The naked and the nude...
April 22, 2002

In reading some of the commentaries on Y Tu Mama Tambein, I�m struck by the number of times people pointed out the male nudity in the film. A lot of people were, if not shocked, then surprised by the amount. Male nudity is just not something we see too much of in our culture. (And in that I mean nudity in all its glory, not the err�simple cheeky type.) in the film. One person did point out that if it had been female nudity, few people would have batted an eye considering the unrated nature of the film. As nudity is an interest of mine (first clue might have been the title of the site�), I�m always intrigued by it�s effects on people. In some quarters on its face it�s obscene. In others, it�s perfectly natural, normal and beautiful. Some people have problems psychologically with it, others ethically. Sometimes it�s the context, other times it�s just the principle. Psychologically, it�s fascinating to study. Esthetically, it�s wonderful to behold. Artistically, it�s often necessary to get at the heart of the tale.

I think that in most cases it has to do not so much with being nude but with being naked (something else I�m fascinated with, again, hence the title of the site.) Naked in the sense of being bare, open, and exposed. This comes not so much from the lack of clothing but from the absence of pretense, barriers or distance to one�s inner, emotional state. It�s because most of life affects us at our naked places, those spots inside us where we directly experience what is occurring and are marked by its passing. Women, I think, are keenly aware of this if only because giving birth is a terribly naked experience � there is effectively nothing between them and the emergence of life. I think men, being the emotional scaredey-cats that most of us are, wind up greatly concerned about our own nakedness, in letting others see, feel, touch and ultimately know us. Maybe it�s culture and maybe it�s genes, but in most respects, while guys can be nude with each other in the locker-room, it�s still tough to be really naked with anyone, outside of a very few, well prescribed contexts. It�s why women complain so much � and gay men too.

Posted by Jody at April 22, 2002 10:52 AM

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