WP3: Prewriting Assignment 4

Torso is located in the middle of a college campus. That is it's audience. And in a way, it might help us to understand the message the object and it's creator are trying to convey.

When we think of college campuses, we must think about what exactly that represents. Men and women between the ages of 18-25 (generally) walking around in a free environment for the first time. Free from their parents, high school problems and on their own in a new world. It's exciting, it's scary and it's a time in our lives for exploration and new experiences.

Then there is torso. A figure representation of the female body. The sexual organs are in tact and fully displayed. The woman has no clothing whatsoever and is what many men would consider to be attractive. She is fit, formed and certainly brings attention to the female anatomy.

So why would someone put a figure like this on a college campus? Well like it or not, college campuses are filled with young men and women who are indeed exploring things for the first time. This often includes sex. With no parents to worry about coming into the room, and no curfew to prevent late night activity, things happen on a college campus that we don't see occuring anywhere else.

But wait a minute. Perhaps this figure is sending the opposite message that one might think a hot shirtless woman would convey. For when one looks at torso closely, you begin to notice some things. While the female anatomy is intact, torso has no arms or legs. And because it has no face, this figure lacks a soul. We feel no emotional connection to it. It's not a person, just a body. And I think that's what torso represents. And I think that's why it was put on a college campus.

Basically, I think the message here is that sex is not what life is about. Sure, it feels great and can be an amazing experience with a special partner. But without the emotional connection to our partner, it's just another fun night that doesn't really mean anything. It's incomplete, worthless. Just like this torso. Without a face and arms and legs and emotion, it means nothing.

On the other hand though, you can look at Torso from Zorach's perspective in a positive way. Instead of being a message of sex, this figure can be interpreted as a figure of beauty and respect towards the female body. Torso was created in 1932 during the Great Depression. And currently we are in a recession through difficult economic times. I believe Zorach's message is as clear today as it was back in 1932, and it's environment could not be more appropriate.

As young people, we face a challenging future. And because we are in college, many of us don't have a lot of money. Torso reminds us to appreciate the simple things, such as the love of a beautiful girl.

And so, I conclude that this is the message to torso's audience of young men and women. Youth exploring the world freely for the first time. Remember the lessons that you learned. Take pride and value in the relationships of those around you. And keep life simple when you seem overwhelmed. Zorach may have been born in a different generation. But his values and lessons are valid even in today's rapidly changing world.