76 Blowjobs - A Mathematical Average

What happens when you take 76 images of blowjobs (as in fellatio, as in oral sex), and mathematically average them? What you get is a blurry fuzzy picture. This usage of math in art is by Jason Salavon. He aptly calls it 76 Blowjobs.

In case it sounds confusing (like, “How is it possible to average pictures?”), here’s a little note on mathematically averaging an image. Basically, images are made up of pixels - little dots of color. Each pixel has a RGBA (Red-Green-Blue-Alpha) value, each of them goes from 0 to 255 (for the basic 8bit pixel. Modern devices display more variances of colors). So if an image pixel has the value of 255,0,0,255, it means that the pixel is red, and has the maximum brightness.

So, since each pixel has its own numerical value, it is possible to layer a few pictures (in Jason’s case, 76 pictures) and then take the average pixel value per pixel, for the entire picture. As a result, the image you’re seeing is the average of 76 pictures.

Now, I don’t usually post sexually explicit pictures (I doubt if this could be called sexually explicit), but I find this particular usage of math in art intriguing. I mean, it is only with modern advances in computing that stuff like averaging an image could be done. Also, I find the subject matter interesting. Why would someone compile 76 pictures of oral sex and then average them? It’s interesting - everything, from the motivation behind the subject matter to the motivation of the technique.

I would ask a few additional questions: What happens when you don’t want to average it, but want to use the median pixel value? Will it be more clear? I suspect it will, as I’ve worked with similar noise reduction software before, and medians do tend to preserve some detail (depends on the depth you’re using too). Then that’d be plainly porn.

Personally though, this is a form of math-art to me (math used in art, specifically), but it also raises the old porn-or-art question. I will not be justifying either side, as I believe both sides of the arguments have their own points. This is one of those art pieces that are unique as they raise a constant flurry of questions with no clear standpoint.

Jason Salavon is an associate professor at the Department of Visual Arts in the University of Chicago (that’s where the Chicago Price Theory was born)

Now, your turn - what is this? Math-art, or math-porn? Intrigued, or disgusted?