# Boston University unveiled a new Martin Luther King Jr. statue. Is it just me or does it look like someone performing a sexual act? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 14, 2023, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230 "2023-01-14T19:01:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/101 "2023-01-17T23:39:38Z")
Clearly, I don’t see it even as ugly. I think it’s interesting and evocative. I mean, some people’s minds are stuck in seventh grade here, it seems, and can’t see past what they want to see. (Like the comment about BJ’s Restaurant – seriously, I have _never_ heard it being an issue or teased about, so why rename it just cause a couple of yukyuks think “blowjobs hehe!” I mean, I think the nickname “D-backs” for “Diamondbacks” sounds like “D-bags,” yet no one has a problem with it, so that’s just me.) And, hey, it started a conversation, so all the better, too. I would not even had known about the existence of this sculpture otherwise. ---
**Author:** ![LoneRhino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lonerhino/32/1311_2.png) [@LoneRhino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LoneRhino)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/102 "2023-01-17T23:41:49Z")
I’m pretty sure I saw that thing chasing the Beatles in Yellow Submarine. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/103 "2023-01-17T23:41:54Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Clearly, I don’t see it even as ugly. I think it’s interesting and evocative. My issue is that the disembodied arms are disturbing, to me at least, and it’s a weird hug. I think it would make more sense with at least torsos, but the way that the feminine arms are just kind of hanging off one of the arms is odd. I love the sentiment behind it. I just don’t think it looks right. I don’t think it’s as horrific as some people say. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/104 "2023-01-17T23:46:41Z")
I could see that. I tend to like more aggressive and perhaps oddball imagery in my art, but I get that’s not everyone’s style. Most of the modern art people bitch about here on these boards I find sublime. Not that it makes me “cooler” than them – I just like unconventional imagery. I’m more interested in looking at things I’ve never seen or imagined before. But, yeah, it really seems like something that needs to be experienced in person as opposed to some 2D angles that distort the image and its context. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2023, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/105 "2023-01-17T23:49:00Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > But, yeah, it really seems like something that needs to be experienced in person as opposed to some 2D angles that distort the image and its context. I get the feeling that it would be really cool to see in-person. If I find myself out that way ever, I’d probably try to check it out. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/106 "2023-01-18T00:07:36Z")
FWIW this is the hug the sculpture is trying to portray: [![](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/63c68b4f2600003b00f6b1e7.jpeg) ](https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/63c68b4f2600003b00f6b1e7.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![Bootb](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19b73/32.png) [@Bootb](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bootb)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/107 "2023-01-18T00:10:10Z")
> [@nelliebly](#): > > Something that brings people together? Maybe, from the right angle, sort of. An inspiration for reflecting on racial and economic justice values? Not getting that at all. Of course, there’s more than one sort of “bringing people together,” so I suppose we can say that the sculpture technically meets that goal. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/108 "2023-01-18T00:30:15Z")
> [@muldoonthief](#): > > the problem is you’re simultaneously looking at the very realistic hands and forearms of one person, and the weird non-anatomical connection of the shoulders of the other person There it is. I couldn’t put it into words. I started by looking at the picture that inspired it so I had perspective. The hands look right but then it morphs into something that misses the mark. The idea was to immortalize a hug. One with historical relevance. But the hands don’t seem to embrace a person. Maybe it’s the size of the sculpture. A smaller version might allow a person to see it better and that’s why it got passed review. Seneca Scott (cousin to Scott King) didn’t give it a good review. ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/109 "2023-01-18T02:50:30Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > As far as the sculpture, it’s kind of ugly and weird but I don’t see why everyone is up in arms about it. ISWYDT ---
**Author:** ![needscoffee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/needscoffee/32/1076_2.png) [@needscoffee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/needscoffee)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 2:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/110 "2023-01-18T02:51:45Z")
If you look up other sculptures by the artist, he has some wonderful work. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/111 "2023-01-18T03:23:45Z")
This wins the thread. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/112 "2023-01-18T03:32:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > I don’t see why everyone is up in arms about it I just don’t see why I should have to bend over backwards to wrap my head around it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/113 "2023-01-18T03:45:22Z")
Just stop. Does every one of these have to descend into an awful SDMB pun-fest? God dammit. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/114 "2023-01-18T03:52:27Z")
It’s either this or nitpicking. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/115 "2023-01-18T03:58:03Z")
Thank you for taking it in the spirit is was intended. I re-read it and thought … oops, maybe an emoji or something was needed there at end. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/116 "2023-01-18T04:01:24Z")
I estimated from the “god dammit” that you were maybe 33% joking, which is why I didn’t reply with another pun. Incidentally, is there a word for using a metaphor in that silly way to reference something non-metaphorical? It’s not exactly a pun, I’m not sure if there’s a word for it. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/117 "2023-01-18T04:24:45Z")
I have a theory as to why it looks like it does. I think the artist wanted something you could walk through and look up while in the center. Purpose dictated form. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/118 "2023-01-18T14:39:23Z")
Yes, people were absolutely doing that. BTW, it’s not particularly obvious from the pictures, but the names of 60+ civil rights leaders are engraved on bronze plaques embedded in the foundation around the statue. Here’s an article about [two men finding their father’s name](https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/01/13/the-embrace-boston-common/). ---
**Author:** ![ShadowFacts](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shadowfacts/32/2934_2.png) [@ShadowFacts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShadowFacts)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/119 "2023-01-18T19:32:21Z")
People who don’t like the sculpture keep asking “Didn’t anyone vet this design?” or “Why didn’t anyone say anything earlier?” or variations on that theme. According to the website, 126 teams submitted concepts for the memorial, and 5 finalists were selected. Community input and public comments narrowed it down to three, then the organizing committee selected this design. So obviously some non-insignificant number of people saw and appreciated the design in advance. Personally, I like it from some angles and dislike it from some others, so in that sense it is not entirely successful for me. But I appreciate that it is bold and not just a straight-up representational statue - we have a million of those in Boston. I should also add that the sculpture is meant to represent _both_ MLK, Jr. and Coretta Scott King, not just the former. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2023, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230/120 "2023-01-18T21:58:20Z")
> [@ShadowFacts](#): > > People who don’t like the sculpture keep asking “Didn’t anyone vet this design?” or “Why didn’t anyone say anything earlier?” or variations on that theme. According to the website, 126 teams submitted concepts for the memorial, and 5 finalists were selected. Community input and public comments narrowed it down to three, then the organizing committee selected this design. So obviously some non-insignificant number of people saw and appreciated the design in advance. I wonder if it comes across very different at 1:50 scale or whatever the mock-up was (or in a drawing…not sure what these people saw)? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/boston-university-unveiled-a-new-martin-luther-king-jr-statue-is-it-just-me-or-does-it-look-like-someone-performing-a-sexual-act/978230.md?page=7)