Sexuality in the Arts

“Music” by Henri Matisse (1907).

I noticed the above painting for the first time this last weekend.  When I saw it, I liked it.  But it wasn’t until I read the title that many of the below words came to mind:

“Music”

Music asks you to play
Music asks you to dance
Music asks you to move in rhythm
Music asks you to keep in tempo
Music asks you to keep practicing
Music asks you to stop sitting still
Music asks you to stand
Music asks you to join in
Music asks you to move together
Music asks you to coordinate
Music asks you to consider the wants of your band
Music asks you to consider the wants of your audience
Music asks you to consider the past, the future, and now
Music asks us to draw closer

Music does not ask your gender
Music does not care about your orientation
Music does not care what country you are from
Music does not inquire about your religion
Music does not note what types of relationships you are in
Music does not freeze you in time
Music does not define you immutably
Music does not interpet you by the color of your skin
Music does not ask your age
Music does not tell you what to wear
Music does not require you to wear anything at all
Music does not tell you who to love
Music does not tell you who not to love
Music does not ask us to forget

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Another photograph of the same painting:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Matisse

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