Editor's Blog0 min ago
What Constitutes A Family In 2014 Birmingham?
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Does this statue reflect single parent families or is there more to this than first meets the eye, and is in fact a sly way to immortalise same sex parenthood?
/// Her £100,000 work representing what it means to be an ‘ordinary’ family in 2014 is of two single mothers and their children. ///
/// Dr Patricia Morgan, a leading researcher on family policy, said the artist’s decision to portray a fatherless family was ‘a disgrace’. ‘We should know whether or not there’s a man involved here,’ she said. ‘Is he taking responsibility, living with them, or not? These are things the viewer needs to know. ///
/// ‘They are putting this up as some kind of ideal which people have to be like or have to evolve in this direction, but it represents under 1 per cent of the population.’ ///
/// The sisters say the sculpture will help other families with unusual set-ups feel welcome in Birmingham. ///
I didn't realise that one must meet a certain criteria before they feel welcome in Birmingham?
Does this statue reflect single parent families or is there more to this than first meets the eye, and is in fact a sly way to immortalise same sex parenthood?
/// Her £100,000 work representing what it means to be an ‘ordinary’ family in 2014 is of two single mothers and their children. ///
/// Dr Patricia Morgan, a leading researcher on family policy, said the artist’s decision to portray a fatherless family was ‘a disgrace’. ‘We should know whether or not there’s a man involved here,’ she said. ‘Is he taking responsibility, living with them, or not? These are things the viewer needs to know. ///
/// ‘They are putting this up as some kind of ideal which people have to be like or have to evolve in this direction, but it represents under 1 per cent of the population.’ ///
/// The sisters say the sculpture will help other families with unusual set-ups feel welcome in Birmingham. ///
I didn't realise that one must meet a certain criteria before they feel welcome in Birmingham?
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Hmm...
I rather think that more is being made of this than should be. Same-sex, or single-parent, families exist, and therefore ought to be included in art pieces now and then. Why should that be a problem? If every time such a family is included in art and people protest, it is surely because they haven't yet got used to the idea.
I rather think that more is being made of this than should be. Same-sex, or single-parent, families exist, and therefore ought to be included in art pieces now and then. Why should that be a problem? If every time such a family is included in art and people protest, it is surely because they haven't yet got used to the idea.
When it comes to family, I don't think 'ordinary'is a word that cuts much ice - every grouping is individual and in truth if art only portrayed what we imagine as the norm it would be tedious in the extreme.
On the subject of Family, Grayson Perry's series this weeks showed him examining just that and making an art piece for each of the groups he followed. It was very interesting in all its complexities.
On the subject of Family, Grayson Perry's series this weeks showed him examining just that and making an art piece for each of the groups he followed. It was very interesting in all its complexities.
"Man, woman and children is such a cliché"
What a strange thing to say, Zeuhl.
"cliché": - a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality and impact by long overuse"
What originality has "Man woman and children" lost then? Why should it have any impact, let alone lose any?
Like it or not, the vast, vast majority of families throughout this country and indeed the rest of the world are composed of "man, woman and children". Are you saying that because of this the phrase is overused? Are you saying that such a typical family composition should no longer be portrayed? Are you just trying to join the arty-crafty set by suggesting that things in common use are clichés? I find your statement very strange.
It is families such as those portrayed which are unusual. Once again, like it or not, such groups represent a very small percentage of the population. Just because of that a portrayal of a more common grouping hardly fits my definition of a "cliché".
Where does 0.4 of a child come in to the scheme of things? Nobody ever suggested that 2.4 children was a typical or common number to have. It was (and maybe still is, I don't know) just the mean average number that the population as a whole had.
This portrayal is different to most. But, comparitively it's an uncommon grouping. That doesn't make the most common arrangement a "cliché"
What a strange thing to say, Zeuhl.
"cliché": - a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality and impact by long overuse"
What originality has "Man woman and children" lost then? Why should it have any impact, let alone lose any?
Like it or not, the vast, vast majority of families throughout this country and indeed the rest of the world are composed of "man, woman and children". Are you saying that because of this the phrase is overused? Are you saying that such a typical family composition should no longer be portrayed? Are you just trying to join the arty-crafty set by suggesting that things in common use are clichés? I find your statement very strange.
It is families such as those portrayed which are unusual. Once again, like it or not, such groups represent a very small percentage of the population. Just because of that a portrayal of a more common grouping hardly fits my definition of a "cliché".
Where does 0.4 of a child come in to the scheme of things? Nobody ever suggested that 2.4 children was a typical or common number to have. It was (and maybe still is, I don't know) just the mean average number that the population as a whole had.
This portrayal is different to most. But, comparitively it's an uncommon grouping. That doesn't make the most common arrangement a "cliché"
As the mothers are sisters, can't see that this has anything to do with same sex parenthood. Are we supposed to keep pretending that everyone lives in a 'nuclear' family, or just accept that other versions exist?
The family who live 2 doors up from me (Mum and Dad married) had their six children taken into care as basically they would just leave them unattended running around the street all day. In contrast, these 2 mothers look like their children are well cared for and loved. Friends of mine are foster parents, most of the children they look after have both parents at home.
It's also rather nice to see a statue that's well crafted rather than some weird distortion of a person!
The family who live 2 doors up from me (Mum and Dad married) had their six children taken into care as basically they would just leave them unattended running around the street all day. In contrast, these 2 mothers look like their children are well cared for and loved. Friends of mine are foster parents, most of the children they look after have both parents at home.
It's also rather nice to see a statue that's well crafted rather than some weird distortion of a person!
AOG
The plaque below the statue states the relationship between the two women...that they are sisters, rather than same sex partners.
And even if they were - what's the big deal? The subject is 'A Real Birmingham Family'...not 'A Typical Birmingham Family' or 'The Average Birmingham Family'.
It appears that this piece of art is being unnecessarily politicised.
The plaque below the statue states the relationship between the two women...that they are sisters, rather than same sex partners.
And even if they were - what's the big deal? The subject is 'A Real Birmingham Family'...not 'A Typical Birmingham Family' or 'The Average Birmingham Family'.
It appears that this piece of art is being unnecessarily politicised.
In fact, you know what I would think if I were walking through Birmingham and saw that statue?
I would think that it represented the reality for many women in the country with young children. Off to the park with a family member, whilst dad's at work.
Women have made tremendous inroads professionally over the past 50 years, and whereas it was rare to see successful and powerful female executives, now it's commonplace.
However, for millions of women, staying home to raise children is their choice - and perhaps this statue is a fair representation of this.
I would think that it represented the reality for many women in the country with young children. Off to the park with a family member, whilst dad's at work.
Women have made tremendous inroads professionally over the past 50 years, and whereas it was rare to see successful and powerful female executives, now it's commonplace.
However, for millions of women, staying home to raise children is their choice - and perhaps this statue is a fair representation of this.
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