Nudity. Casual or otherwise

[wrentemple]

I've been working on some new stuff that's turning out incredibly well.
However I tend to draw a lot of casual nudity in quiet personal scenes where the characters are alone.
Mostly male and mostly partial, but there are some instances with women.

Upon quality checking my latest chapter I had to stop and think, should I censor my work?

I know that a lot of people will insist any nudity at all is gratuitous and detrimental to the story.
So I want opinions...

Do you oppose it?, do you not care as long as the story remains good? or, well, are you one of those people that enjoy a bit of forced fan service a la Conan the Barbarian? ahaha

Some opinions would be nice.

Edit: My point wasn't whether it should be NSFW or not... It was about people's personal opinions on the inclusion of nudity in a comic.

[Doubtcent]

It varies. Here on Tapastic the majority of nudity should be marked NSFW. There are some instances where nudity is allowed, like when it's more of a artistic expression rather than just being an element to titillate the feeling of sensuality itself. Similar to when you look through a sketchbook of an artist full of nudes versus straight up fan-service.

So if it's more of an expression of artistic beauty, the celebration of the human body, and as long as it's tasteful, it should be fine. You can still be flagged by individual users, but that's another story.

[francisangelos]

I don't really mind, but the context is always important.

also the bodies are idealized and sculptural our more natural?

Because if you do more natural bodies it's easier to see that your objective its not to exploit it.

[joannekwan]

I don't mind nudity as long as it's not so over-sexualized you expect it to be from like a hentai or something. As far as having it here on Tapastic, just mark it nsfw so people know not to look at it while at work with coworkers and bosses around, wouldn't want a naked body to appear at your desk no matter how scientific or artistic it is. The only thing Tapastic doesn't allow is graphic stuff that's basically porn.

[SpavVy]

As long as it's not straight up porn you're fine. Still you should put some kind of warning on it whether it's written in text before the reader starts the actual comic or to put the NSFW tag on it. I decided to do both just to be safe.

[wrentemple]

I'd just like to clarify, my point wasn't about whether I should mark it NSFW or not... As anything with nudity should be out of consideration for those who read comics on a work break or whilst travelling. It's polite more than anything.

The rest of the points are good though
The message I'm getting is that it's acceptable as long as it's not gratuitous and/or over-sexualized.
Which is good as I wouldn't consider what I do either ^_^

[UzukiCheverie]

You don't need to censor the art itself if you have it marked NSFW.

Also, I'd like to point out that NSFW doesn't vary depending on what you're "portraying" with your art. Nudity was and is not a sexuality thing unless it's used in an intentional sexual situation. NSFW has just one simple rule - would you show it to a child, your mother, or your boss? That is the only guideline you need - not what you're portraying, not what kind of "mood" you're going for, etc. If there's nudity, whether it's "casual" or not, it's best to mark it NSFW and be better safe than sorry.

If you mark it NSFW, you don't need to censor the artwork. I'm sorry if I sound angry, but I just don't understand why this is such a complicated subject for so many people xD""" It's simple and makes enough sense if you don't try and split so many hairs over it. It's not an opinionated or subjective matter. If it's got anything that would be listed on the back of an M-rated video game, or something that people wouldn't want to see without prior warning (dick pics eww), or -whatever- analogy you want to use, it's NSFW. Easy as that.

Drop a few F-bombs? NSFW (the F-bomb is considered a "level 3" swear word - basically any word you can't get away with saying on cable TV, unlike a few words that are allowed to slip under the radar because they actually mean something, like bitch or bastard; I heard the word bitch in Naruto the other day, it was really weird >.>)

Nudity, whether they're just undressing or just like to go free willie sometimes? Should be NSFW.

Lots of blood, gore, explicit and graphic violence? NSFW.

Sex scenes, whether light or super heavy? NSFW.

^^^^^ I seriously want this to get pinned so people can see what the actual guidelines are for NSFW and that it's not such a delicate issue because it's so easy to discern between what's okay and what's not. That's just how passionately angry I am about how much of a recurring subject this is for more reasons than it has to be :U

[Doubtcent]

Seems like a good a good idea to accentuate on. "What qualifies as NSFW?" I'd like to quote your last few paragraphs @UzukiCheverie , if that's okay.

[facemeltingsolos]

Please don't censor your work to cater to others. I'm sure I don't need to tell you that if someone you respect criticizes your work in specific ways it's great to take their advice into consideration, but censoring yourself? Screw that!

That said, I'm one of those overly sensitive people who's affected by nudity in general. I realize I'm in a micro-minority, but that's the way it is. Maybe your comic may not appeal to me, but it's sure to resonate with someone!

Please don't let sensitives like me prevent you from reaching a more perfect and realized version of your art.

[UzukiCheverie]

Go ahead, if I didn't want things to be quoted I wouldn't be posting them publicly Meaning you're good lol x3

[Menbung]

Yup, please do not censor yourself, draw what you like and how you like it, don't change things in order to please others.

My opinions on nudity in comics or art in general: I love it =] , I enjoy some casual bath scenes out of nowhere, peeps changing clothes, the usual "oops you were in the bathroom naked and I walked in", fan service in general, etc.

I don't mind if it oversexualized or not, coz in the end everyone is free to draw what they like.

Go for it, clothes are optional, no? >=D

Whatever you do, it doesn't matter what, there'll be peeps out there who ain't gonna like it, some of them may even hate it... so might as well do what you want, in the end you'll be happier and I'm pretty sure that's the way peeps are gonna like it.

