Hold That Pose

A while ago I was contacted by a man whose name I couldn't place, but who turned out to be working for a casting agency for the National Geographic Cable Channel.  I was a little skeptical at first, but after a little research on Google I believed him.  His current job was to find material for a program called "Taboo," and apparently he regarded "Pygmalionism" as a possible topic.  He had noticed my art on DeviantArt and wanted to talk to me about the topic.

We talked for about an hour on several subjects, actually, since "statuphilia" or "Pygmalionism" is only one of many interests I have.  In that time I tried my best to answer a number of questions.  

For instance, was there a community of statuphiles?  Well, I said, yes and no.  I know of perhaps a dozen active artists who have reputations, and a larger number of others who are relatively unskilled amateurs.  I added that most artists are manipulating photos or using software similar to Poser to create their art -- not many artists of note were drawing in the old fashioned way (as I did).  There was, in fact, to my knowledge not a great deal of traditional statuephile art being done.

Were Pygmalionists a community?  I had to say, no.  Almost without exception the members are only known by online pseudonyms and there didn't seem to be much networking going on.  People posted stories or art and for the most part didn't discuss it beyond posting anonymous comments.  I doubted many had met other's in the statuphile community, or knew them beyond what was seen on-line.  Perhaps I'm all wet about this, but that's my impression.  I've only communicated with, perhaps a half dozen individuals, one or two of them quite superficially.  I assume this is typical, and infer from it that  members of the statuephile community prefer to be anonymous, and don't wish to announce their taste in art to the world.  I'm not sure you can blame them.  Would you like to explain to strangers why you fantasize about making love to a marble sculpture or plaster manikin?  Or about  becoming one?

Well, you see, its something like bondage, but also like dominance/submission, with a little exhibitionism thrown in, and ... oh, hell, mind your own business!

I suspect that at this point, the agent's enthusiasm began to cool.  I wasn't feeding him what he needed to hear to work up a story.  We began to talk more about me, instead -- my other art, my long involvement in science fiction fandom, my professional work, and so forth  I promised to send him additional images and text that he could take to the next producers' conference ... that was about two weeks ago.  I'm waiting to hear back, and think I may wait a long time. 

Most likely I've talked him *out* of doing an episode on statuephilia, having convinced him that there's nothing of interest there for the TV viewer.  But, as one of my friends put it, did I really want to be known nationally as the father of Pygmalionism?  Hey yes!  Even infamy is better than no fame at all!