I’ve known for years that Norwegians are beautiful and talented


I married one, after all. But do they have to flaunt it so? This is the monumental statuary in front of my hotel here in Oslo.

I wonder how long a similar statue would last in the US?

And yes, I have arrived, I’m ensconced in a nice hotel, I even had time to go to dinner with an international cast of humanist heroes, which was awesome. But now it’s sinking in that I haven’t slept in about 30 hours. I should do something about that right now. I have to give a talk tomorrow!

Comments

  1. Dahan says

    I find it amusing that the top banner on this page when I came here was for a Christian singles meet-up site.

  2. Audley Z. Darkheart OM, purveyor of candy and lies says

    Sleep well, PZ! Have fun in the country of my fore-bearers!

  3. says

    Its shelf life in the US would probably depend on who artist was and what they claimed about it. For that matter the location would likely also matter. I can imagine something like that being permanent in Vegas or New York, while likely to be destroyed in short order by angry mobs of prudes elsewhere.

  4. Nerd of Redhead says

    I dunno. She seems like she could use some sun. And a tripod.

    Naw, Redhair. Or, am I somehow twisted…

  5. 'Tis Himself, OM says

    I’m ensconced in a nice hotel

    Ensconced. Well la-di-dah! Us plebs have to stay at hotels but PZ is ensconced.

  6. Mattir-ritated says

    Remember the loon Christians who complained about the slutty nature of the Starbucks logo, because allegedly the mermaid was spreading her tail? They referred to the chain as “Slutbucks,” which Mr. M thought was a more enticing version of Disney Dollars.

    Having spent the last few days at Boy Scout camp, where fundie and Mormon kids were warned via a special hand wave signal before breast exposure (in PG-13 movies) or naughty words (in skits or movies) so that they could scrunch up their eyes and stick their fingers in their ears, I’m pretty sure that sculpture would be gone pretty quick.

  7. sjefskjekkasen says

    Naw that’s just an ordinary norwegian bedroom position, kept secret from the prudish world (yea that’s right, *sniff*) I’m flattered, though, that we’re considered that stuff in the headline. We do have a knack for growing beer-bellies, too. Beautiful ones (*cough*sneeze*).

  8. Lancelot Gobbo says

    I seem to remember they keep the most beautiful and talented in Voss. Or at least, they did 40 years ago when I last went there. God natt!

  9. chigau () says

    Mattir-ritated #12

    special hand wave signal

    In a darkened theatre?
    This does not bode well.

  10. Moggie says

    Mattir:

    Having spent the last few days at Boy Scout camp, where fundie and Mormon kids were warned via a special hand wave signal before breast exposure (in PG-13 movies) or naughty words (in skits or movies) so that they could scrunch up their eyes and stick their fingers in their ears, I’m pretty sure that sculpture would be gone pretty quick.

    Does that really work? If they’re genuinely able to make boys voluntarily avoid seeing boobies… well, the level of brainwashing that would involve is rather horrifying.

  11. PopeStig says

    Norwegians are beautiful and talented. This is true and thank you for noticing :-) The statue, however, is made by a British artist and portrays Kate Moss, also a brit. It’s also a copy. The original is made in solid gold.

  12. sjefskjekkasen says

    I’m more disturbed by the position of her left shoulder than anything else. She’s covered up after all. PZ has been to Vigelandsparken, which is porn in comparison.

  13. ss123 says

    I have a daughter that can do that. It’s the craziest thing… I can barely (if at all) touch my chin with my knee anymore.

  14. sandiseattle says

    I’ve never thought of Kate Moss as beautiful. Always seen her as average looking. IMHO of course.

  15. sjefskjekkasen says

    Kate Moss was often in my teenage fantasies. She was beautiful in a different kind of way, but faded fast with the drug abuse. IMHO of course.

  16. chigau () says

    Who the bleep is Kate Moss?
    I have already googled and found

    popularizing the heroin chic look

    which leaves me no wiser as to why I would give a flying fig.

  17. Patricia, OM says

    Somehow I can’t imagine how someone could pose like that for hours. Or do they do that anymore?