[williamjbowles]

It really depends on a number of factors.
I'd say if it's just butts, it's not such a big deal. Is the nudity emphasized or detailed, or is it just kind of barely there? Also, it seems that for whatever reason, male nudity seems to be less 'mature' than female nudity.
I don't know the nature of your comic, but is the nudity important to the story/scene? If it doesn't add anything, keep in mind that different people have different tastes in things, and nude scenes may limit your comic from reaching some audiences (namely younger viewers, but it depends on how 'mature' the scenes are).

Tell your story the way you feel it should be told, but if the NFSW scenes don't add anything to the comic, you may want to consider toning it down in order to reach a broader audience. Don't bend over backwards just to try to please everyone, of course (pro tip: it is literally impossible to please everyone), but just consider things from multiple directions and do what you think would be best for your story.

[DragonPena]

Guys could you check my comic Pulta

obviously there's some nudity BUT is a spirit and its hair always covers its privates, I don't think I have even drawn its butt lol.

I made the hair super big so it would conveniently censor everything NSFWish.. So should I still put it under NSFW ..? I wouldn't show it to a kid or my mom, so I guess it's NSFW according to tapastic's guidelines.

[nocuddletime]

People sit around in nothing or next to nothing all the time (even when doing mundane things). If you think your characters would be nude in a scene you're writing for them then make them nude.

[allenthomas]

Nudity for me isn't that much of an issue. Hell I had nude posers for an art class in college. As long as its in context and it isn't extremely sexual, it shouldn't be a problem. Sometimes the use of nudity is too much and other times people just need to be mature enough to look at the human anatomy without freaking out.

[Diabolo]

I found out with my comics that very casual and natural nudity (ie in my case, the portrayal of a fat middle-aged naked lady) is far more disturbing than "sensual" nudity and fan-service, which is kind of a usual thing to see (in films, shows, and even to a certain extent on... ads.)

I will never cease to draw naked people if it has a purpose in my comic.

I've read messages stating what should automaticlally be put into the NSFW category, as if it was an objective thing. I do believe however that it varies from culture to culture. In France, for instance, you can have a baby's butt (and a baby's penis) on TV without a problem. It's like... a BABY's one, it doesn't matter. But I saw babies' butts blurred on american's ads and programs.
As for swear words, no swear word whatsoever would require a censor beep on TV in France - and so no NSFW warning. So it's hard for a French person to realize they might need to flag a page when translating a "putain" into the F-word.
I know the thread is not initially about NSFW, but it sometimes is tricky to decide when to put someting in this category and when not - including for nudity.

NSFW seems like a way to protect people from unwanted, troubling aspects of a comic (including violence & sex). However, it unnerves me to put ordinary nudity into this category ; because sometimes it's not shocking, it souldn't be seen as shocking, it's just normal, it's just someone who happens to be naked, a boob showing from breast feeding or whatever, and it feels that putting them under a NSFW alert is like flagging this nudity as shaming or offending. Which is not.

[scythe]

The men in my comic have dicks. Likewise, the women have tits. As such, if it makes sense that they'd be naked in any particular scene, there's a good chance you'll see one or more of these 'offending' body parts, and you sure as shit won't be getting any warnings.

I mean, if you're not making hentai, or showing some really extreme gore, I see little reason to warn people about your content. Also, never censor your art.

[nocuddletime]

Some of the girls in my comic have dicks too. That's reality.

[ArtistHan]

I don't mind nudity. I think some people might find it distracting, but personally, I tend to see past the nudity and see what it's being used for. If there's no point or symbolism or action behind the nudity, and it's just a bunch of naked people wandering around, then I would oppose it. But if it has a point or if the art is simply beautiful and shows good skill in figure studies, then sure!

[keii4ii]

I don't think nudity is bad, even if its sole purpose is blatant titillation. That might not be the type of a comic I personally want to read, but I wouldn't call it shameful or offensive just because it has sexualized nudity.

But that doesn't mean I'm against nudity warnings.

First of all, it's about respecting different people in different situations. "You don't wanna see nudity? Tough shit. I suppose you put on a blindfold every time you take a shower?" I've seen that kind of attitude even here on Tapastic, and I find that very disrespectful. Many people live in a culture where you get stigmatized for looking at ANY sort of nudity. Sure, it would be wonderful and brave of them to fight against irrational stigmas, but I wouldn't force my readers to fight that fight.

There was a point in time where I had zero internet privacy for months. All my possessions, including my computer, were out in the living room in a 9-people household, including one 6-year-old and her mom. If I were to be in that situation again, I would not be able to view scenes that contain nudity. And if a bunch of comics decided to go "screw nudity-phobes, no NSFW warnings for you," I would have to avoid Tapastic altogether. That would make me feel highly UN-valued as a reader.

Is that a rare, extreme situation? Maybe. But there are countless other situations (some of which are quite common) that make it difficult to view nudity.

Second of all, it's my understanding that Tapastic has to abide by iTunes content policy in order to keep the app in the app store. As a member, I ought do my part in following that policy.

And lastly,

you may want to consider toning it down in order to reach a broader audience. Don't bend over backwards just to try to please everyone, of course (pro tip: it is literally impossible to please everyone), but just consider things from multiple directions and do what you think would be best for your story.

This is a really good advice. Figure out whether the inclusion of nudity helps your project get closer to the goal(s) of your comic. Is it pure self expression? Or are you trying to target a specific demographic, or trying to go pro, etc.? There are all sorts of different goals, and they're all different with regards to what works best.