3/11 Naked to Nude
READ: Barcan, Introduction and Ch. 1, pp. 1-76

• According to Mario Perniola, what is the basic distinction between Judaic and Greek appraoches to nudity? (p. 7 and p. 12)

• According to Bonfante, what are the five basic functions of clothing? (p. 15) Of these, which is the most important and which the least important and why?

• Look at the famous Greek statue below. Read the account of it on p. 18. Do you think this "pudica pose" is natural or cultural and what do you think it means when it was made in the 4th entury BCE and how would you interpret it today in the 21st century?

Aphrodite of Cnidus was one of the most famous works of the ancient Greek sculptor Praxiteles of Athens (4th century BC)

• Barcon, following Goffman, states (p. 22): "Extrapolating from this, shame or embarrassment can be seen less as an a priori response to tabooed parts of the body than as a response to someone misreading or misjudging a particular set of roles, contexts and relationships." What is your reaction to this? Look at the example provided here; can you remember occasions where you have felt "shamre" or "embarrassment" in this way?

• Read the arguments about public hair on pp. 26-27. What does it mean to say that pubic hair is obscene? Look at the following photograph from 1890. Would you say this person is "naked" or "nude"? Do you think it would have been seen as "obscene" at the time in 1890? Do you think it should be considered obscene today?

• In terms of etymology, what is the basic distinction between "naked" and "nude" in English (p. 32). Do you know of other languages with such a distinction?

• What is the feminist critique of Kenneth Clarke's distinction of naked and nude in the history of art? (pp. 36-37)

• What is your reaction to the following quote by John Berger: "Nudity is a form of dress." (p. 42) Can you think of an example to illustrate your response?

3/16 The Nude in the History of Art
READ: continue reading Barcan ch.1

• What relationship does Barcon see between the Adam and Eve story and the Tower of Babel story in Genesis? (pp. 48-49 and p. 51)

• On p. 53 Barcon says that for post-structural thinkers "neither nudity nor clothing can be corruptions." What is your reaction to this? What questions do you have about this viewpoint?

• In the Sartor Resartus of Thomas Carlyle, what does he mean by saying that humans may be naked but society "is founded upon Cloth" (p. 55).

• What is your reaction to the argument by Luce Irigaray that "femininity is a form of masquerade, since for a girl to become a 'normal' woman, she must enter into male-constructed circuits of desire, and see herself via the desires and fantasies of men." (p. 59). See also her quote on p. 60.

• What is your reaction to the indented quote by Angela Carter on p. 61? Sate why you agree or do not agree with her argument.

• Why do we not think of animals as being nude, especially when some animals are in fact clothed (poodles, for example) (see pp. 65-67) Following on this, can the animal characters below be considered nude? Why or why not?

• After reading pp. 69-70, do you find the following picture blasphemous or irreverent? It is from the workshop of Leonardo da Vinci and known as the Madonna of the Yarnwinder, showing the baby Jesus with Mary.

3/18 Good and Bad: The Body as Ethical Metaphor
READ: Barcan, ch. 2, pp. 77-106

• What are the four types of nudity distinguished by medieval christian theologians? (p. 80-81) Which, if any, of these appear to be positive rather than negative and why?

• In ancient Greece what was the main difference between depictions of nude males and nude females? (p. 82)

• Barcon mentions a psychologist named Paul Bindrim, who found that consensual nudity enhanced psychotherapy sessions of a group (p. 85). Why do you think this happened? What is your own personal view of such a therapy? Click here for a contermporary example.

• What does it mean to say that "Nakedness is, then, a state of mind as well as a bodily state..." (p. 89) Think of an example that shows this.

• After reading pp. 91-92, do you think exposing a child to adult nudity is necessarily harmful? Which of the points made in the passage makes most sense to you?

• According to Michel Foucault, the modern view of sexuality represents a "fundamental shift in the nature of power" (p. 95). What is this shift, as he sees it?

• What is your reaction to the following statement by Elizabeth Grosz (p. 97): "[The naked body] is in no sense a natural body, for it is as culturally, racially, sexually, possibly even as class distinctive, as it would be if it were clothed."

