We're not going to say that we're perfect, because we're not. On the other hand, we can't help but get a little disgusted at the "beautifully big" work of Florence Studios. We spotted it on Neatorama a while back, and the terrible mental images have been with us ever since.
Florence Studios has taken a number of famous works of art and distorted them into obese, gurgling mounds of ceramic flesh. Take a look below, as we've compared Botticelli's Venus to Florence Studio's version for the Weight Watcher set.
While the first Venus isn't exactly a babe by modern day standards, I'm almost positive that Venus wasn't meant to have cankles. Plus, the unspoken endorsement of extreme obesity by comparing it to some of the world's greatest works of art is downright disturbing.
What's your take?
1. Being overweight isn't a result of what you eat, but how much. And in some cases under eating can actually contribute to more weight gain then over eating. So think all "fat" people eat McDonald's is just privative.
2. To M. I'm sorry that you have such a low self image. Because not all "fat" people feel bad about themselves. Why should they? They have every right to like themselves they way they are. And unlike most people seem to believe they don't all pant and sweat and etc. walking around the block. Some are in great shape, they just have 'extra' weight on their bodies. Yes I agree that most of them need to loose weight, but don't just assume that big equals bad health. Once again I'm sorry that you have/had health issues and that you felt so bad about yourself.
3. These bigger sized artworks are beautiful. And I'm sorry to say that they don't make people think it is okay to be overweight. If you truly believe looking at a beautiful rendition of a larger sized person is going to make people think it's okay to gain weight, perhaps you should take a look at why you seem to think that it is that easy to be brain washed into changing your appearance and lifestyle. It is art it wont hurt you.
Wow M, congratulations on the hard work! I agree, there's a huge difference between voluptuous and obese. I'm not trying to say everyone should weigh 120 pounds, just that we should help people move away from obesity instead of altering our art to support it.
@Jeremiah "If you disapprove so much why don't you put out some versions of classic rubenesque pieces in modern model size?"
Glorifying skin and bones is just as unhealthy. I'm sorry for your accident, and I realize that there are definitely cases like yours where you can only do so much to shed the extra weight - but you're definitely the exception to the rule.
There's a lot of great rubinesque traditional works of art out there, so why produce a distorted (and hideous) version of venus?
But even if you admire a more voluptuous form, and many do, there's a big difference between rubinesque and obese.
Fat people may say 'Big is Beautiful' but most of them don't really mean it. I'm seriously not slinging off at them; 18 months ago, I weighed 297lb.
It doesn't feel voluptuous. You sweat. You have trouble moving. You don't want to have to sit or kneel on the floor, cause it's hard to get up again. Your feet hurt, your knees hurt, you pant when you have to waddle round the block. You wear concealing clothes and wouldn't be caught dead in a swimsuit, never mind naked. You don't alow yourself to be attracted to anyone, because you're afraid they find you disgusting. Because you disgust yourself.
Forget about loving yourself the way you are. The best thing you can do for yourself is go on a diet. They do work, if you exercise, watch your calorie intake, and make permenant lifestyle changes to keep the weight off.
Today, I'm a fit 150lb, dress size 10. It wasn't easy, but it's worth it.
In highschool I was 165 lbs and 6' tall. By college I'd gained and was probably 180. I was skinny and extremely athletic.
Then I got hit by a car and can no longer exercise. In 3 years I'd shot up to 300lbs. I'm currently 300, having struggled for 10 years.
And it's not always as simple as McDonalds- I've been a vegetarian and a vegan for 16 years. I've been through doctors and dietitians who can't get past the "Stop eating Whoppers and French Fries advice."
Your point of view is very easy if you've been normal or near normal weight your whole life- God forbid you ever have a problem and get to be one of us who knows what it was like to be skinny and healthy.
Because I know what it's like about 6 years ago I painted a fat Michelangelo's David. My version wasn't quite the same as the one offered on Florence, but I love both the Venus statue and the David statue.
If you disapprove so much why don't you put out some versions of classic rubenesque pieces in modern model size?
Great - another artist trying to tell people it's ok to be fat. News flash - it's not ok - do you see fat old people? No, because they can't live that long eating McDonalds everyday and carrying around the equivalent of two extra people. Instead of Welfare, the government should be giving out treadmills.