Stab me in the eye: Topless Bust of Michelle O.
Posted by: elledub08 on: October 9, 2008
folks, I’m speechless.
The controversial topless bust of Barack Obama’s wife Michelle Obama was unveiled to the public in New York yesterday.
On his website, Edwards describes the artwork as, “an accessorized mannequin bust of Obama that foregoes the conventional pearl necklace, and provides for her a ’signature look’ to take to Washington.“The goal is to create a look for Michelle Obama that eliminates excessive comparisons to Jackie Kennedy.”
from Entertainment Wise
I’m pretty offended by this rendering of Mrs. Obama. Why do we have to exoticize the Black female body all the damn time? I understand that it is supposed to remind the viewer of Nefertiti, but this is just damnably tacky. I mean, the flag? The Presidential emblem on the headdress?
And, before you ask, yes–this is a white male sculptor.
Why is it so bad that to many people, Michelle O. might be the new Jackie O.? There’s nothing wrong with that at all. Shame on the artist for trying to dictate how I should and should not see Michelle Obama? Things like this make me so angry. We shouldn’t have to change our Jackie-esque image of Michelle for anybody or anything. And yet, the artist sees this as problematic. Why is it that when it is a Black woman, some artists feel the need to so desperate make her exotic and sexual? Even the famed bust of Nefertiti does not render the queen with her breasts hanging out, and I question the Daniel Edwards interpretation of this particular bust.
Man, this is all out of order. I would like to see some decent artist renderings of Michelle Obama, so if y’all got them out there….please share.
9 Responses to "Stab me in the eye: Topless Bust of Michelle O."
October 10, 2008 at 1:46 am
I was just IM’ing with elledubs about this. I actually have a totally different take on this bust. I think the divine Michelle Obama looks regal. I think the artist was praising Michelle – her head is unbowed, proud, strong. I think it’s a daring and striking sculpture. I probably wouldn’t have it in my apartment, but I actually think it’s highly complimentary.
My $0.02
October 10, 2008 at 1:00 pm
I’m not going to touch the question about whether this is art and if it is, is a good art. My question is what about the presidential race. Are there any topless sculptures of other first ladies or better yet potential first ladies? Are there any that were released just before an election? If not – than why is she being treated differently? I remember the Clinton election. Hillary Clinton wasn’t much older than Michelle Obama and was considered an attractive woman. I didn’t see anything with her breasts showing. I’ve never seen anything depicting Jackie O’s breasts. It would have been considered undignified, I’m sure. And it would have been a reflection on John Kennedy – not just here. Similarly, I think this will have an impact on Barak Obama. I imagine some people will “accuse” her of posing nude for it as well. More controversy – more problems. At best, the artisit is trying to profit off the novelty with no concern about how it will impact the people. After all, it will garner more attention now than if Sen. Obama never becomes president. That would be too risky. At worst, it was deliberately released now to get speculation going about the judgment, taste and morality of Michelle Obama and by relationship – her husband.
October 13, 2008 at 6:01 am
i dunno. i can see how somebody might get “offended” but at the end of the day is it affecting your bottom line? first off, the bust (no pun intended) aint slutty. it coulda been… but it aint. second, if you been to the park outsida da white house, plenty of naked people out dere. third, who is this artist? really. true he a white man. but the author of this blog will have you thinking that cus he white, he evil. dat aint true. dude been known to cause controversy. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Edwards
he a known discussion starter. so he started this discussion. is it a racial insult to have THE black candidate’s broad out in public, titties out and all that? in my humble opinion, no. michelle obama is beautiful. do her titties look like dat? i dunno… is my opinion of her downgraded? no. do people who oggle semi-pornographic art of black chicks in public parks in nyc more likely to vote republican? who knows. but this piece of sculputer fails to convince me that america, and its white social elite are inherently evil. (although they probably are, this blog hasn’t convinced me………………………………………………………………………………………..yet, i’ll check back in)
October 13, 2008 at 6:03 am
oh, and the blogger before me said, “why is she being treated differently?” are you serious? of course she’s being treated differently. and its because she’s black. what do you want? reparations?
October 31, 2008 at 12:46 pm
for knot:
where in my entire post did i ever say white people were evil?
never.
get your reading comprehension skills up
also, your reparations comment is straight up tasteless.
November 15, 2008 at 11:15 pm
I really think this piece is not about art it is a shameful disgrace and an insult to our First Lady.
I am sure Edwards did not do this to Laura Bush, or Mrs. Bush Senior. I am sure he did not.
This has to do with a Republican backlash against blacks and in particular the Obama family. I would not display this in any form anywhere. There is no place in today’s society to disgrace our President’s wife and I would boycott this person’s tastelessness in any form. I urge everyone to write to this guy and blast him, he obviously has too much time on his hands and he could put them to better use.
March 20, 2009 at 10:07 pm
its america, last time i checked we are a free country sooooooooooooooo the artist can do as he wishes
March 23, 2009 at 4:19 pm
and you raise an excellent point.
meanwhile, it can still be offensive to some people. mostly because, to your point, this is a free country.
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October 9, 2008 at 7:33 pm
I find this bust to very offensive, a slap in the face and a kick in the ass. Speaking of “kick in the ass” that is exactly what I would do if I ran into Mr. Edwards!
You can this crap art?
Give me a break!
D.C.