Julie wrote:Since you've asked how other women feel about this...and since I'm not only a woman, but a large-breasted woman...WoodGracie wrote:I have been following Atsali's story line and have begun to care for this character as I have all the others you have shared with us. I have no problem with her boobs. It is because she is 15 (in siren years or not, the story states that she is 15 and that implies she is 15 in human years). I can appreciate what you are doing as far as empowering her by showing her new found sense of comfort/ownership in her body, something I have always admired about your characters and why I enjoy reading your work so much. However, I am feeling protective of your character, as I would hope any adult female, sister and mother would, by looking at it as putting her on display and in so doing unintentionally objectifying her as this culture does, you even allude to it with Katherine's comment that the world is just not ready for her awesome innocence... you can't tell me there aren't people out there who are following your work and appreciating how you draw women on a very different level than where your intent is, even some of the comments on here mention taking a cold shower, or jumping out in the snow...Just sayin'. I meant no offense to you or how you handle your characters, I guess I just don't trust that all that are looking at your work regarding Atsali are looking at it the same way you do. I hope you understand where I am coming from...how do any other women out there or your wife feel about this? am I totally out in left field on this???
You're not totally out in left field on this (given that other readers have posted similar concerns since Atsali went through her overnight puberty), but you are getting concerned over something that cannot be controlled. He's posted images of Atsali as a young girl and even of Castela, and those "pinups" didn't receive the kind of "this seems inappropriate" feedback that the Atsali pinups are getting now. However, by your arguement, there could be pedophiles enjoying his art in a way other than Paul intended, so maybe he shouldn't put those pictures up either. I think you shouldn't concern yourself with what people might be doing as a result of seeing Paul's art.
I also don't think it would be fair (to Paul or the readers) to say that he can't do pinups of a character that has become so loved so quickly simply because she has large breasts and also happens to be 15. Yes, American culture (and possibly other cultures) tends to breed this idea that "big breasts = sexual being," so it's probably safe to assume that some people "enjoy" these drawings far more than they should given the character's age...but part of what Paul is doing with this storyline and these pinup pieces is trying to combat that unfair assumption. Breasts are just another bodily feature, and shouldn't automatically cause a woman to be judged as "sexual" (or worse, "slutty"). A person can be wholesome and innocent no matter what size her rack happens to be, so why can't that wholesome individual have pinups/portraits posted online? Why does posting that woman or girl's image automatically have to be "suggestive"? Why can't we embrace the idea that "suggestive" has more to do with the body language and less with the body's shape?
Unfortunately, you're right...there will probably always be creeps and deviants perusing images posted online, but we, the rest of society, should take steps to retrain our reactions and thought processes so we can appreciate work like what Paul is sharing. We're not the ones who are getting off looking at a 15 year old, so why should we feel that it's "wrong" to look at an image of her having fun when all we're doing is being amused (at her love of rock 'n roll) and appreciative (of Paul's art)? We shouldn't let the ugly people of the world negatively impact our ability to enjoy life...nor should we allow those people's behavior patterns to lead us to pass similar judgement on people who aren't actually being "inappropriate" (and by that I'm referring both to Paul, who is doing nothing wrong with these pinups, and the girls and women out there who are automatically objectified due to their body shape and clothing choices). It's sweet that you feel protective of her (a testament to Paul's writing abilities), but there's a point where being protective isn't helpful. Hiding a teen away because her body might produce arousal in others isn't the solution.
So yeah...my two cents as a female reader.
Thank you for your input and for letting me know that I wasn't entirely wrong...I guess that I was projecting and you are right that I can't control how people will look at these images and I should just enjoy the ride that Paul is taking us on. Thank you for reminding me to just chill!
I do want to clarify that I was not meaning to sound judgmental toward Paul or any women or to the commenters on here. If I did I apologize.
I have two teenaged boys and have struggled to be sure they do not objectify women and hope that they continue to grow into caring, compassionate young men that treat everyone with mutual respect. My 17 yo has a talented and brilliant girlfriend that is well endowed, I know that what he sees is more than just the physical aspect of her, because I know him, but I also know her mother well and know that she has struggled with how she looks and being taken seriously. She is very shy because of it all. I just wish there was a way to stop the way this culture perceives women and girls as nothing more than T&A so we would never have to have this conversation again. I really do appreciate that Paul is doing his part and applaud him for it.