Social nudity in media
From Naked Wiki
Nudists and the nudist lifestyle is a relative rarity in mainstream media, due in large part to the social taboo still surrounding nudity and the censorship rules put in place by government bodies like the FCCand independent ratings boards such as the MPAA. Social conservative groups such as the Parents Television Council also lobby to keep media nudity-free.
In instances when nudism can be found in media, nudists are usually the subject of a joke, mischaracterized as sexual, or else portrayed as a an unrealistic caricature. Nevertheless, there are many instances where nudism and related values have been portrayed accurately, fairly, and even positively.
[edit] Social nudity on TV
See also: Main Wikipedia article for Nudity in American television
There have been a number of television series with episodes of interest to nudists.
This was a 2004 Channel Four British Documentary in which an 18 year old girl explores closet nudism and teenagers within the lifestyle.
A British Channel Four program where a beauty expert takes women who are uncomfortable being naked and gives that person a makeover. Good for nudism in the sense of making people feel comfortable about their naked bodies, but bad in the since that they must have a make-over to do so whereas nudists emphasize body acceptance regardless of whether society sees the body as attractive. This show still treats nudity as sexual and not natural.
The Celts: Rich Traditions and Ancient Myths
A 1986 documentary by the British Broadcasting Corporation regarding the Celtic culture. In one episode there was a portrayal of an ancient Celtic family which included two young topless females painting each other.
Beavis and Butt-head
In an episode of the MTV animated television series Beavis and Butt-head titled Naked Colony the boys enter a nudist resort. They try to join it but it is too expensive. When interviewed in their old age about what was the best experience in their whole lives they said it was visiting the nudist resort. Although Beavis and Butt-head were obviously there for the wrong reasons, the portrayal of the nudists themselves was positive.
Charlie's Angels
In a second part of a two part episode of Charlie's Angels titled Angels in Paradise the Angels go to Hawaii when Charlie is kidnapped there and one of the Angels must go to a nude beach and get naked in order to interview someone who has some information about where he is located.
CHiPs
In an episode of CHiPs titled Crash Diet a bunch of nudist female volleyball players were in a van going to a nudist camp. They decided to take off their clothes before they got to the nudist camp but unfortunately the driver was speeding or something so the Highway Patrol wants the van to pull over. The driver doesn't but instead leads them on a chase to the nudist camp so that while he will get a driving ticket the girls won't be arrested for their nudity (though I would think that leading cops on a chase would be a much higher penalty). Later in the show the nudists are at the City Council advocating for a nude beach. This falls through when one person who testifies in favor of the nude beach says that being naked is indeed a sexual experience for her. All and all I would say a negative portrayal of nudism although at the end the cops do play volleyball with the female nudists although everyone is clothed.
Dukes of Hazzard
In an episode of the Dukes of Hazzard titled "the Ghost of the General Lee" Bo and Luke are skinny dipping, and pool hustlers steal the General Lee. Rosco gives chase, believing them to be the Duke boys. When the pursuit ends with the General crashing into a lake, and no bodies are found, everyone thinks that Bo and Luke have been killed. Bo and Luke spend the episode trying to find clothes while trying also not to be seen naked. Regardless, all and all a positive portrayal of same gender nudity in the context of swimming which historically has been (and in many places still is) an acceptable activity mostly for rural males at more secluded swimming holes. At the end of the show despite all the problems they got into it showed them back at the swimming hole skinny-dipping.
Family Guy
In the episode of Family Guy titled From Method to Madness, Peter saves a man from drowning and is shocked to discover that he and his family are nudists. Although the episode contains numerous gags related to body parts and sexual activity, the nudist characters portray the lifestyle in a remarkably positive way, extolling it's virtues and generally behaving as one would expect nudists to act.
Futurama
Matt Groening's science fiction satire show Futurama portrayed a future where our century's "primitive notions of modesty" have long been abandoned. In the episode Xmas Story, Professor Hubert Farnsworth skied in the nude, and Hermes Conrad joined him nude for a game of chess later in the episode. The nudity theme was revisted in a later the episode A Taste of Freedom, where the characters celebrate "Freedom Day" by among other things, nude hot tubbing. Although these are the only two direct portrayals of nudism in the series, the characters consistently show little in the way of modesty or body shame throughout the episodes.
King of the Hill
In an episode of the FOX animated television series King of the Hill titled Sug Night Hank Hill starts to have dreams about him and and his neighbor Nancy grilling burgers in the nude. When his wife Peggy finds out about these dreams she concludes that Hank is bored with her and that they need to spice up their marriage by going to a nude beach. What is so positive about this episode is while Hank and Peggy don't get naked, Hank finds out that there is nothing erotic with simple nudity and he even has a normal conversation with some naked young women at the nude beach regarding propane and propane accessories.
MASH
In the series MASH Hawkeye Pierce liked to read nudist magazines. However, as to would he ever participate in nudism himself, well he was asked by Col. Potter once if he had ever visited one of those "skin farms" and he said just once and the only thing that came off was a shy smile. Once he made a bet that if he walked naked into the mess hall, people were so unaware of what was going on there around them that they would not even noticed. Well, they did, and he ran out of there embarrassed while everyone in the tent laughed.
