purposeful and empowered

I might just have to subscribe to Esquire. In the 30 minutes or so that I spent perusing through the magazine, I was overwhelmed by the interesting elements to it—beyond the Ralph Lauren ad that actually kept me hooked (I couldn’t get enough of that scent, Black is my new addiction).

My attention was particularly captured by the Man At His Best (MAHB) segment, “Sex,” in which readers wrote in questions that some professional answered—not really sure who, I wasn’t paying attention. The first question (and cartoon image) related to a guy who finally convinced his girlfriend to let him take nude pictures of her—apparently the pics he took weren’t that hot… “she looks awkward,” he wrote. The response mentioned environmental changes like making the room warm, playing music and dimming the lights. There was also a mention of how she should position herself, and getting her “suitably, but not prohibitively wasted.”

Anyone who knows me well enough knows what this particular article/question was of interest to me. I have a series of theories about clothing, the gist of them all stems around the point that clothing is unnecessary and confiding. With that said, the article quoted Kathleen Rooney, nude model and author of Live Nude Girl: My Life as an Object. He quote spoke to the soul:

“It’s almost like nudity becomes a kind of clothing, so think of it that way. You’re not naked, which is vulnerable and accidental. You’re nude, which is purposeful and empowered.”

Purposeful and empowered. That’s how I look at nudity. It isn’t something to be ashamed of; it’s something that should be celebrated, comfortable, natural.

In western society, particularly in America, the body is treated as “bad.” I attribute that mindset to conservative values and the far-right religious foundations of this country. Regardless of where it came from, it exists. What’s worse is the newest incorporation of the body in mainstream culture subjects it to a tool of gratification, a simple object. It’s not longer celebrated as beautiful or art, like it was in ancient Greek and Roman societies. It is either rejected altogether—as awkward and uncomfortable—or objectified for viewers pleasure. I argue that a wider acceptance of our “nude” body, as opposed to “naked” would permit us to embrace the middle-ground appreciation of the human form. We wouldn’t have to be embarrassed by nude scenes in movies—you know what I’m talking about—or the person next to us in the gym locker room who insisits on walking to and from the shower naked. Better yet, where we don’t have to apologize or warn our roommates that sometimes we don’t wear a shirt around the apartment/change clothes without closing the door or in the middle of a conversation/walk around and undress at the same time… yes, I’m guilty on all three accounts.

In conclusion (which I’m using because it reminds me of writing five paragraph essays in high school), Esquire magazine is great reading. A true diamond in the rough. The next article, for example, shows real promise: “The Collected Wisdom of Esquire as it Relates to Drinking.” I suggest if you haven’t ever taken the time to flip through its pages, you consider doing so now.

Note: As I wrote this, I was casually perched on my couch with no shirt and talking to my roommate.. it doesn't get much better than this!