Being a website about naturism / nudism, I thought we should have one of these standard magazine articles on “How to look good naked.”  What many people are wondering, right? This phrase gets searched over 18,000 times per month on Google.  Maybe you’ve thought about trying social nudity, but first you thought, “Well if I’m gonna get naked, I need to look good!”

Well it’s about to get a little anti-climactic because there are only two steps to How To Look Good Naked – YNA Style:

1. Take all your clothes off
2. Smile

I just added in the “smile” step to be cute.  Really all you have to do is take your clothes off.  It’s that simple!

The “How To Look Good Naked” article constantly appears in most women’s magazines (and probably in some men’s mags too) at some point.  They usually have as many as 16 (or more) steps that include: products you need to buy, work-out regimens, positioning your body at certain angles, dietary advice, etc.  It’s mostly a focus on how to get thinner or how to make yourself appear thinner.

It’s such a popular topic that there have even been entire television series dedicated to it.  One series entitled “How to Look Good Naked” started in the UK, and then came an American version with Carson Kessley on Lifetime in 2008.  It only lasted for two seasons, and some of its tactics were questionable (like blowing up the woman’s image in her underwear to put on the side of a building), but it was otherwise way better than any other makeover show I’ve seen.  Instead of subjecting the women to plastic surgery and quick-fix dieting, Kessley actually focused on helping women love and accept their bodies.  He says to the first contestant, Layla, in the mirror: “This is Layla.. Is she perfect? No. Is she beautiful? Yes!”  You can still see all of the show’s episodes on hulu.com.

The great thing about naturism is that it’s not about playing up your sexiest features or changing your body to look a certain way.  Sure, exercise and nutritious food will make you feel good from the inside out, but good news: neither is required to look good naked.  Exercise, don’t exercise.  Have cake for breakfast or have fruit. Put on makeup or go totally bare. You are free to do what you want with your body.

Naturism is a way of escaping a world that’s centered around superficial qualities like appearance and sex appeal.  For naturism, all you need to do is get naked and be yourself.  If the body confidence isn’t there, a day at the nude beach might just give it to you.

Also, people are going to look at you weird if you try to stand like this all day. 

I use the term “naturism” in this article because in my opinion, “nudism” in the U.S. doesn’t have any body acceptance philosophy behind it.  As an example, a nudist publication called NUSA Sun also printed an article about looking good naked. It was called, “Doffing, Donning & Bling: Chel’s 11 Rules for Disrobing in a Crowd.”  Not steps, but rules!  It was a list directed at women that basically focused on how to have sex appeal while naked.  Her rules included shaving pubic hair, applying sunscreen slowly in public, and wearing heels.  The online quality is not great, but you can see it at www.nusasun.com.  It appeared in the January 2013 issue.

So if you were looking for an article about exercise and posture tips, I’m sorry to disappoint.  If you want to learn how to accept and love your body as it is, see my article “Nudism Improves Self-Esteem.”  I also recently found this fat acceptance blog with a cool e-course called “How To Be a Fat Bitch.”

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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We received an interesting question the other day in an email about going naked on one’s own property.  I thought I would share my reply and also share this with the community to get others’ thoughts on this too!

Here’s what the email said (it was from a guy): 

“I am most comfortable while nude, [my wife], not so much.  We have a large and rather private property.  I am still trying to avoid the ‘run and hide’ feeling when an unexpected visitor arrives.  Options?  Run and hide.  Carry a wrap.  (Seems kinda dumb on my property.)  Approach the visitor?  Then what do I say?  Really don’t mind being seen nude, just would like a proper response when it happens.”

My reply:

“Well, it’s a good question about etiquette. Societal norms would dictate that you cover up every time, but it is your own (private) property, and most people can handle nudity given enough time to adjust.

It’s hard to predict how any visitor will react, although I suppose that can depend on how well your visitors know you! haha. You could just approach them nude and then put something on if they appear to be uncomfortable. If you know the person approaching is uncomfortable with it, then you could go and fetch something to put on, asking them to wait while you go grab something. They can always look away for the time being.

That would seem less awkward than the ‘run and hide,’ which I can imagine also resulting in paranoia, where you’d constantly feel like you have to be on guard, on your own property. And it gives the impression that you’re doing something wrong / shameful, which you’re not, as there’s nothing wrong with hanging out naked at home. If you act calm and casual about it, then that will help show them that it’s not a big deal. You can tell them you just like to be nude because it’s more comfortable.

You could also put up a sign on your property that says something like, ‘You are entering a clothing-optional zone.’ “

——

The home nudist replied that he had in fact already placed a sign at the entrance to his property, but still felt a little paranoid.

What do you think?  If you are a home nudist, what do you do when an unexpected visitor catches you by surprise?  

By the way, here we are talking about visitors showing up on private property, but you might be wondering about the legality of being naked in your backyard if you are visible to neighbors / passers-by.  It actually varies by state, so it is wise to look up your local nudity laws.  In some (or most?) states it’s legal as long as you have a fence around you or other barrier.  Check out this discussion on AskANudist.com to see how others handle it: “Regulations on Backyard Nudism?” 

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Yes, I know this question sounds like an oxymoron. But I really got to thinking about it after the Bare Necessities nude cruise. This was an adults-only cruise, so that definitely had an effect on the vibe and what people chose to wear. It was clothing-optional, and while most people were fully nude outdoors during the day, the scene changed a bit at night. You couldn’t wear lingerie or “fetish-wear” to the dining hall, but people wore it everywhere else. Some of it was like a sexy costume based on the theme of the night. Don’t get me wrong. It wasn’t as if the boat suddenly became a fetish party boat, but there was a lot of freedom as far as what people could wear.  I saw a guy wearing the underwear pictured below, on the cruise in broad daylight. (This photo is courtesy of Babeland.com, the sex toy store.)

Inappropriate nudist clothing?

I like the idea of having the freedom to wear as much or as little clothing as I want, without having to worry about covering parts that the rest of society considers “indecent,” like nipples. I think other naturists would agree that it would be nice if this freedom weren’t exclusive to nudist settings.

But since society doesn’t yet give us this freedom, we’re stuck with our designated areas where we can go to be naked. Some places are nudity-required, but even for ones that don’t label themselves “clothing-optional,” we all know that sometimes people have to put on clothes. So back to the question. Is there clothing considered inappropriate for nudist places? It would seem most clubs have rules on nudity, but not so much on clothing. Why would they, right? Well, perhaps you’ve been to one of the clubs that has lingerie parties. Many clubs are a typical nudist setting during the day, and then things get a little more risqué in the club house dance or night club parties. From my own observations, mostly women put on lingerie, sexy accessories, tight see-through dresses and the like. Many places don’t advertise the lingerie thing, but I know of at least one family club that lists events on their website entitled “lingerie dance” and “leather and lace party.”

Playful dress or too sexual for naturism?

Now, are these places still considered nudist clubs? By AANR’s standards, yes they are, as long as no overt sexual activity occurs. Many of them are also family-oriented, or claim to be.

By logic, one would think that lingerie and such clothing does not have a place in nudist venues because:
1) Presumably, people visit nudist clubs because they want to be naked and textile-free.
2) The terms “nudism” and “naturism” have different meanings depending on who you talk to, but *I think* we can all agree that both are about non-sexual nudity.
3) Isn’t the purpose of lingerie to sexually entice or arouse others?

I understand that people like to dress up and feel pretty or sexy, whether they are a nudist or not. And clothing or accessories are also a way for people to express themselves. But based on the points above, I still ask, is such clothing appropriate in nudism / naturism? I posed this question to our community this week and got varied responses. Some were adamant about it being inappropriate.

Tweets in Response to: Is Lingerie Appropriate or Inappropriate in Nudist Settings?

A female friend on Facebook also said: “I don’t think lingerie has any place in nudism/naturism. Lingerie sexualizes the body and when that type of clothing is mixed in with nudism it can no longer be considered non sexual. That being said I have no problem wearing lingerie to a fetish party or something labeled like that. I was really surprised the first time I went to an aanr affiliated club that had a lingerie party at night. It still baffles me a bit and makes me think that people just are not capable of living a regular life clothes free… it has to be some kind of sexual expression because they just cannot separate the two in their heads.”

A comment on the AskANudist Facebook page had the opposite view:
“I think rules need a positive purpose to exist. I see no reason to restrict clothing in any way in a clothing optional situation. Even in those places where nudity is required, there should be exceptions for health and temperatures below 75F.  …If someone is sexually aroused by someone else’s clothing choices, it’s the problem of the aroused person to get their act together. I don’t care what other people wear or don’t wear.”

And there were also the “it depends” responses:
On AskANudist.com : “I think it is fine after the kid’s curfew at the resort so after around 9 or 10 pm. It is really the parent’s call then how much their children are exposed to it after that. We should not ignore our sexuality completely so in my opinion there is an appropriate time and an inappropriate time for it at a naturist resort and the same goes in a child’s development. …”

A Response on AskANudist.com

This question also reminds me of one of the group discussions at the Mid-Winter Naturist Festival entitled “Is nudism too conservative for mainstream America?”  The workshop leader was basically asking if nudists needed to relax the rules a bit on the sexuality front to draw in more people.  Not allowing public sex, but as an example, having more of a “spring break” environment with wet t-shirt contests and such.  If there were suddenly a nation-wide nudist rule against lingerie / any sexual clothing, would people suddenly start losing interest?  Would clubs lose membership?  If there were more leniency, would we gain more interest?  As I hinted above, there are no current rules on this.  Not even AANR has a policy.  So I guess it’s up to every individual and every club to determine what’s acceptable. 

So what does everybody think?  Should nudist clubs and resorts require nudity at parties and dances as well? Should they have rules on clothing or relax the rules more? Have you been to clubs with lingerie dances? 

