On David and the fig leaf

Examining a contrived controversy and the predictable power of symbolic tropes

The recent controversy surrounding the statue of David at a private school in Tallahassee, Florida has sparked an uproar online, with many accusing the school of censorship. However, the situation is more nuanced than it first appears, with the principal's dismissal stemming more from a procedural breach than any hysteria over the content of the statue itself. It seems something trivial has snowballed into a global controversy, with hundreds of news stories about the incident, and the Italian mayor of Florence even weighing in. As the media continues to sensationalize the story, very few appear to grasp that David is not offending folks so much as living up to its long-held status as a symbol of censorship in the collective unconscious, a phenomenon famously captured by The Simpsons in 1991, and evidenced by the statue’s long history of association with the fig leaf it was once notoriously retrofitted with.

What really happened

The latest controversy began when a private school in Tallahassee displayed a replica of Michelangelo's David, causing at least one parent to label it as "pornographic." Digging deeper into the story than the sensational headlines encourage, it becomes clear that there is more to this narrative than meets the eye.¹ According to school board Chair Barney Bishop, the educator’s dismissal was not primarily due to any offense taken over the statue's nudity, but rather her breach of the private school's policy requiring parental notification for specific curricular content.² While the headlines generally imply parental outrage, it turns out only one parent has been quoted using the word “pornographic” (not very surprising when considering this is a private Christian school)—and that the disagreement around the principal’s firing can be more directly related to the controversial topic of parent-led curricula, not nudity in art. Despite this, the media has been quick to jump on the nudity angle of the story, igniting heated debates on Twitter and other platforms. In a show of support, the mayor of Florence, Italy, even invited the ousted principal to visit the original statue,³ further fueling the media frenzy.

The Simpsons' prediction

Interestingly, The Simpsons seemingly foresaw this controversy in a 1991 episode called Itchy & Scratchy & Marge, in which the town of Springfield erupts in protests over the statue of David, sparking a satirical censorship debate within the cartoon community. The Simpsons are often credited with predicting events which have come to pass,⁴ a phenomenon which can more likely be attributed to the fact that The Simpsons writers have always expertly tapped into cultural reference points, rather than that they were equipped with extrasensory perception.⁵ The Simpsons did not specifically predict this Florida incident, rather the show's prescient writers simply recognized the symbolic power of Michelangelo’s David as a lightning rod for discussions about art, nudity, and censorship.

David in the zeitgeist

The statue of David has long been a symbol for censorship, with its nudity frequently causing controversy throughout history. The statue has been the subject of debate since it was introduced in 1504.⁶ It was famously fitted with a fig leaf, fashioned and applied after the protestant Queen Victoria was shocked by the statue’s nudity during a visit in the 19th century. By this point in history, the fig leaf was already a lasting symbol of censorship, having been employed by artists institutions to obscure nudity in their works since the 16th century.⁷ The enduring relevance of David's symbolism serves as a reminder of society's ongoing struggle to balance artistic freedom with cultural sensitivities, and an example of the power of symbology as it relates to stigma and social views.

David outfitted with the fig leaf in Florence, c. 1870

The media's role in sensationalizing nudity

The media has played a significant role in perpetuating the controversies surrounding David, often focusing on its nudity rather than its artistic merit. By playing off these tropes and clichés and tapping into the iconography that is deeply embedded in our cultural views, the media is able to generate outrage and attract attention, even when the underlying issue may be more complex or mundane. This sensationalism not only fuels the debate around David but also contributes to a broader cultural discomfort with nudity. It is a controversy contrived to generate clicks, to draw traffic, rather than to inform. Today, this phenomenon is further perpetuated by a social media system which rewards junk food content and has no room for nuance. At this point, Michelangelo’s David has been subject to this controversy so many times over the years that it has been cemented in the zeitgeist as a symbol of this specific brand of overblown reaction.

Perhaps nudists can learn something from the power of symbolism demonstrated by the statue of David and its ability to tap into the zeitgeist. By focusing on similar positive associations with nudity in art—such as its use as a symbol of freedom and transcendence—what if we can shift cultural perceptions and reduce the stigma surrounding their lifestyle? As we consider the ongoing debate surrounding nudity and censorship, how can we harness the positive associations with nudity in the cultural zeitgeist for our benefit? Can we challenge societal norms and promote a more open-minded approach to the human form by embracing the freedom and transcendence that nudity symbolizes? 🪐

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1. Kim, J. (2023, Mar. 27). A principal is fired, invited to Italy after students ahown Michelangelo's 'David'. NPR. https://www.npr.org/2023/03/27/1166079167/tallahassee-classical-michelangelo-david-principal-fired

2. Lynch, J. (2023, Mar. 25). Florida principal let go after failing to notify parents about lesson on Michelangelo's David. WBAL-TV. https://www.wbaltv.com/amp/article/florida-principal-fired-michelangelos-david/43417787

3. Holland, ). (2023, Mar. 27). Italian mayor invites ousted US principal to Florence following Michelangelo 'David' statue controversy. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/style/article/florence-mayor-michelangelo-david-florida-school/index.html

4. Guerasio, J. (2022, Aug. 9). 21 times 'The Simpsons' accurately predicted the future. Insider. https://www.insider.com/the-simpsons-is-good-at-predicting-the-future-2016-11

5. Shore, M. (2023, Feb 4). Predictions from 'The Simpsons' Can Actually Be Explained. Collider. https://collider.com/the-simpsons-predictions-explained/

6. Malik, S. (2021, Nov. 20). Why is Michelangelo's David So Controversial? Imperium. https://www.imperiumpublication.com/post/controversy-on-david-by-michaelangelo-an-act-of-prudence-or-religious-preservation

7. Kabir. (2020, Aug. 19). The Vatican’s Fig Leaf Campaign. Lessons from History. https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/vaticans-fig-leaf-campaign-ac86884b87a9