• What is the main difference between the Christian theological view of "naked truth" (p. 99) and in the modern secular world (p. 100)?

3/23 Nudi[r]ty
READ: Barcan, ch. 2, pp. 106-139

• According to Margaret Miles, what are the negatives connotations of nakedness in the history of Christianity? (p. 106)

• What does it mean to say that "Female flesh is, then, 'occupied territory'"? (p. 109)

• Barcon writes: "The modern social contract deems that one has a right to be protected from the nudity of others." (p. 111) What makes it a "right" and why should there be a need for one?

• What is your reaction to the following claim by Perniola that "eroticism results fromt he relation between clothing and nudity rather than from either clothing or nudity as 'absolute value'"? ( p. 113 and see also p. 114) Does this help you understand the power of erotic ads and pornography?

• Elizabeth Bronfen argues that "western culture dream[s]of beautiful women to repress its knowledge of death"? What is your reaction to this?

• What is Leder's point in the quote on p. 123? Do you agree or not and why?

• Answer the following question (p. 126): "Is our fear of nakedness, our ability to be shocked by it, related to the fear of death?"

• Barcon's research found that young people are as embarrassed by the exposure of size of flab as they are of sexual parts (p. 129) Why do you think this was the case? What is your own view?

• Why are both clothing and nudity paradoxical, according to Barcon? (p. 139)

3/25 Exposing the Body
READ: Barcan, ch. 3, pp. 143-169, 179-200

• Why have some feminists refused to remove body hair? (p. 144-145) What does the symbolism of the act involve? (For a commentary on underarm hair, click here.)

• Norbert Elias proposes a theory as to how the idea of what it means to be "civilized" evolved in the West. (p. 151) How does this apply to societal attitudes about nakedness as a sign of savageness.

• Read the statement by aboriginal scholar Irene Watson on p. 155 (and also look at her quote at the bottom of p. 158) What is her argument here? Can you think of anywhere else this might apply outside Australian aborigines?

• Read the two accounts by early missionaries to the Australian aborigines on pp, 160-161. What is your reaction to the paradox they present about natives? How do you think your reaction differs from that of a missionary?

• What is your reaction to the quote by Paul Ableman on p. 165? Is ther any way to resolve the dilemma (or apparent dilemma) he poses?

• According to Margaret Walters, the phallus came to represent fertility rather than the vulva by the Greek era? Why? (pp. 182-183) Do you think her argument holds true today? Do you think it extends beyond Western society?

• In what sense, as suggested by Lee Edelman, is a man's penis "the part of his body least his own"? (p. 185). Do you think the same can be said for the female breast or vulva?

• Read the analysis of responses to male flashers on pp. 186-187. If you are a female, what would your response probably be (or what was it if it has ahppened to you). If you are a male, what would your response be or do you think it possible to be "flashed" as a male except as a joke?

• What is the role of nudity in initiation (fraternities, sororieties, teams, etc.) (pp. 188-189) and how does this differ from flashing?

• Freud once said: "Probably no male human being is spared the fright of castration at the sight of a female genital?" (p. 193) What is your reaction to this statement? Why do you think Freud said it when and where he said it?

• Barcon states on p. 197: "The almost total incorporation of female nudity within the erotic means that female nakedness is not all that available as a weapon of resistance, subversion and scarcely at all as one of aggression." Do you agree? Do you think this situation will change one way or the other?

4/6 Naked World: The Nude Photography of Spencer Tunnick
SURF: HBO Naked World Website (read the synopsis and interview) http://www.hbo.com/docs/programs/naked_world/

• No specific questions to respond to, but get a general background on the filmmaker and his views.

4/8 Student Project Presentations #1: The Nude in Satire
SURF: Naked News (click on the free video) http://www.nakednews.com/ and Naked News Daily Male on Youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rguvCnpAUZg&feature=related

• Could this format of being naked as an anchor ever be more than a joke? How would you compare it to the range of anchors found on tv and cable.

4/13 Student Project Presentations #2: Nudism and Naturalism
READ: Barcon, pp. 169-179, ch. 4, pp. 207-244

• According to the research by Barcon, what are the main ideologies that bind contemporary nudists together? (p. 171) Do you share any of these ideologies, regardless of whether or not you would want to be a nudist?