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Photo by Steve Ziegler

After the nude cruise, Jordan and I continued our naked adventures to Sunsport Gardens for the last few days of the The Naturist Society’s Mid-Winter Naturist Festival of February 2013. When we first stepped off the boat that Sunday, it was shockingly cold! The last day of the cruise had been rainy, and the same weather had hit in Florida, bringing in colder temperatures. But, the sun had come out, and we were very much looking forward to the festival and seeing Sunsport Gardens for the first time.

It turns out “Gardens” is an apt name. As soon as we ventured in, what immediately struck me is how gorgeous the grounds are in tropical flowers and vegetation. It brought back recent memories of the Costa Rican jungle.
I’d previously heard a few people refer to Sunsport as “rustic.” Once I saw it, I thought they must be people who don’t get around too much. They have most of the facilities you would expect to find at a successful nudist club, and everything looks modern and well-maintained. There is a heated pool, sauna, in ground hot tub, volleyball and tennis courts, clubhouse and large rec hall. There is a playground and pool slide as well for all the kids who live at Sunsport or visit. There is a pond and lake (not for swimming) and a few scenic walking trails.

The clubhouse is well-furnished with a pool table, couches, two TV’s, video game consoles, and other games. It’s also where the meals are served for the festival, and people took their plates to eat at the picnic tables just outside. On normal non-festival days, there is a café open 6 days a week that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. (I can’t speak for the food because we didn’t have any, but the menu is online. Food is super affordable.) At the back of the clubhouse is a laundry room with several washers and dryers.

Photo by Steve Ziegler

There are both outdoor and indoor showers, and I quite liked the indoor shower room, which is mostly enclosed but still lets in plenty of light through the glass doors. As opposed to the usual detergent-quality soap found in public shower dispensers, theirs had organic soaps and quality shampoo.
The camping sites are scattered throughout the grounds, wherever there is empty lawn space. We had an un-serviced campsite situated off one of the paths, only a two minute walk away from the main area. There are a lot of RV sites and trailers.

Like many clubs Sunsport has a policy of “nudity expected” (weather permitting), and it’s required in the pool, hot tub and sauna area. Their general philosophy is a nice throwback to traditional naturism with an emphasis on healthy living, eco-friendly practices, and most importantly (to us), acceptance. They state on their homepage and in several other places: “Sunsport welcomes naturists of all ages regardless of race, religion, gender, marital status, sexual orientation or disabling condition.” Most clubs casually mention that people of all body types are accepted, but Sunsport makes it a point to say they welcome diversity and all types of people. We like this, given our own philosophy of acceptance.

Due to the dreary weather, the festival wasn’t as well-attended as it usually is. But this didn’t affect the workshop schedule, and we still got to enjoy a myriad of activities with friends old and new. Many of the workshops are similar to what’s offered at the Northeast Naturist Festival in the summer: discussions on topics related to naturism, healthy living workshops, dancing classes, drum circles, pudding toss and numerous “new age” activities. However, there are always new things offered and new people to meet at the festivals, especially in a different region.

Tarot Card Workshop –Photo by Steve Ziegler

In particular I enjoyed making my own earrings, learning a West African dance of celebration with Zen, learning how Kombucha beer is made, and listening to a live musical concert entitled “Peace, Love & P’opera” by Armand and Angelina (it was quite unique).
In short, I’d say Sunsport is among my favorite clubs in Florida, and I highly recommend visiting if you’ve never been. It’s also a YNA affiliate club, so if you’re a YNA member under 30, that means grounds fees are only $6/day! This might be the cheapest young-naturist rate in the nation. Even the cost for unaffiliated visitors is on the low end at $24/day.

Learn more about Sunsport on their website at www.sunsportgardens.com.

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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 For eight days, Jordan and I sailed the Caribbean Sea on Bare Necessities’ 50th nude cruise. Yes, 50th! On the biggest boat they’ve ever chartered. Close to 3,000 nude passengers sailed with us from Ft. Lauderdale to Mexico, Costa Rica, Panama and back. 

As you might have heard from our newsletter, we almost didn’t make it on the ship when blizzard Nemo came rolling into town and canceled thousands of flights the day before! But we got out of New York in the nick of time and onto the ship that first day.
We set sail late afternoon and once we were 3 miles out, the cruise director announced that we could get naked! There was some clapping and cheering as the nude cruise officially began.

The Boat

When they said “Big Nude Boat,” they weren’t kidding. There were 10 or 11 levels. You could run into someone once and then not see them again for days. The weather was sunny and warm every day and most people spent the daytime on the upper outside decks, sunbathing or relaxing in one of the pools or hot tubs. On these decks, there were two outdoor pools, several hot tubs, and a giant water slide! There was also a basketball court and mini golf course. The spa had its own hot tub, sauna and steam room. My only issue was that with the exception of the spa’s indoor whirlpool, all the hot tubs were more like warm tubs, and I found them too cold for comfort at night. Other than that, a lovely ship.

Food and Drink

Food, glorious food! If any of you have ever been on a Carnival cruise before, you know how much food is available on these ships. At breakfast and lunch there were big buffets with a huge variety of cuisines. Ice cream and pizza were available all day long. At night you could dine fancier at one of the restaurants with even better food. There were vegetarian options every night, though vegans might find it a bit more challenging to eat. It was easy to indulge, but there was also no lack of healthier fare. I appreciated that there was a symbol signifying healthy options on the restaurant menus.

There were two bars one could sit at for drinks on the decks, or of course you could lounge in a chair and be waited on. Soda and alcoholic beverages cost extra. The alcoholic drinks were a bit pricey, but good. There were plenty of tables and chairs to sit and eat lunch or dinner outside as well.

*Before I left out this one part, because I didn’t want to sour the rest of the review, but I have to be honest with you all – I got food poisoning. I was violently ill the last day and a half of the cruise, along with 50+ other passengers. This isn’t totally uncommon on cruise trips. I wouldn’t let this keep you from taking a nude cruise, but it does happen. 

Entertainment

Some of the entertainment was good, some of it was okay. On the days at sea there were some free classes on board such as meditation, photography, qi gong and more. Paid classes such as Zumba were inexpensive but had to be paid for in advance. I would’ve liked some free exercise classes and just a greater variety of classes and workshops. Actually I would’ve liked it if the ship were like one big naturist festival with a variety of workshops all day, every day. But for me this wasn’t quite a naturist cruise.

Every night there were multiple to shows with comedians, dancers, singers, and other entertainers. I didn’t go to many of these, but I did enjoy one of the song and dance shows with classic hits. They also screened several movies every night on the outside deck, which were fun to watch under the stars. Of course there was also the casino and bar and lounge areas with a variety of live music. (Now, I’m not condoning gambling, but one night I won $1,000 on The Golden Monkey! Pure luck, and I still advise against gambling there because most of the time these machines will eat your money ;))

The Excursions

There were a bunch of excursions to choose from at each port, organized by Carnival. You could also step off the boat and find your own adventure, but you have to be careful to make it back on the boat in time for departure. Each port had a shopping area, and my favorite was the market in Costa Rica. We went diving in Cozumel, took a walk through the rainforest in Costa Rica, and a tour of the Panama Canal. Diving was the only activity we did on our own. All the excursions were great experiences.

The Passengers

The majority of passengers were age 50+, though we still managed to get a small number of young naturists on board, yay! We were also a bit surprised by the lack of self-identified nudists and naturists. Some of the people we talked to even referred to naturist as “naturalist,” which you wouldn’t expect to hear so much in this environment. There were swingers, but that’s not much different than what you’d find at some clubs and resorts and you couldn’t tell by looking at them. People were generally very friendly, open and happy.

This was an adults-only cruise, so there were no children, and we’d wondered why that was the case. Then we heard Stephane’s interview with Bare Necessities president Nancy Tiemann on the Bare Oaks podcast. Nancy explained that they started out doing family-oriented trips in the beginning, but over time learned that most people preferred adults-only cruises. It doesn’t mean that these cruises are sexually driven or have an environment inappropriate for kids. It was simply people’s preference. This may be one of the reasons the cruisers are mostly an older crowd. Young parents and families will have a harder time finding the time, money and a short-term babysitter for their kids.

Nudity Onboard – Was everybody naked the whole time?

There were a few rules on board about nudity. Everyone had to be dressed while in port and in the sit-down restaurants, but the dress code was very casual. Otherwise, nudity ruled. The majority of people were naked. There were apparently a handful of people who remained fully dressed the whole time, but I didn’t notice them. Many walked around in bathrobes, which make a nice substitute for a towel and are comfy, especially indoors in air conditioning. The staff was dressed in uniform, which was required for them.

At night people dressed for dinner or put on costumes depending on that night’s theme. People get serious about theme costumes on these cruises, and it’s awesome! It really adds to the fun. Although Bare Necessities had a rule against wearing lingerie or “fetish-wear,” I still saw a lot of it. Yes, lingerie can be a costume, but it’s still lingerie. It made me think about what clothing should be considered inappropriate for nudist environments, but that’s a topic for another day. Next time I’m going to be more prepared and bring some accessories! On this cruise there was a moustache night, Mardi Gras, and Valentine’s Day themes to name a few.

So that was our trip! We thoroughly enjoyed our first nude cruise. To learn more about the history of Bare Necessities and where it’s going, click play below to listen to Stephane’s latest podcast episode.

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Hannah (Lena Dunham) half-naked texting on the show Girls

Lena Dunham Naked

If you don’t know her, Lena Dunham is the star and writer of an HBO television series called Girls. The show is only in its 2nd season, but went from zero to fame in about thirty seconds.

The premise of the show has been compared to Sex and the City, only this time the girls are 20-somethings and dealing with a much more tumultuous period of their lives as they try to transition into the “real world.” Yes, it looks like just another series about young, white, privileged women, but you should still give it attention. Why?

Because Lena Dunham has an average-looking body and isn’t afraid to expose it, affirming to girls everywhere that it’s okay to be average and also NOT be ashamed of your body!

And I don’t mean average in a negative way. Average as in normal. Typical. Expected. Outside of the tiny percentage of women who are tall, wafer thin, cellulite-free, big-breasted and have no curves (otherwise known as the scantily clad women who dominate the media, advertising, film, TV, etc).

