school and the auditorium, library, and gymnasium I was overwhelmed with the amount of amazing art that was before my young eyes. And yes, there were plenty of nudes! I took a special interest in these since I thought by spending extra time talking about these pieces, they were therefore the most important or beautiful ones on display. I even gave a few dirty scowls to other classmates and grade schoolers that were giggling at the nudes. “Grow up and act like a 9 year old!” I thought to myself. If an eight year old boy in Rensselaer Indiana can appreciate nude art for what it is, maybe those who feel the need to censor deviations with “mature content” flags should think twice about what they are doing on an art website!!

So what are your thoughts? Please share if you made it to the bottom of this post!