• What is your reaction to the argument of Maurice Parmelee about nudism (he calls it gymnosophy)? (p. 175)

• Why is nudity a "good device to sell commodities"? (p. 208)

• What does it mean to say we today (given our exposure to new technologies) are "mixed up with images"? (p. 211) Consider that with the Internet you have instant access to every kind of visual image imaginable and think about how this differs from what was available two centuries ago or a thousand years ago.

• Barcon mentions a political satire in Australia called "Pickerings Playmates" (pp. 215-218). Below is one of the images from this calendar for an Australian politician I suspect you do not know. Next to it is one I suspect you do know. Do you react differently to these?

• How is depiction of Christ's naked body different from that of Greek heroes? (p. 228)

• What makes Lady Godiva's "nudity" complex? (p. 229)

Lady Godiva by John Collier, ca. 1898

• What is the diference between celebrity nudity and that of a topless waitress? (pp. 242-243)

4/15 Student Project Presentations #3: Pornography
READ: Barcon, ch. 4, pp. 244-262

• Do you agree with the following statement: "The celebrity industry allows us the pleasures of gossip without the moral responsibility that is inevitably attached to the act of gossiping in one's immediate community." (p. 245) Would you ever look for a naked picture of a certain celebrity online? Why do you think people do?

• Barcon discusses the famous video of Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee, which may be the mostly widely viewed sex video ever (p. 247) Have you ever seen this? Why do you think it was so popular?

• In what sense does the Internet facilitate home or amateur "porn"? (pp. 254-255)

• The "porn" movie director Keith, interviewed by Barcon (pp. 258-259) thinks that there are two types of people in the world: voyeurs and exhibitionists. What do you think about this statement? Does it apply to one sex more than the other?

• Barcon says that although being a feminist, she thinks that in some ways "raw porn" can be progressive? (p. 261) What does she mean by this? What does it say about the category we label as "pornography"?

4/20 Head Start
Surf: Desmond Morris Website http://www.desmond-morris.com/ [Just take a brief look for background]
READ: Morris, Introduction, chs. 1, 2, 5, 6.

• Morris (p. 2) says that males and females have evolved differently. Thus, "Men are slightly more childllike in their behavior, women in their anatomy." He gives several examples. Which makes the most sense and which makes the least sense?

• Morris (p. 9) states, regarding the long natural length of female hair, "No other part of the female body has been subjected to such an incredible range of cultural variations." After looking over the example she gives in the chapter, do you agree or not?

• What is your reaction to the description of Morris (p. 13) of Dolly Parton hair. Dolly Parton is pictured below:

• Do you agree with Morris that a woman's shaved head "has had little or no sex appeal" (p. 16)? If you want an example of a "sexy" bald woman, click here.

• Morris (p. 18) states that the vast majority of women who change hair color choose to be blonde (even given all the dumb blonde jokes out there)? Does his argument make sense to you? What do you think is the reason?

• What does it mean to say that the eye's pupils can never lie? (Morris, p. 46)

• Morris (p. 52) says: "For most people in most settings a direct stare that is held for more than a few moments is too threatening and they quickly look away." Is this true for you? do you think it is universal?

• Morris (pp. 62-64) suggest several possible theories for the biological advantage of the human nose. Which makes most sense to you and why?

• What is the origin of the phrase "to pay through the nose"? (Morris, pp. 69-70) Did you file your tax statement on April 15?

4/22 Lip Service and Necking
READ: Morris, chs. 8, 9, 10, 12, 13

• Morris (p. 80) asks" What makes the lips [of a female] so sexual? Do you agree with his analysis (pp.80-81)?

• What specifically is said to be "sexy" about the lips of Clara Bow, as shown in the illustrations below? (Morris, p. 83) Give your own view as well.

• Do you agree with Morris that males find female lips to be "the number one female erogenous zone"? (p. 88) What about his suggestion for the origin of "French kissing"?

• Morris (p. 89) suggests that fellatio is "strongly related to infantile oral pleasures at the breast"? Do you agree?