Dunham hasn’t been hiding her body as other “flawed” women do on TV. As her character Hannah, she’s been getting naked. The sex scenes provide plenty of opportunity for nudity, but in the latest episode we also see her wearing a see-through mesh top in public. (And Hannah is not the only one getting naked. In a season one episode, “The Crackcident,” there’s some shocking nudity when Shoshanna, another of the girls, ends up on a sidewalk in Brooklyn with no pants. Her nudity is never discussed then, or later in the show. I guess the writers are saying, “hey nakedness is part of life.” Since we all have naked bodies, it is.)

But Dunham’s body has elicited some strong and disturbing reactions from critics. A female critic writes about her in a NY Post review, “It’s not every day in the TV world of anorexic actresses with fake boobs that a woman with giant thighs, a sloppy backside and small breasts is compelled to show it all.” Um, and somebody hates her for it? Dunham is a threat to the normal order of things, just by being her real self.

She was also criticized for wearing this outfit at an event in L.A.

“I am anti-pants.” -Lena Dunham (pictured right, with no pants)

Dunham’s response was: If Olivia Wilde had gone to a party in … little shorts, she might have been on a ‘weird dressed list’ or been told her outfit was cute. I don’t think a girl with tiny thighs would have received such no-pants attention. I think what it really was … ‘Why did you all make us look at your thighs?’ My response is, get used to it because I am going to live to be 100, and I am going to show my thighs every day till I die.”

Just by exposing her thighs, she’s challenging the same response to nudity that naturists deal with: “Ewww! I don’t wanna see that!” Naturism also opens people’s eyes to body diversity, ie reality. A salon.com article about Girls’ casual nudity even quoted Nicky Hoffman of The Naturist Society about how naturism empowers women. It always seemed to me like a paradox that it’s not difficult to walk the streets among average Americans and realize that most people are not hiding the super skinny idealized body type under their clothes. And yet to be confronted with this fact is to cause shock, controversy, and disgust. Perhaps I simply underestimate the brainwashing done by the media and advertising industry.

But what’s great is the way Lena responds to these attacks on her body. She doesn’t give a crap! She’s not dieting, not covering up and not apologizing for the way she looks.

Her body has generated not just criticism, but also some really great discussion around important questions – why does nudity make people feel disgust? What’s wrong with showing a different body type on TV? Why is it a big deal? Why does it have to mean anything?

Here are two quotes from articles that attempt to address these questions. In the first, Helen Charman suggests that people’s negative reaction to nudity comes from the “intimacy” of seeing all the imperfections, but we need to start seeing bodies as something other than objects of beauty or sexual desire.

“…in this case the problem is more that the ‘perfect’ body is one stripped of the peculiar intimacy that, by rights, comes naturally with nudity. We are unfamiliar with seeing a ‘real’ body represented on screen, and the intimacy that it creates is startling, and challenging, and the challenge makes us uncomfortable, and discomfort leads us all too often to the kneejerk reaction of criticism and of disgust.
…The naked body is humanity at its most vulnerable and its most truthful, and it should be celebrated not only for its potential to be beautiful but also its potential to be funny, and awkward, and sad, and old, because this in turn is all that we are, and can be.”
“Naked as We Came: What Lena Dunham’s Nudity Says About Us” by Helen Charman, Huffington Post

And a 2nd quote from “The Audacity of Lena Dunham, and Her Admirable Commitment to Making Us Look At Her Naked” by Lesley on xoJane

“The aghast controversy evoked by Dunham’s nudity shows us just how much of this “real women” talk is lip service, and how very far we have to go before we can socially deal with the fact that different bodies exist. Truth is, we’d all probably be a lot less neurotic about our own bodies if we could get used to seeing and accepting the natural variety in other people’s — without shame, and giving no fucks.”

We need more naked Lena Dunham’s on TV! I hope she will keep getting naked and keep challenging the status quo. (We also obviously need more people to try naturism, but we all know it’s easier to put a greater variety of naked girls on TV than to get the viewers themselves to try social nudity.)

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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This past Saturday was our Naked Comedy Show and Act Naturally Screenings in NYC!  Our first event of 2013 and first ever YNA comedy show. It was marvelous!
Director J.P. Riley screened Act Naturally and had a Q&A afterward. Then our comedians took the stage to bring joy and laughter to a nearly-full theater of naked people. There were a few nudist jokes here and there, but it was all in good fun. And in a gutsy move, comedian Joe Larson joined us by stripping down and performing his set naked! The rest remained clothed, though all were cool and respectful of our choice of (un)dress. The other comedians were Scott Schlendinger, Gary Vider, Naomi Ekperigin, Jay Oakerson, and our special guest, Dave Attell!  

After the comedy show, we had our afterparty with drinks, munchies and a few rounds of the traditional nude-night-out game, naked twister.

We had a number of technical difficulties (did you know you can make a microphone out of an iPhone? I didn’t either til JP had to do it), but nevertheless we pulled it off! And we couldn’t have done it without our amazing volunteers. Thank you Rasheda, Bianca, Mr. Sandy, Dave, Ramiro, Brandon, and all our hardworking volunteers!!! We love you guys! There was a great crowd of YNA’ers, and we enjoyed meeting a bunch of first-time nudies as always! Thanks everybody for coming.

Un-Dressing Room

JP Riley doing audience Q&A after Act Naturally screening

Dave Attell at YNA Naked Comedy

Comedian Naomi Ekperigin

naked twister!

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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You guys!  Tomorrow is the day!  

Come join us at our first YNA Naked Comedy Show, Act Naturally screenings and awesome parties before and after! 

PLUS, we have exciting news!  We previously announced that there would a surprise celebrity guest performing in the comedy show.  Well the surprise guest is…

Star comedian DAVE ATTELL !!!  Dave is a longtime stand-up comedian best known for his Comedy Central appearances and his own television series, Insomniac with Dave Attell.  

Get your tickets now because Act Naturally will also be giving away free stuff!  The first 40 people to get tickets for a screening and the comedy show will receive an Act Naturally Soundtrack CD Sampler & Poster signed by the entire cast and director.  

And, attend the 2nd screening and look under your seat for a special certificate!  One lucky winner will get to be a part of the film and record their voice in a commentary for the Goldmaster Blu-Ray DVD to be sold worldwide.  The recording will take place in a private screening after the event, or on Sunday with director J.P. Riley.  (If you don’t want to be alone in a room with J.P. Riley, you can give it to someone else.)

At both screenings Act Naturally will be premiering their new music video with footage shot from last year’s Nude Year’s Eve party, which some of you YNA nudies participated in.  They will also be showing exclusive behind-the-scenes footage from the YNA Gathering at Rock Lodge screening. 

After the comedy show we’re going to eat, drink and play reverse-strip board games!  Losers will have to put items of clothing back on. ;)

Click here to get your tickets now!!! 

This event has even been covered in the Wall Street Journal today!  Click here to read: “For New York Nudists, Winter Is No Joke” 

Facebook Event

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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February 14-20th, 2013 at Sunsport Gardens, Florida

Photo Credit: Stephen Ziegler

Jordan and I will be attending the upcoming Mid-Winter Naturist Festival, right after we disembark from the Bare Necessities Nude Cruise.  We’re pretty excited about it!  It’ll be our first visit to Sunsport Gardens.  With over 280 different workshops and activities in the festival schedule, there is bound to be something for everyone to enjoy.  So if you need a fun nakation in the sun, come check it out! 

This year’s festival will be its 25th anniversary. Did you attend the very first one? If so, is the festival today any different? What are some of the highlights from years past?

I believe that I have attended all the Midwinter Naturist Festivals at Sunsport. Originally the Naturist Society planned the program. At some point, I took over the production of the Festival. The Festival is now held more days with far more activities. We now have a more “New Age” flavor. For some time, highlights have included incredible performances by Armand and Angelina and Faerie Elaine Silver. We have always had a field trip to clothing-optional Haulover Beach and, for the last few years, “canuding” on the magical Loxahatchee River. We have drum circles each evening.

For the benefit of those who might have never attended it in years past, can you share with us what they should expect if they attend?

Pudding toss at the Mid-Winter Naturist Festival. [Photo Credit: Stephen Ziegler]

We call the Festival “Seven Days of Fun, Growth, and Community.” A caring community committed to exploration and growth develops, particularly for people able to attend the entire Festival. There will be approximately 290 activities during the seven days. Experiential workshops will focus on personal growth, health, spirituality, the arts, ecology and relationships. There is also a full schedule of activities for children. You can find a description of all the activities and Sunsport’s restaurant menu online at www.sunsportgardens.com. We usually have beautiful weather; the warmest February weather in the United States.

Sunsport has an 87 degree swimming pool, a large hot tub spa, a sauna, lots of sports activities including volleyball and tennis, a jungle nature trail, boating, a fitness center, and free wi-fi on 40 acres of lush, tropical vegetation.

Are any profits generated from the festival, and if so where do the funds go?

Registration fees beyond expenses are contributed to the Naturist Society and South Florida Free Beaches, the protector of Haulover Beach.

How many people usually attend? Where do they all come from mostly? What kind of people are they?

We expect over 300 people to attend the Festival. They come from all over North America. Naturists of all ages, genders, sexual orientations, etc. attend; most are interested in having fun, healthy living, and being part of our caring community. We do not attract people dependant upon alcohol or drugs for a good time. Sunsport is smoke-free except for a couple of out of the way designated smoking areas.

Photo Credit: Stephen Ziegler

YNA has been the center of controversy because we talk about sexuality, so with that in mind… with workshops on Polyamory and Tantric massage, would you consider this to be a naturist festival, or new age festival? And why?

This is a naturist, New Age type festival. In workshops, there will be talk of sexuality and relationships. However, there will be no sexual activity except in individual private accommodations. All activities in common areas will be appropriate to take place in the presence of children. Hugging, kissing, massage, holding hands are all OK; public overt sexual activity is not. Sunsport Gardens is a family naturist resort; 14 children now live at Sunsport, and many others regularly visit. We do welcome expressions of loving relationships.