Max Klinger once appeared on guard duty stark naked before a visiting general but that was to make the general think he was crazy and therefore eligible for a medical discharge from the military.
Radar O'Reilly was shown as being very sensitive about nudity although he admitted that as a kid he had secretly looked at National Geographic Magazines (the jungle scenes).
All and all not a very favorable portrayal of nudity. Nudism is basically treated as a joke when Hawkeye frequently mentions what he reads in his nudist magazines.
Maude
In an episode of Maude titled Doctor, Doctor Maude Findley's grandson is caught by Maude's daughter playing "doctor" with a neighbor's grandchild. Maude and her daughter thinks it's cute. But their neighbor isn't amused. This leads into a discussion regarding public nudity. Maude first claims she has no problem with public nudity as she says she finds the human body as being beautiful but when Maude's husband to prove his point starts to strip in front of everyone, she changes her mind. A negative portrayal of the nudist philosophy as it promotes the idea that there are just many people out there who should never be seen naked.
Petticoat_Junction
At the opening of each episode of Petticoat Junction there is a scene where some women are apparently skinnydipping in a water tower.
Roseanne
In an episode of Roseanne titled Rear Window a elderly couple moves next door. They like to be nude in their house but Dan and Roseanne can see them through one of their windows. Dan and Roseanne seem not to be able to help themselves from going to the window and viewing this naked elderly couple. Finally they decide to talk to the neighbors about the situation and the neighbors call them sick for spying on them through the window. Roseanne lifts up her shirt and says "what color are my eyes?" to make her point that nudity is an overwhelming distraction.
Roots
The ABC miniseries Roots featured some scenes in which a large number of African-American women were seen topless.
Seinfeld
In an episode of Seinfeld titled The Apology, Jerry Seinfeld dated a woman named Melissa who was also a nudist. However, the episode is fairly negative in its portrayal of nonsexual nudity. Jerry quickly becomes uncomfortable with her casual nudity because he finds it unattractive. Upon trying casual nudity himself, Melissa discovers she feels the same discomfort when it comes to male nudity and the couple breaks up as a result. Elaine Benes explains that Melissa's discomfort is because the male body is "utilitarian" and "It's hideous. The hair, the... the lumpiness. It's simian."
Shaka Zulu
Shaka Zulu was 1986 Television mini-series made for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). It is based on the true story of Shaka, king of the Zulu nation from 1816 to 1828. The mini-series had scenes with topless women. The miniseries was shown on American television those scenes were not removed and the topless women were shown without any alteration. It was refreshing to see non-sexual nudity shown in such an open way, but it is unlikely that the show would be allowed on television today without alteration.
Simon & Simon
In an episode of Simon & Simon titled The Bare Facts the private investigators have to go undercover at a nudist resort. All and all a pretty favorable portrayal of nudism.
The Simpsons
See also: Main Wikipedia article for Nudity in the Simpsons
Almost every major and minor character in The Simpsons has appeared nude. The show's attitude towards nudity and portrayal of such has been less consistent than in Futurama. Primarily, nudity on The Simpsons has been used for its comic value, although in several instances it could be said to have a positive messages associated with it.
Sliders
In an episode of the science fiction show Sliders titled Gillian of the Spirits they briefly visit an alternative Earth where people didn't wear clothes.
Three's Company
In an episode of Three's Company titled "Good Old Reliable Janet" Janet Wood and Helen Roper decide to participate in a protest to get a nude beach. When the police break up the protest, in order not to get caught and arrested they run home naked. This was a good episode in the sense of Janet and Mrs. Ropers willingness to participate in nude recreation (although they considered it daring). But that is negated by the fact that when they got back to the apartment they hid behind the couch because they didn't want to be seen naked by their friends.
Wings
In an episode of Wings titled House of Blues Joe and Helen finds out that they really enjoy going around nude in their home. They even consider actively participating in nudism by going to clubs around the country. However, when some kids take pictures of them nude and puts them on the Internet, their enthusiasm for the nude lifestyle ends.
War and Remembrance
War and Remembrance was a miniseries that was the sequel to the miniseries The Winds of War, both based on books written by Herman Wouk and broadcast on ABC. It is perhaps the only time where full nudity has ever been displayed unaltered in fiction on American Network Television. Unfortunately, the actors were portraying Jews being led to the gas chambers but still of interest to nudists as the extras they got to portray the Jews were actually themselves nudists.
What's my Line
On the 1950s game show What's my Line they once had nudists on. Is this the first mention ever of social nudity on American television?
[edit] Nudity in Movies
See also: Main Wikipedia article for Nudity in film
Although brief flashes of nudity and even activities like skinny dipping are often found in movies, actual nudist settings and characters appear rarely or never.
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[edit] Nudity in art
See also: Main Wikipedia article for Nudity in art
Nudity in artwork has a long history, and takes on multiple meanings and dimensions depending on its context. Very little deals with nudism directly; however, artistic nudity does play a role in shaping public perceptions of nudity and as such is of interest to nudists. Spencer Tunick is an artist that has been of particular interest to the nudist community, because he is known for gathering very large groups of people together to have them pose nude in public settings.
