Hiding Behind Fig Leaves

Its a sign of how Russia is now joining the race backwards (which parts of the new 'Western civilisation' is also quickly joining), when a statue of Michelangelo's David recently put on show in central St Petersburg, may have to be 'dressed up' i.e. underpants put on it, because a resident objected to its 'nakedness'.

The Simpsons David Is Clothed .... After Morals Committee Vote

This all reminds me of the episode of the Simpsons, when the same statue faces the same prejudice from the local morals association and has pants put on it ..... Of course Marge Simpson gets them removed, but then no one goes to see the statue apart from her and a reluctant Homer.

Homer And Marge View Naked Genius ...

Organisers of the sculpture exhibition in the city, say they'll ask residents to decide whether to cover up the 5m (16ft) plastic statue, after the complaint went in to the children's rights ombudsman, that it was an eyesore and a bad influence on pupils at a nearby school.

"How could you put this man without any trousers on in the centre of St Petersburg, next to a school and a church? This giant spoils the city's historic appearance and warps children's souls."

Of course as many people have pointed out, St Petersburg is absolutely full to the brim with naked and semi naked statues of nymphs and gods and goddesses, as Peter the Great and Catherine the Great populated the city with 'Classical Art' .... but the woman complainant has refused to be convinced, so a public vote of some sort will be organised, as everyone tries to hide behind the fig leaf of bourgeois respectability .... literally.

Michelangelo's Statue Of David With His Calvin's ...

Under the "Dress David" initiative, city residents will first be asked to suggest clothes for the statue, and will then vote in a 16-23 August poll on what to put him in, with one option being to just "keep him as he is".

Assuming the local church get involved, then underpants it will be (or more probably he will be moved indoors, to save everyone's blushes). 

 

Update: 

 

In March 2023, Florida headmistress Ms Hope Carrasquilla was asked to resign (or be fired), after a parent complained that sixth-grade (12 year old) students were exposed to pornography, when shown a picture of the statue in school. apparently one neanderthal parent complained the material was pornographic and two others said they wanted to know about the class before it was taught. 

 

The art/history (Renaissance art class) class also included references to Michelangelo's "The Creation of Adam" painting and Botticelli's "The Birth of Venus". Now in Muslim countries, these are all banned for everyone, but no other Western countries have so far restricted viewing of them to over 12 year olds. Experienced educator Ms Carrasquilla told The Tallahassee Democrat that she was 'saddened' that her brief tenure at the school came to an end. She was only in the job for under a year. The school board president who effectively fired her is named Barney Bishop.  

 

Cecilie Hollberg, the director of Galleria dell'Accademia, the Florence museum that houses Michelangelo's statue of David, has invited teachers and students from a Florida school to visit and said that the principal should be "rewarded, not punished. Talking about the Renaissance without showing the David, an undisputed icon of art and culture and of that historical period, would make no sense."

 

Parts of the USA are regressing towards Taliban values faster than its possible to imagine. 

2nd Update: After Florence's Accademia Galleria director Cecilie Hollberg invited Hope Carrasquilla and her family to see Michelangelo's statue of David. Ms Carrasquilla finally made the visit in April 2023. Ms Carrasquilla said she was impressed by the gallery, saying: "I think it's beautiful. It looks like a church. The thing that impresses me the most is that this whole gallery was built for him. There is nothing wrong with the human body in and of itself. Michelangelo would have done him wrong to sculpt him in any other way. I think it's wonderful." 

 

Florida's Department of Education was forced to issue a statement, declaring that the David statue has "artistic and historical value" .... that's big of them.