Is there anything people should not forget to bring?

Bring a tent unless you plan to rent a furnished tent at Sunsport or stay at a nearby hotel. All Sunsport’s rental cabins, trailers and rooms are already taken. You will also need towels and, in case we get a cool night, something warm. A picture ID such as a drivers license is required. Sunsport’s restaurant serves healthy, plentiful meals, but you can bring your own food if you wish. Sunscreen is available in the Sunsport office, although you can bring your own. If you are flying in, I suggest making your flight reservations as soon as possible.

Are you doing anything different / special to mark this 25th year anniversary?

The Festival is one day longer than usual. Also, we will show a collection of popular movies which include nude scenes as an integral part of the plot. We are happy that YNA is joining us this year.

Is there anything you would like to add or say that we did not ask?

Daily ground fees are only $6 for people aged 18-30 who have a membership card from YNA (or another naturist group for young adults), a student ID, or are members of the Naturist Society. Please join us for a memorable week.

To learn more about what to expect at this festival, click here to read my review of the Northeast Naturist Festival. 

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Co-Ed Naked Philosophy

Co-ed Naked Philosophyby Will Forest is a novel about a college philosophy professor named Christopher Ross who embarks on a journey to get social nudity more accepted in mainstream society.  The journey takes place in southern Georgia and starts with his first experience on an unofficial nude beach, located on U.S. Navy territory (which is abruptly ended by his and others’ arrest for trespassing).  From this point on, Ross begins to question his previous attitudes towards nudity and the human form.  It leads him to re-imagine a world with no restrictions on dress and given his profession, he conjures up an imaginary “Palace of Fine Arts.”  This fictional palace is like a college with the ideal learning environment.  There, creativity and new ideas are exchanged among a host of various classes, with one unique twist: everyone is nude. Why nude? Because, as he states in the book:

“Nudity is truth. Nudity is sincerity. It allows us to see beyond social class and pretension, of which clothing is always an indicator. Paradoxically, nudity helps us see past gender, of which, again, clothing is always an indicator and even an exaggerator. And nudity encourages us not only to express ourselves unabashedly, but also to openly receive and understand the honest expressions of others.”

Ross also describes it as an “environment where skin exposure aids exposure to new ideas.” (Would it really do that? Who knows, but it’s an interesting concept.)  He does not share his thoughts when he decides to make this idea a reality on the first day of his new philosophy course. In a very gutsy move, he undresses in his office and proceeds down the hall completely nude.  There’s a humorous moment as one teacher almost catches him.  But he makes it into his classroom, shocking the students as he walks to his desk to face them.  He welcomes everyone to the course and says, “…this is what my body looks like.  If you feel uncomfortable with my lack of clothing, I have two suggested options: undress, as much as you’re willing, or leave.” A few depart, and those that remain decide to fully or partially undress.  In explaining what the course is about, he lays out the case for classroom nudity.  He argues that not only does it make sense for their subject of study, “aesthetics of the human body,” but it also offers the benefit of exposing the largest organ in the human body (the skin!) “to more fully receive and process stimuli.”  He tells the class they must “Reclaim the Image” that has been concealed by current taboos and censorship.  He states, “The norms for censorship—including, by the way, the decisions about which body parts are sexually arousing—are set by those in power, like the church, by using its authority to define sin, and the government, by enacting laws.” –A fact we just uncovered ourselves, in our recent censorship article!

Now, at this point, a little “suspension of disbelief” is required.  Ross is not fired, suspended or punished for this behavior (or stunt), as would reasonably be expected.  He gets away with it because he is a well-respected and accomplished professor in his field of work.  In addition, the philosophy department is in danger of being eliminated due to low enrollment, but once word gets around about his naked class, students begin clamoring to enroll.  Therefore he is permitted to continue.

While some elements of the story may seem unrealistic, readers may be surprised to learn which ones are based on actual events. In one such example, an individual is forced to censor a replica of the David statue.  The statue, located on his storefront lawn, receives numerous complaints.  This was the case in a similar incident that took place several years ago in the U.S.
The whole concept of nude education is also not that far off from reality.  Another character, Professor Angela Saucedo, is in the midst of her research at a fictional middle school in Sweden.  At this school, every aspect of a student’s life, from gym class to school concerts, is conducted in the nude.  As part of her research, she interviews the students about confidence and body image.  The results reflect actual research findings with regards to the positive effects that nudism has on children.  While the idea of a nude school may seem preposterous, there was in fact a school in England where students and teachers were nude together, called the English Summerhill school.  The school, founded in 1921, still exists today, but sadly no longer has the social nudity aspect.

Of course there are opponents to public nudity (the story wouldn’t be complete without them).  The most memorable of these opponents were the members of the “Children of the Lord Our God Fundamentalist Congregation.”  Every once in a while they would show up to read from the Bible and publicly scorn the nude sinners.  The scenes are rather funny because we know such people do exist, some of which believe that going to a nude beach is a grave sin.

The story continues with more poignant truths scattered throughout.  In the discussion of the nude school, the topic of pedophilia comes up as a potential danger for the kids. Angela says, “We’re not accustomed to thinking about children and nudity that way, because our society has conditioned us to make the pedophile connection automatically.  How couldn’t we think of it, when the only context for nudity and children that is ever presented in the media is pedophilia?”  Anybody running a nudist youth camp for kids knows this to be true!  In reality, due to the heightened sensitivity of nudist resort goers, children are probably safer at a nudist resort than they would be at textile camps.

There are too many topics and ideas presented to discuss them all here. All in all, I would say this novel touts all the usual benefits and arguments given in favor of nudism and social nudity: body acceptance, physical comfort, greater mind-body connection, to name a few. It also refutes the usual misconceptions people use against it: that it’s bad for children, that nudity always equals sex, that the human body is obscene, gross, shameful, and many more. Nudity is examined and explored in many different contexts, from nude beaches to schools to strip clubs. The book certainly does its job in summarizing the nudist philosophy with regards to the human body. The main criticism I have is that its storyline might be a bit weak to keep certain readers engaged. It’s filled with a lot of self-serving inner dialogue, in order to get across so many of the core issues that pertain to social nudity. This book does, however, offer a new way of looking at various aspects of social nudity as well as a glimpse of what a body-positive world might look like!

Keep up with book news and author Will Forest at his blog, Nude Scribe.

Now, guess what guys. I have a free copy of Co-Ed Naked Philosophy to give away to one lucky reader!

How to Enter the Giveaway:
1. Leave a comment below, sharing either your favorite nudist book (thus far ;)) or your favorite thing to do nude.
2. For another entry, tweet a link to this article (you can click the Tweet button below) and tag me in the tweet so I see it – @FelicitysBlog

Details: Contest will end on January 13th at midnight. Open to residents in the U.S. and Canada only.
(Disclaimer: These are my personal opinions, and I was not paid for this review or endorsement.)

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Well, it is officially the beginning of a new (nude) year!  We thought it would be nice to look back at 2012, and at 2011 too, since this is our first “Year in Review.”  We wish you all a happy, healthy new year filled with love!  Check out our gallery and list of memorable moments below (click the linked words to see the articles).  We look forward to more good memories with wonderful nudie friends in 2013!!! 

[slideshow gallery_id="3"]

(*The gallery might be glitchy – if so, try clicking through them on the bottom)

2011

✯ YNA held their first outdoor young naturist gathering at Rock Lodge Club – a very memorable, positive event with over 60 people and activities like nude yoga, body painting, and outdoor movie screening of Act Naturally. 

✯ Felicity and a few other YNA’ers participated in a naked art performance on Wall Street called Ocularpation by Zefrey Throwell. Felicity was falsely arrested for being top free, along with two male participants. All charges were dropped.  Felicity sued the city on top of that and just won her case!

✯ Chiming in on a viral video trend, Felicity produced a funny video called “Shit Clothed People Say To Nudists.”

✯ YNA had a Top Free Day in Central Park to celebrate National Go Topless Day & women’s right to go topfree in New York!

✯ We co-hosted our first Naked Painting Party in NYC, which drew in over 500 people for a night of body painting!

✯ We had our first charity cocktail fundraiser to benefit a women’s shelter with some creative nude photography. 

2012

✯ YNA participated in another naked art performance: we played strip poker in a storefront window in Chinatown –what a blast!

✯ Felicity and friends got body painted completely nude in Times Square by artist Andy Golub

✯ In a partnership with Bare Naked Bake Sale, we managed to raise over $1,000 for lupus research through our Naked Costume Halloween Party.

✯ We had our first young naturist gathering at Juniper Woods in upstate NY, which was a great success! 

✯ We launched our official YNA Membership and Affiliates Program to give clubs and resorts more exposure while making them more accessible to young naturists!

✯ We launched three (yes three!) new YNA chapters this year: Wisconsin, Oregon and Upstate New York. Meanwhile, YNA NJ (& NYC) is still going strong! 

✯ We decided to broaden the scope of YNA’s mission and further develop our “people positive” philosophy, which involved tackling more social issues, like bullying and fat shaming. 

AND, we thought you might like to see our most popular blog posts and articles of 2012, so here they are!

Top 10 Most Popular Posts of 2012

1. Is Nudism Good For Children?

2. Naked Yoga: A Story of Transformation

3. Nudist Celebrities

4. Jordan Rants: Internet Pornography & Children

5. Shit Clothed People Say to Nudists Video Premiere

6. Nude Outdoors – First Time Naked Outside

7. Hurricane Sandy News Alert

8. Nudism and Sexuality

9. Amanda Todd – The Death of Innocence

10. Review of White Thorn Lodge

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Bare Necessities Nude Cruise

Summer is coming to an end, but who said the naked fun has to end with it?  This February 9-17th 2013, just when the cold may be at its worst in the north, we will be sailing nude out in the open water and sun…for 8 days…on the Big Nude Boat!