  18. Nerd of Redhead says

    Somehow I can’t imagine how someone could pose like that for hours.

    The Redhead has worked from photographs. The pose could have been for a minute or so, but with enough photos, a sculpture or painting.

  19. Carlie says

    Looking at that statue, all I can think is “Will you please stop pointing that at me?”

  20. says

    Patricia:

    Somehow I can’t imagine how someone could pose like that for hours. Or do they do that anymore?

    Posing is still done, however, when it comes to the nudes I do for clients, I generally work from photographs, a complete folio of the desired pose.

    I do have a couple of local clients who wanted to pose, so I set that up for them. Afterwards, they decided the photography way was better. :D

    Carlie:

    Looking at that statue, all I can think is “Will you please stop pointing that at me?”

    Do you feel that way about nude male statues?

  21. Carlie says

    Caine – sometimes!
    I think what’s unsettling to me about it, (which is also the kickass thing about it), is the straight-on gaze of the face. It’s not the “I’m here to be observed” sideways glance or gazing off as if not knowing someone is looking at you business that makes most images into passive objects. She’s looking right at you going “Yeah I’m posed like this, and I’m watching you look at me, and what the fuck are you going to do about it?”

    I can’t quite decide whether it’s an objectifying statue in the manner of the Marilyn Monroe monstrosity in Chicago or not, but I think not because of her gaze and the explanation I’ve read of the artist’s decisions in making it. Not that I don’t shudder to think of some of the poses people have probably made taking pictures with it.

  22. says

    Thanks, Carlie. As someone who has specialized in nudes for a long time, I do think the basic uneasiness with nudity does tend to leak through in Americans, even when they are open-minded people. Part and parcel of the puritan nonsense, I suspect.

  23. Naked Bunny with a Whip says

    Oh, I wish they’d stop bringing back the same villains season after season on Doctor Who.

  24. Rev. BigDumbChimp says

    Time for PZ to get a Image Stablization camera. That or crank up that shutter speed.

    Maybe Kw*k could suggest one.

  25. says

    Rev BDC:

    Time for PZ to get a Image Stablization camera. That or crank up that shutter speed.

    I’d agree, except I suspect it was tiredness and haste that was at fault this time around.

  26. Tualha says

    It’s hard to say if this is a copy of Sphinx, the painted bronze sculpture, or Siren, the gold sculpture. They look like the same pose to me.

  27. says

    I have a daughter that can do that.

    I probably still can, and I’m 41. Not being as supple as I used to be, my fear would be could I unwind afterwards?

  28. Toiletman says

    Uhm, maybe I’m too European but what’s the issue with that statue? It’s not nude or any other way that might offend people. Or maybe it offends the people who do such kind of gymnastics.

  29. Matt Penfold says

    Uhm, maybe I’m too European but what’s the issue with that statue? It’s not nude or any other way that might offend people. Or maybe it offends the people who do such kind of gymnastics.

    There is not a ping pong ball in sight either.

  30. says

    Ha! Vigelandsparken, porn? Well, if you’re turned on by people who look like they live on a planet where gravity is about three times Earth normal, that’s porn for you.

    You should check out the mausoleum of his (Vigeland’s) brother Emanuel. Now that’s porn! An entire wall is dedicated to fornicating couples.

  31. Thersites says

    Islamic Education and Research Academy are going to be trying to cure humanists of their depraved and wicked ways in Oslo. You ought to insist on talking to them under that statue.

  32. nemo the derv says

    What I find amusing is the tiny little title plaque and where it’s placed.
    You probably have to stand really close and lean over to read it. It should make for some interesting candids.

  33. Algernon says

    *sobs*

    I used to do that easily. Right now, not only can I not do that… I can’t even walk… I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to do that again.

    *cries*

  34. Marella says

    I think it looks better in white than in gold or bronze. I do yoga but that pose is quite beyond my talents and I feel uncomfortable just looking at it. Ouch! BTW yoga poses are usually held for between 30 seconds to one minute.

    I hope you get better soon Algernon.

  35. davem says

    A model posed for the yoga position, with Moss visiting Quinn’s studio to have her hands and feet cast.

    I just knew Kate Moss didn’t look that good…