• Why did some people in Elivabethan England blacken their teeth? (p. 98)

• Why do the Japanese consider the back of the neck more erotic than the breast, according to Morris (pp. 102-103). Pick what you see as the most probable and least probable reasons. You might want to check out a website of postcard photos of geisha firls from 19th century Japan (click here), which would sem to contradict Morris).

• Why is the "Adam's apple" more conspicuous in males? (pp. 103-104)

• Why do you think Padaung women of Burma (Myanmar) wear so many brass rings in their neck? (p. 105) For more details, click here.

• What is the origin of the term "love apple"? (p. 120)

• Our underarms contain scents that can cause sexual excitement, although apparently at an unconcsious level (p. 121). Do you personally think that underarm hair or scent is erotic? Do you think your attitude has been influence by the fashion and cosmetic industry, even if not directly?

• According to Morris (pp. 126-129) female hands evolved more for precision and male hands for power. Why?

• Why does Morris (pp. 131-132) argue that "stigmata" in nuns and monks cannot really be manifestations of the nailing of Christ to the cross?

• What is the significance of the middle finger, known as "Impudicus" in ancient Rome? Why is it an obscene gesture? (pp. 133-134)

4/27 Absolutely Safe
READ: Morris, ch. 14, 15

• Morris (p. 142) claims "The female breasts have received more erotic attention from males than any other part of the body." Compare this to what he says about Japanese male preferences (p. 102) and later (p. 155) about there being less mystery when fully exposed. Do you think Morris is right to assume that this holds true as an avolutionary and a universal cultural claim? Find specific points to discuss, both pro and con.

• What is your eaction to the statement of Morris (p. 149) in support of his theory that breasts evolved to be sexual signals: "There is only one point in a female's life when her breasts have maximum protrusion with minimum droop and that is the moment when the camera shutter must click to produce the most erotic images." Consider that in contemporary society this is well after a female is capable of giving birth.

• Do you agree with the following statement by Morris (p. 149) "This [oral and manual caressing of the breasts by the male] excites the male even more than the female and it is possible that a special additional stimulus is operating here." How could this claim be proven for our earlier ancestors or even cross-culturally?

• Were you aware of "polymastia"? (p. 151) What do you think of Morris' evolutionary rationale for this phenomenon?

• After reading Morris (pp. 160-161) do you think there is an ideal female figure so that most men universally would prefer the "hourglass" figure of a beauty queen?

• What is your reaction to the following quote by Morris (p. 165): "For some men, this caged condition also lends a fetishistic appeal to tight corsets, endowing them with a strong hint of female bondage."

• On p. 167 Morris admits that he once accepted as fact the notion that Victorian women had ribs removed through cosmetic surgery, but now thinks otherwise. How does this admission impact your analysis of his claims in this book?

4/29 Genitalia
READ: Morris, chs. 16, 19, 20, 21

• Do you agree with Morris (pp. 170-171) that the "hands-on-hip" or akimbo posture is antisocial in our society? Could it be universal?

• On p. 172 Morris cites a study on hip embraces. Are you convinced by this, since he provides no indication of where, when or on whom it was done.

• What is your reaction to the study noted by Morris (pp. 192-193) that British girls are more afraid of spiders (than boys are) because they associate this with their recent pubic hair?

• Which of the three adaprtive functions listed by Morris for puci hair in females makes most sense to you and why? (p. 194)

• Does the anecdote about John Ruskin (who was unable to make love to his wife because he detested her pubic hair) make sense to you? What other reasons might there be, since we are told much about him? (p. 196)

• According to Morris (p. 208) about what percent of modern Western women show bleeding (from a pierced hymen) on their first vaginal intercourse? Do you agree with Morris that this would have "put a slight brake on early sexual encounters", as Morris claims?

• Why is the G-spot not a "sex button"? (p. 211

• Do you think Morris (p. 218) is correct in stating that genital piercing is "probably no more than a passing fad"?

• What is the origin, according to Morris (pp. 222-223) of the phrase "kiss my arse [ass]"?

• React to the following statement by Morris (p. 229): "It has even been suggested that the universal symbol of love, that stylized heart shape, is in reality based on the buttocks."