Sail away with us this winter on an unforgettable nude cruise with Bare Necessities!  We will have a YNA hospitality desk on the boat and guess what..members of Young Naturists America will receive a 10-15% discount per person when booking cabins!  Call 800-743-0405 to book and receive this special discount.  (Click here to learn more about becoming a member of YNA.)

UPDATE: YNA is now running a nude cruise raffle with Bare Naked Bake Sale to benefit lupus research!  Enter before December 10th 2012 for a chance to win a 2-person cabin on the Big Nude Boat!  CLICK HERE for tickets!

To give you an overview of the trip:

First stop is the island of Cozumel, Mexico, a popular destination in the Caribbean Sea with its year-round tropical climate, beautiful beaches of white sand and clear waters.  It’s a hot spot for scuba diving and snorkeling with its gorgeous coral reefs.  Inland is a thriving jungle full of diverse wildlife, not to mention ancient Mayan ruins to see!  From relaxing on the beach to horseback riding to swimming with dolphins, there will be no lack of things to do on this first stop.

The next stop is the wild province of Limon, Costa Rica.  The climate is consistently hot and humid, which it must be for all its amazing rainforest!  Here you’ll have the chance to take a hike or zipline the canopy through this lush green jungle.  A visit to the province’s capital city, Puerto Limon, would also be a worthy excursion with its various marketplaces and interesting architecture.  Off the coast is another great location to snorkel or scuba dive as well as go surfing, canoeing or kayaking. 

The last destination south is Colon, Panama, just outside the Panama Canal.  Hop on a smaller boat to take a tour of the canal, or go rafting in its waters.  You can also explore a new culture on a tour of the lovely San Blas Islands or visit to a local village.  There definitely will be no lack of adventures to choose from on the cruise day in Panama!

At night and the days we are at sea, take advantage of the various activities offered on the boat from chilling out nekkid at the pool to dancing at one of the big nightly theme parties. 

With this kind of trip in the works, I’d say we’re almost looking forward to winter…almost. ;)  So don’t hesitate to start planning your winter escape with us…This could be the best cruise nakation yet!

Can’t wait to see you onboard!!

To learn more about the Bare Necessities cruise, visit their website.

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Well the final vote was passed on Tuesday in favor of the nudity ban in San Francisco.  The ban will go into effect on February 1st, 2013, and prohibit nudity in most public places.  But, activist Mitch Hightower and other opponents have filed a lawsuit to try to get the verdict overturned, citing a freedom of speech violation.  Past efforts to reverse anti-nudity laws on the basis of free speech have been unsuccessful, but this time, who knows, maybe they’ll win!  Here is video footage of nude protesters storming the court during the final vote: 

In an effort to find out the truth about the Castro nudist scene and why the nudity ban is going into effect, I decided to reach out to Mitch Hightower for an interview.  Mitch is a San Francisco nude activist who has been organizing “Nude-Ins,” petitions and rallies ever since the Castro became a nudist hang-out spot.  I’m not sure why all the efforts thus far have not succeeded in preventing the ban…Are the nudists just too few in number to thwart the plan of one determined anti-nudity politician?  Have the tactics been too aggressive?  Did people ignore NAC’s call to action to write to the supervisors?  I can only speculate.  But I am certain that the loss of this freedom will affect us all. 

Do you consider yourself a nudist? How long have you been a nudist? Do you go or have you gone nude at beaches, nudist clubs, resorts? How long have you lived in SF?

Mitch Hightower: I’ve been an active nudist since age 16. I now consider myself a body freedom activist. While I enjoy nudity at beaches, resorts and the like, I also use my nude body to draw attention to causes and/or events I believe in.  I’ve lived in San Francisco most of my life, since the 1960′s.

How long have you been going nude in the Castro and for what reason?

I’m not one of the people who regularly gets naked in the Castro. I’m standing up for others who cannot speak for themselves. I’ve organized an annual “Nude In” for the past three years which was held in the plaza in the Castro neighborhood. Those are the only three times I have personally been naked in this location. You can find out more about the annual NUDE IN Body Freedom Demonstration on my blog.

I’m known around SF as one of the “event naked guys.” That is to say, I usually reserve my public nudity for parades, fairs or other street events where this kind of activity has been going on for decades here in San Francisco. My other public nudity experience has been for photo shoots for my own website and my collection of printed photography books.

I do sit in the plaza clothed with my naked friends about once a week or so, during the few times of the year when it’s actually sunny and pleasant here. Most of the Urban Nudists I know are actually quite shy and are not looking for altercations. I observed that some of the nudists were getting bashed by the press and a local politician. I thought this blatant intolerance in San Francisco was unacceptable and so I used my extensive connections and long list of supporters to mobilize demonstrations to draw attention to what I believe is a misunderstood group of harmless people.

Unfortunately, the plaza popular with the nudists also attracted an element of exhibitionism. This behavior crossed the line of established nudist conduct. Because of the egregious behavior of two or three people, (who we have since successfully eliminated from coming to the plaza), most of the Urban Nudists got lumped in with the exhibitionist element unfairly.

Was there trouble in the Castro before these couple of “exhibitionists” showed up?

The plaza was only installed about 2 years ago so there was no previous opportunity for anyone to be here because “here” didn’t exist. Nudity in the neighborhood was common prior to the plaza being built, but a couple of people hanging out for hours was a new thing that we hadn’t seen before after the plaza was installed.

I believe the trouble started when Wiener initiated the sit-on-a-towel rule? Which attracted a bunch of other nudists to the area?

The plaza was installed in what still is the street, and opened right after the current supervisor was elected, (the plaza was in the works for years before he arrived however). Previously, naked people would walk the neighborhood and usually only congregate at a place called “Hibernia Beach”. This is a street corner where a large bank building is, (now known as Bank of America), and one of the few places in the neighborhood where the sun shines through the shadows caused by the other buildings. “Hibernia beach” was so named in the 1970′s after the bank that occupied the building back then. It’s been known as a place to see scantily clad and nude people for decades.

I hadn’t thought the towel rule was a bad thing for the nudists (who typically sit on a towel regardless, though I guess I can’t attest to the Castro nudists’ towel manners), but what do you think was the true intention behind it? Was it really to enact a law to get nudists to always sit on a towel, or did he have some other agenda?
The towel legislation was an attempt by the supervisor to get media attention and it worked. Everyone I know already sat on towels as common established nudist courtesy. The outdoor furniture here in SF is not well maintained, frequently dirty and wouldn’t be safe to put your bare butt on.

Were any of the exhibitionists ever arrested for lewd behavior? If not, do you think they should’ve been? (I’ve come across very little as far as descriptions of the “bad behavior” in the Castro – whether it was frequent, illegal, etc)

The SFPD has no records of arrests for lewd conduct during the past two years since the plaza was opened.

Do you think the exhibitionists are the reason Wiener proposed the nudity ban? If so, how should he have handled it? Or is he simply anti-nudity?

Wiener introduced the ban to increase his media exposure and pump up his name recognition numbers. I met with him in his office at his invitation prior to the introduction of the legislation, and he wasn’t interested in any community based solutions. The meeting was really a fishing expedition so he could determine how well organized the nudist activists are and what kind of resistance we would pose to the legislation. There were only ever two men I saw in the plaza that I would have described as exhibitionists. The conduct I observed was not lewd to me, but didn’t match up to my understanding of acceptable non-sexual urban nudist behavior either. If you’ll pardon my candidness, standing naked on the corner and making your penis twirl like an airplane propeller is not good nudist conduct in my opinion, even though this conduct did not bother me personally.

Do a lot of the Castro nudists wear cock rings? What is your opinion on wearing cock rings in public settings for decoration (not sexual) purposes?

I personally do not wear a cock ring. Only a small number of men do in my observation. I thought this was likely to be a problem and I wasn’t in favor of it at first. Then I took an opinion poll in my online Yahoo group and I saw that the vast majority of respondents considered cock rings akin to bracelets and necklaces. After that, I was sufficiently convinced that a cock ring could be no different than any other body jewelry and simply wearing one is not lewd.

Do you work with the Naturist Action Committee, and are they assisting with the lawsuit?
No and no.

If the lawsuit doesn’t succeed, how do you think the ban will affect nudism / naturism?

Since much of the country, and the world, look to San Francisco as a leader in social change, the ban, if passed and implemented, will have a chilling effect on both tolerance and urban nudism well beyond the boundaries of our city.

Do you think nudists should only go nude in clubs, beaches and other “designated areas”? If not, why?

Sequestering people away behind walls or other boundaries suggests their conduct is shameful or otherwise unacceptable. Body shame is a learned behavior which is exacerbated when nudists hide in resorts or other venues.
My bottom line is that I believe the human body is a beautiful thing in all its many forms. I don’t believe we need to hide behind clothes in public or anywhere else. Body freedom and acceptance is not about being nude only at resorts, beaches or clubs.

Some say people shouldn’t go about taking advantage of legal public nudity and go nude in urban areas because the city often ends up overturning that law and/or creating a new law to ban that freedom. How can nudists prevent this from happening? 

Nudists cannot likely prevent ambitious politicians from turning a localized social issue into a headline grabbing international media circus.

I’ve heard that nudists are actually pretty limited as far as other nude / clothing-optional places they can go in the SF area..Is this true?

If the ban holds we’ll only have two small beaches where nudity is legal in the entire 49 square miles of San Francisco, (and that is only because the city does not govern the federally owned beach property).

[Image Source]

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Hope You Enjoy Our Interview With All Nudist :

Jordan Interviews All Nudist

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Nipplegate cartoon by Mick Stevens

For those of you who might not have seen the story, there was an incident where the New Yorker Facebook page was banned for posting a cartoon depicting female nipples, ie, two black dots. They were told it violated Facebook’s community standards, which explains their policy as vaguely as possible with: “We also impose limitations on the display of nudity.” To get the truth you have to read the FB moderator guidelines, uncovered by Gawker, listing “female nipple bulges” as prohibited. The New Yorker’s cartoon editor Robert Mankoff then wrote an article entitled “Nipplegate,” to poke fun at the controversy. FB apologized and said the removal was a “mistake.” Here’s my own crude drawing conclusion of what’s okay / not okay on FB:

A bad case of F.N.B. (Female Nipple Bulge)

(Fun fact: The New Yorker has been publishing cartoons with naked people for a long time, but for many years, they didn’t show any nipples!)
We were interested to find out how the cartoonist perceived this censorship, so what follows is an interview with Mick Stevens, the artist who drew Adam and Eve above. To get another take on nudity, censorship and cartoons we also interviewed artist and author Bob Fingerman.

First, Mick:

We loved the Nipplegate article. How do you feel about your cartoon getting removed on Facebook for having female nipples?

I was very surprised and amused. If you look back through the New Yorker’s past cartoons, you’ll see a lot of female nipples, often drawn in a much more detailed way. Mine were just those little dots.

Do you think Facebook should change its policy on nudity or perhaps specify that naked cartoons are allowed?

Actually, I think they’ve calmed down a little due to the publicity. They could change their policy but then they might have to change their name to “Nipplebook”.

Do you perceive this kind of censorship as a stifling of freedom of speech?

Not really, at least not in an important way. Of course if I lived in China and other more repressive places on the planet, those dots might send me to jail or worse. At least here in the USofA all they can do is make themselves look silly. (Mick also told us he’s never encountered this kind of censorship in the past.)

Do you personally think that non sexual/ non pornographic nudity should be censored, and if so, why?

No. In other countries, apparently more enlightened than this one, sex isn’t equated with sin and damnation. Those old ideas are dying off here, but are still very much alive among some folks.

Did any policies or anything change because of it? Are they going to stop posting cartoon nipple dots on Facebook now?

You’ll have to ask somebody at FBook. I know they did apologize after a few days of being ridiculed by the press and restored the NYer FBook page, dots and all.

We see you have a book coming out. Are there any nipple dots in there? Nudity? If your publisher told you that you need to remove the naked cartoons in order to appeal to a larger audience, would you do it?

Yes the book has some dots and some nudity. If a publisher told me to remove representations of nude people, I’d be surprised. I’d have a chat with them and probably look for another publisher with a more enlightened view.

Illustration from Connective Tissue by Bob Fingerman

Now, Bob Fingerman. Bob has been drawing cartoons all his life and has published several graphic novels and prose novels. We met him at a fun panel about sex and taboo in cartoons at the Brooklyn Book Festival. 

What have been your experiences with censorship, if any? And if so, why were you censored?

Limited, at best (or would that be worst). I’m more prone to self-censor. When I worked for a kids’ humor magazine, more than 25 years ago, they censored some art, but it wasn’t sexual content. They misinterpreted it as offensive in other ways too stupid to get into. But I’ve been very lucky. Or prudent. Or some combination.

Your illustrations often depict nudity. What is it about the nude form that makes you draw it so frequently?

I probably do so less than I used to, because my porn work aside, I generally include nudity when it’s germane to what’s going on. But it’s just fun. The human body is fun to draw.

Given the American sensitivity toward nudity, does this affect your work and what you put into your books or what you publish? Or how or where you publish it?

Yes. In my forthcoming book, MAXIMUM MINIMUM WAGE(out Spring 2013 from Image Comics), I went in and actually toned down some of the more overt, or arguably gratuitous, nudity in hopes of reaching a larger audience and not scaring away some more conservative retailers. So, yeah, it’s a thing you have to think about. I have a prose novel I’ve wanted to write set in Hell, and the damned souls are nude in it. My agent actually encouraged me to tone down the nudity in a book that was just text. I chose not to because that’s taking it too far. I also tabled the book for now, but for other reasons. But America is pretty weird about sex and nudity. It’s a society obsessed with the prurient but totally at odds with its own nature.

Well now we have to ask. Is it more fun to draw male bits or female bits?

Male is funnier, female is more enjoyable.

Do you think anything should be censored? And where do you draw the line?

Yes. This is getting a bit dark, but anything involving kids. But even there I suppose context is everything. If you merely described some of the stuff they’ve actually depicted on South Park you might balk. But they can get away with some pretty inappropriate stuff because they’re geniuses at weighing the scale fully on the humor. I draw the line sometimes taking into account the marketplace. But in spite of what some people might think, I’ve just generally calmed down on certain topics. On the other hand, I did tone down Pariah. My first draft got much darker and uglier in certain scenes and I pared that back to make it more palatable. Sometimes too much is too much, you know?

Do you feel torn about the self-censorship? Would a better compromise be making a censored version and an uncensored version?

Not really. There’s a time and a place. If the nudity is a distraction and doesn’t serve the story it maybe doesn’t need to be there. But there’s something to be said for alternate versions, sure. I like that kind of thing. It’s having your cake and eating it naked.

Do you think non-sexual nudity should be censored?

It’s all about context. I love to depict nudity, but there’s a time and a place. So, there’s no hard, firm, answer for that.

What do you think of the Nipplegate incident and also the recent case of an Austrian museum censoring its promotional art poster of naked men? Do you think this type of censorship is becoming more prevalent? Is that acceptable?

The New Yorker thing is moronic. Sergio Aragones depicted bare breasts with dots for nipples in MAD over thirty years ago. And that’s a magazine ostensibly for kids. So the fact that anyone was fussed over dots in the New Yorker is utterly stupid. And the redrawn version makes no sense at all. It’s simply not a gag any more. As for the Vienna thing, since those a public kiosks I think it makes more sense to cover the male bits. If they were covering them at the actual exhibition that would be another matter.

There are other nude art posters plastered all over Vienna, except they feature full-frontal female nudes. These were perfectly acceptable, while the male nudes caused a big uproar. Any thoughts on this or why there was such a difference in reaction to them? Should only certain kinds of nudity be censored in public?

Okay, this points out a few things. First is the inherent hypocrisy of male vs. female nudity. Some would argue that it’s because female genitalia is internal (although these days, with some many women fully waxed, one could argue you can see plenty of the intimate anatomy), while men’s bits are fully on show. I think it basically comes down to many (most?) people finds penises kind of gross. Or ridiculous. Or both. What do I know?

So there you have it. The low-down from two cartoonists and how they deal with nudity taboo, female nipple bulge and censorship.

What do you readers think?  Is nudity censorship getting out of control these days? Or do cartoonists still get away with a lot more because it’s a cartoon?  

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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“Untitled”

Julia Kozerski is an artist and photographer whose raw documentation of her own weight loss journey touched a nerve and spread like wildfire.  I decided to interview her about her work and how it relates to body image, nudity, and censorship in American culture.  Check out the rest of Half, Tag, and other works on her website and read the interview below to learn more!  

What inspired you to document your weight loss journey through self-portraiture?

I never planned on photographing myself. In fact, I probably hadn’t been in front of a camera for 10 years before starting these works. In essence, I started utilizing myself as my own muse because I had lot of questions about what I was going through and what was happening to my body. I found solace in the one-on-one interaction I had with my vulnerable self in front of the lens. I couldn’t hide anything (nor did I want to). I wasn’t making images for anyone but myself (and at the time no one saw them but me). I liked that, when the images were captured, I could remove myself from them and look at them like I do with any other photograph, objectively. The act of photographing also helped me stop time. Losing over 160 pounds in a year is fast. I was living in my body the entire time so the transition was “normal” to me, but looking at the still images taken throughout, I can better understand just how not normal it was.

An image from “Tag”

What made you decide to be completely naked in the photos in Half and Tag? 

“Half” was shot during the same time as I shot “Changing Room.” My main motivation for beginning my weight loss was in direct reflection to my ideas about how other women looked. I saw 338 pounds on the scale and my first thought was “models are 100 pounds … I am 3 people!” “Changing Room” was more about the fantasy of playing “dress up” with my new body. In the dressing rooms I could be a Barbie, I could see how my physical efforts played out for others to see. “Half” was the truth about the emotional toll that the physical transformation had taken. My experience was not superficial, it was raw, it was real … I needed the images to bare it all and I knew that the truth lay beneath the layers of clothing. My series “Tag” was created in reflection to creating both “Half” and “Changing Room.” It combined the superficial nature of media portrayals of women with the reality of my nude form. “Tag” is the epitome of what I was initially attempting to accomplish with starting my transformation; fitting into these idealized ideals of the body in a futile effort.

“Bare”

There seems to be a major disconnect between your weight loss experience and what’s portrayed on TV and in magazines.. The media seems to promise happiness and confidence from losing weight while your images show something very different.. What is all the emotion behind such a physical transformation? Is it really a depressing, disheartening experience?

You know, this weight-loss experience has been a roller-coaster. There are times of extreme happiness and pride, mixed in with despair and depression. What I understand now (for myself at least) is that I needed to experience the full range, as it helped me better understand myself. With having gone through all of this, I am better in-tune with my mental and physical being. I can better predict how certain choices will result. Before this journey, I wasn’t living, I was just alive (inside an unhealthy, morbidly obese shell at that). I NEVER regret making these changing. Yes, there were tears but now there is nothing but pride in those tears. They are real, they are raw, we all have them (whether you struggle with weight or not, we all wrestle with our own demons/insecurities). My experience taught me what it means to be human.

How did the changes on the outside affect the inside?

When I first began my transformation, it was purely on the basis of aesthetics. I wanted to look like a model. Well … when I began to slowly realize that that wasn’t going to happen, my self-esteem dropped. I wanted to throw in the towel. Luckily, I’d been taking all of these photographs and that is when I started really looking at myself (through the lens) to see what I’d done to myself. The photos were key. In them I saw things that I wasn’t able to grasp/understand in that I was living in myself the entire time. In pausing those moments I could see the positive, even in the negative. I gained a better understanding that what was unfolding was truly real. It was humanity at its best – goals, struggle, pain, love, triumph over evil. While I was disheartened to not see a Vogue model, I was honored to see a nude form which referenced more so to the models seen posing in art historic paintings (what some now call “real women.”) Like anyone else, I still have difficult emotional periods but they are more balanced now. I am still self-critical but who isn’t. My inside (and outside) just feel more “me” (for lack of a better word) than ever. The changes on the outside helped me understand who was on the inside. The images I took of my outside also helped to understand the emotional places I was in and helped me better cope with my changing emotions. The photographs I took of myself played a huge role. I made them for myself and I never meant to show them to anyone else. They were therapeutic in a way, helping me look objectively at the woman in the image. Sharing the images publicly was a giant step, one that I will be forever grateful for. The discussions elicited from my work have been outstanding! I love that my photographs have transcended self (myself) and have become icons for humanity. They have shown me that I/we are not alone in our feelings and emotions and that it is okay to talk about these issues – without embarrassment. (Of course, I have received quite a few negative comments but I’ve come to understand that they stem from the reviewers own insecurities and that what I am doing physically and artistically is right for me.)

“Hunger”

Just out of curiosity, what have been some of the negative comments? (Other than thoughtless remarks of “that sucks”, etc)

I have received a variety of negative comments. Most times people say accuse me of lying about my experience (they truly believe I had surgery), other times people comment that I am ugly or that I looked better when I was at my heaviest. Most recently though, I have gotten a few responses that the nudity was unnecessary and offensive. I’m gotten comments (most notably on the images where my husband was included) that I should have covered his penis. “Indecent” is the word they use, and they often write that I should be embarrassed of myself for exposing my most private and personal self in such a public way.

My (unspoken) response to those people … I guess you don’t get it (my message and/or my “art” in general).

So taking nude photos and even sharing them in a hugely public way has helped you accept yourself and your body. Would you recommend this to other people who are trying to lose weight or who are trying to simply accept their bodies?

It’s so interesting that you’ve asked this. You know, I’ve encouraged several people to photograph themselves nude. (Now, I want to preface that with saying that I made it clear that I don’t think it is necessary for everyone to picture themselves naked and share them publicly, as I did.) We live in our bodies 24/7 and we look in the mirror and we see ourselves … it is much different when you hold an image or see a photo of yourself on the computer screen. It’s similar to the reason we all cringe when someone wants to take our picture. The photograph doesn’t lie, it shows us what is really there – whether we like it or not. It allows us to to look objectively at what is shown. My nude images helped me accept myself as I was. In the portraits I saw things that I wanted to work towards changing but I also saw things about myself that made me happy, even proud. It’s easy to hit “delete” or to shred an image so that it would never be seen again. Whether you are losing weight or not, seeing yourself in the “raw” might offer you new insight into yourself and your life.

I agree with you when you say on your website that people are being fed images of unattainable beauty and now more so than ever with the Internet. The result is many other women (and men too) who think they are supposed to, or should, or need to look like a model. What’s the solution… How can they ignore it or look past it?

I still look at the models and I’m still bombarded by the images of unattainable beauty; I’m not sure we will ever be able to avoid it. But, this is where my nude photographs helped me the most. From those images, I understood that I wasn’t a model (and I admitted that I didn’t really want to become one either). My images helped me understand who I was and what I wanted. All along I said to myself “I want to look like the models,” and I was wrong. All I wanted was to look in the mirror once in awhile and to be confident in the person (inside and out) I saw in the reflection. I wanted to love myself. It’s true, I still judge people to this day. I see people as “skinny,” “pretty,” “fat,” etc. (Of course, I would never voice such opinions.) I believe that these terms and classifications have been embedded in us by these media-sourced images. When I find myself in one of these instances, I think about the context of my internal conversation. “Ok, I think that person is ‘skinny?’ … What/who am I comparing them to?” Usually I find that the generalizations I make about others are in comparison to myself. Yes, in size, she may have been thinner than me … but she wasn’t me. She hasn’t gone through what I have, she doesn’t live my lifestyle, she doesn’t have my same genetic make-up or family history, most likely she doesn’t have the same goals and aspirations as I do. She is not me. So why bother comparing? My advice on how to ignore being overwhelmed by outside sources … be selfish with yourself. Think of yourself, of who you are, of who you want to be. What makes you comfortable? What makes you happy? Be yourself and celebrate that. If you are unhappy with how you feel (which is perfectly normal) make change to improve that … but do so on your own terms. Learn to love yourself.

“Ruins No. 1″

Have you had any problems with censorship because of the nudity in your work?

The short answer, “yes.” People are very sensitive about nudity – a lot of my online presence has been flagged with “NSFW” warnings/labels. Many venues will not exhibit my work because it is seen as too “graphic.” Some places feel as though they would alienate a certain audience if they were to show these images. Several print publications have turned down use of my imagery and, instead, gone with text-only reporting of my story. I’ve had modifications (blurring, cropping, etc.) done to my photographs in order for them to be “useable” for some press. My series “Changing Room” actually surpassed my other photographic series “Half” in popularity because people could not “handle” the nudity (which is a shame because I believe “Half” to be a much stronger and more important body of work).

I understand censorship and I appreciate protecting people (whether it be with regard to age or personal/religious stances), but I don’t believe that we should demonize the natural, human form. What I am sharing with the world through my images is real. It is not pornographic or harboring some other hidden agenda. My nudes are documentary in nature and serve to share a story called humanity. They may be images of me, but the story is not about me – it is about love, beauty and identity, it is about struggle and perseverance … it is about the common thread that holds us all together, life. I see the images as an artistic catalyst for open and honest conversation and discussion about these issues. I am proud of these works and feel honored to have had the opportunity to share them thus far. I can only hope that others may soon look past the mere sight of skin and look deeper to find the real meaning of the work.

One last question – the venues that rejected your images – were those art galleries?

The places that typically stay away from my work have been more public arenas (major tv, websites, etc.) but I have been turned away from a number of galleries. It’s just because my images do not depict the “idealized” nude. (You know, they wouldn’t make any money because no one wants one of my nudes hanging over their fireplace.) *roll-eyes*

Images used with permission.

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Introducing another nude yoga class in New York City!  This weekly yoga session is run by a new business called Zensuality, founded by Zen Marie Holmes, who teaches the class.  It takes place in midtown at the Solstice Studio on Friday evenings, and I decided to check it out last week.

The studio was softly lit by candlelight, lending a peaceful atmosphere.  It’s a small and intimate space in a rectangular shape, with a mirror expanding the length of one wall.  We shed our shoes and clothing and placed our mats in a line facing the mirror, while Zen positioned herself directly in front of it.  Class is accompanied by live music, and the musicians, also both nude, positioned themselves on one side.  They played didjeridoo and African drums, a doundoun and Kekeni with a Balafon, throughout the practice.  Though it’s bound to be different each time, the participants were an even mix of men and women.

As the description promises, the postures were a mix of Kundalini and Vinyasa styles.  Some of the movements were about opening the chakras.  Full nudity in this class is required, and here is Zen’s philosophy behind the nudity: “Practicing yoga in the buff will increase your awareness and facilitate the awakening of the dormant, potential energy (Kundalini) that lies at the base of the spine. Practicing nude yoga will greatly deepen and intensify your experience of yoga.”  I’m new to Kundalini, but I do agree that being naked deepens the practice and increases awareness of how you feel in your body.  In fact, if you’ve never tried it, naked yoga could even transform your practice entirely. 

Zen did some of the postures with us, as well as walked around to survey and re-adjust our positioning.  The pace is slow and steady, so it’s a good class to unwind at the end of the day.  In savasana, the final pose of relaxation, Zen went around to each of us to give a wonderful forehead massage with essential oils, which smelled lovely.  After class we were invited to mingle around an offering of hot tea and yummy raw chocolate truffles. 

I took this opportunity to ask Zen a few questions about her new class and Zensuality.  She told me she has been teaching yoga for six years and has conducted workshops at the Mid-Winter and Northeast Naturist Festivals, Pagan gatherings and other nude / clothing-optional events.  In addition to the nude yoga, Zen also organizes a monthly clothing-optional drum and dance circle (with an indoor fire pit!), nude meditation, and (clothed) Congolese / Haitian dance classes.  She’ll soon be starting up more workshops, such as couples massage and teaching how to make raw and vegetarian foods.  She said she started these activities as a way of bringing some aspects of those gatherings back to NYC to enjoy all year long instead of those few weeks out of the year.  Sounds like a good idea to me!   

To help us raise money for lupus research with BNakedB, Zen has generously donated a free pass to nude yoga and to a drum and dance circle session to be raffled off at our Naked Costume Halloween Party!  So join us this Saturday for a chance to win!

The Zensuality website is still under construction, so for now be sure to visit the Meetup group to learn about upcoming classes, workshops and events! 

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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Naked Halloween 2012

Whew!  First a hurricane one week and now a nor’easter snowing on us the next week?!  If you’re reading this I hope that means you got power and heat back, or maybe you’re staring at the little screen of your smartphone waiting for 3G to load as you sit waiting in line for gas.  Wherever you are, stay safe and warm!

We are here to cheer you up with some good news though: no Frankenstorm or snow is gonna stop us from having our next naked party! Naked Halloween 2012!

If you haven’t heard, our next event is Nude Night Out #8: “Take That Sandy, It’s a Halloween Party Take Two!”  - A naked costume Halloween party on Saturday, November 17^th, 8pm to 2am. 

That’s in 8 days!  Click here to register now.  

This event is co-hosted by Bare Naked Bake Sale, who will be doing two raffles to raise money for the Alliance for Lupus Research.  There will be one month-long raffle for the big prize: a double occupancy cabin on the Bare Necessities Nude Cruise, valued at $2,322!  Raffle tickets for the cruise are now on sale on the registration page ($5ea or 3 for $10) and will be available until midnight on December 10^th, 2012.  A winner will be picked on December 11^th.  The second raffle will include YNA pouches and memberships among other prizes, and the drawing will be at the event. 

 So what are you waiting for?  Sign up now for the best nudie Halloween ever! 

Costume-challenged?  Follow us on Twitter for a daily costume idea!  #NakedCostume @Young_Naturists @FelicitysBlog @BNakedB

Here is our naked Halloween party picture that is facebook and google plus friendly - Feel free To Share!

Naked Halloween FaceBook And Google Friendly Version – Share Away!

Naked Halloween

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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(By Melissa Dejanude)

California Nudist Resort  - It’s winter time and there really are not too many options where a family could go to on a low budget, especially one with a newborn baby at 5 weeks. Ever since the baby was born, my man and I found ourselves cooped up in the house needing to get out for some serious relaxation. We could not part with our newborn boy by leaving him with a baby sitter for the night since he was breastfeeding and developing through an important time of family bonding, so we decided to bring him with us to the nudist resort and what a better place to go to at this time than Deer Park Family Nudist Resort, “the friendliest nudist resort in Southern California”

We arrived at the resort close to 6pm after hours on a Sunday night when the sun had already fallen behind the hills. The staff was  not expecting us so we called the after hours phone line. Within just a few rings someone answered the phone and let us through the gates to check into a cabin/trailer. Generally they do not take such special requests while the office was closed; however, the after hours management took heart to our situation and made a special exception. He provided us with a key to a large double-sized trailer with 2 single rooms and one bathroom adjoining the rooms with a hallway that connected the two. The room contained a small microwave, coffee maker with a nice basket of coffee and accessories, a space heater, mini fridge with a decent size freezer, small end table, sofa chair, dresser and a large queen sized bed with linoleum flooring. There were 3 windows, two on the side wall and 1 overlooking the bed, with sliding curtains to allow privacy. The bathroom was a rather large sized room that contained a single toilet, small sink, 1 window with curtains and quaint little seashell decorations.

At this time the weather dropped less than 65° and our room was as cold as ice, so we cranked up the space heater all the way. It did not take too long for the room to get warm and cozy. As soon as we got situated in our room, we decided to head on down to the clubhouse and utilize the amenities. It had been way too long since the opportunity to use their jacuzzi was available, 9 months in fact. In all actuality this was the place where my man and I conceived our son. Let’s just say we had a really good time that night in our own private cabin. :)

The clubhouse was just as I remembered it, spacious with plenty of things to do. When you walk in through the back entrance you first have to walk through a small hallway which leads to both the main dining area on your right and the recreation room on your left. The kitchen is not usually open on Sunday nights so that entire area of the facility is shut off. The recreational room is my favorite part of the resort; it contains two bathrooms (separating both male and female genders), 1 vanity, 1 full size jacuzzi with a built in waterfall, (Don’t turn the waterfall on!) a sauna, steam room, two personal showers, and a billiards/game room.

We found ourselves right at home in the Billiards room which was well situated with 1 sofa couch, bar table and bench seat, a bookshelf full of books and board games including puzzles, a dart board, entertainment center with an average sized television settled on the top and best of all the pool table. We did not even have to fight over the tv channel since it was stuck on Fox 11. The remote must have been locked up in the entertainment cabinet along with the video games. After jumping back and forth from sweating in the steam room to soaking our bodies in the jacuzzi and we shot off a single game of pool and called it a night. During this entire time we found our selves alone except for a single musician who was nice enough to offer us some drinks and play rock a by melodies on his guitar when my son started to cry. This man was a resident at the resort and made the night quite welcome for us by sharing with us fun stories of his times past.

Upon calling it a night, we headed straight back to our cabin to get ready for bed. Sleep can be your ultimate favorite activity when you have a newborn.  My man and I were not necessarily prepared for this early evening excursion to the naturist resort and found the need to “jerry rig” a safe resting place for our little one in place of a bassinet. We moved the sofa chair and set it between the wall and the bed. Then we used an extra pillow as a soft mattress for him to lay his head. Fortunately, we had the luxury of a head rest support to keep him from turning over side to side. All of us slept quite soundly that night and only awoke every two the three hours, as usual, when our son needed to be fed or changed. There was one discomfort throughout the night, the bathroom provided or shall I say failed to provide hot water heater which was more bothersome to our son when I changed him in the middle of the night, washed my hands and picked him back up to feed him.

The following morning, we checked out by the required time of 12:00pm and drove into town to gather some supplies for the day along with breakfast. There are several conveniently located fast food eateries located within 3 miles of the resort. We were unable to find a grocery store of any sort nearby and settled for some small items in a liquor market which were overpriced. It is recommended that you come prepared if you wish to not leave the Deer Park premises for meals. Such preparation may also include frozen food items to microwave in your room while the resort diner is closed.

When we returned, the weather was fair with the sun popping out time to time which tempted us to try out the heated outdoor pool at Deer Park. One of the best things I always enjoyed about this resort is the separation of the two pools. The main pool contains a bar, outdoor Hot tub and non-heated pool on the far side of the lot which is generally closed during winter season. The heated pool is enclosed within some gates for extra privacy and good wind blockage. During the winter months, this pool is occupied from 1-5 people at any given day, or at least with the experience that I have witnessed. Most of those who use it are generally quite and relatively keep to themselves unless approached for conversation. This resort truly is an enjoyable place to escape for peace and serenity even when the weather is not as favorable for nude sunbathing.

My man and I tested out all the amenities of Deer Park Nudist Resort and were about ready to go until we realized there was a nice landing strip for us to fly our remote control airplane. Generally this is not encouraged should one in-experienced flier crash their plane amongst the hillside, finding them selves rummaging through the overgrown shrubbery to retrieve their lost propeller, battery or other parts; however, we found there was quite a welcome amount of airspace to fly without any trees or telephone wires blocking the flight pattern. So, we gave it a shot only to be disappointed our plane was experiencing technical difficulties of its own with the wind tunnel bouncing off the hillside. Next time we return, we shall be prepared with a better equipped plane for the one amazing r/c experience. Now if you are serious r/c fan, the dirt hills and rocks are great for some serious off roading in your remote controlled four wheeler.

I’d like to recommend Deer Park Nudist Resort to anyone who is not looking for a major party zone, but a place to simply relax in a quiet solitude environment during any given time of the year. Weekends and the winter season is usually the best time for this. This resort is accommodation for all ages and is even equipped with a children’s playground for those who bring their kids. We plan on returning another time this year and will most certainly be bringing our little boy back with us. Deer Park Family Nudist Resort is indeed the “friendliest nudist resort in Southern California“.

California Nudist Resort

Young Naturists & Nudists America YNA

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Uncensored version of “Vive La France” by Pierre & Gilles, featured on a poster to promote the new “Naked Men” exhibit at the Leopold Museum

An article recently came out in the Wall Street Journal, “Why Naked Men Get Short Shrift” and started off with the question, “Why does the male nude get no respect?”

Indeed.  The article came out because of a new exhibit in the Leopold Museum in Vienna, Austria called “Naked Men.”  Well now, aren’t they just asking for trouble with a title like that?  The museum promoted the exhibit by putting up posters around the city of three male soccer players, naked aside from their knee-high socks and cleats.  It wasn’t long before they were met with a surge of complaints about the male nudity.

Let’s face it: the sight of naked men upsets people…even in Europe!  And this was a poster.  Imagine if it were live men, like in San Francisco.

The museum had posted images of full-frontal female nudity with no problem, so this backlash was supposedly unanticipated.  The WSJ reported, “Some are complaining the images remind them of sex or sexually traumatic experiences.”  Wait, reminded them of sex?  They’re genitals.  And I am completely sympathetic with people who have suffered sexual abuse or trauma but still, I do think it’s a pretty extreme reaction.

Yet this comment from another report is more revealing (no pun intended): “Museum officials say they received a flood of complaints by last week, mostly from outlying districts heavily populated by new immigrants from Muslim countries.”  Oh.  That makes sense.  This is why they are also quoted on saying the intolerance toward male nudity is “partially religious based.” 

But is that any reason to give in and censor the posters?  Must they appease people who don’t want to see male genitals on a poster “because of their religious beliefs”? 

Female nude art by Gustav Klimt, reportedly the most common poster in Vienna right now. But no problems with this one!

In my opinion, the museum shouldn’t have capitulated and covered the genitals in red tape!  Austria is not a Muslim country, and this is art as well as freedom of expression.  Why not let people complain or protest?  It’s simply depicting the human body as part of an art exhibit. By covering it up, the museum is actually saying that the complaints were justified. It is also sending a signal that the human body and / or genitals are obscene, always pornographic, shameful, inappropriate, bad, and every other negative adjective you can think of.  In my world view, the penis is no more obscene than the elbow. Since the museum had previously posted images of naked women with no backlash, are they saying that the vagina is okay but the penis is bad? In my book, that is a double standard since a naked body is a naked body.  The red tape is also marring the original artwork which is a slap in the face to the artist who created it. 

I think it is time for people to protest the censorship! Here is a little note I prepared that people can simply copy and paste (but personalize) and email to the curator of the exhibit at natter@leopoldmuseum.org:

–

Dear Tobias Natter,

It has been called to my attention that you decided to cave to public pressure and are now covering up the posters for your exhibit “Naked Men”. If this is true then I find it personally upsetting and offensive. This is an art exhibit – would you cover Michelangelo’s David if enough people complained? Since you had previously posted posters of nude females, are you trying to say that a naked man is something that is shameful? 

I cannot in good faith support such policies and would like you to email me back explaining your actions. Please note, that public opinion and pressure is not justification for this action.

Sincerely,

–

Is there anything healthy in continually censoring the human body?  Telling everyone, adults and children, that there’s something wrong with that part of our bodies?  They are only perpetuating the idea of body shame; a part of American, and I guess Austrian, culture that is harmful and time to do away with.  By capitulating, and censoring the nudity, the museum acknowledges that there is a problem with nudity and that the naked human form is shameful and should be covered up.

The WSJ piece tells stories of when art featuring male nudes was censored by the Catholic Church or society. Centuries later, we still censoring them – does that sound logical to you?

What do you think?  Should the museum have left the posters uncovered? Or were they right when they chose to cover them up?

Young Naturists & Nudists America

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