Is Nudity Inherintly Sexual?

NUDE TV
Larry Potash - WGN-TV
September 30, 2005

Being nude is nothing to be ashamed of; most of us were born naked.

Still, most everyone has a hangup about showing up in nothing more than what God gave 'em. It all started with Adam and Eve. They were already ashamed, even though there were no reasons to feel inferior, since there was no one else around except that snake.

If you're a slave to conformity, it's time to liberate yourself from the polyester and microfiber shackles of Puritanism. Tune in to a new show: Clothes Free TV. You won't find it on the WB following "Seventh Heaven," rather it's available at www.clothesfreetv.com and is run by The International Naturist Association. The show highlights some of the great things you can do naked:

-naked rollerskating (though technically, is it nudity if you have skates on?)

-naked Hoola Hoop (there should be a 24-hour naked Hoola Hoop channel)

-naked basketball (I will not be posting up in this one)

The show includes interviews with celebrities like Erik Estrada and Vanilla Ice. Now there's a plan to revitalize your career.

Corey Mangold helps produce the show. He embraced the nudist movement despite growing up in what he describes as a relatively strict Catholic family.

"I gave it a try; hanging out nude. They thought it was strange, but they respected my decision," Mangold said of his family. "It's just people that share a common interest; freedom in every sense of the word."

I've checked the Declaration of Independence. There is nothing in there restricting naked badminton. Mangold says the nudist movement is not about wild orgies. It is strictly a social atmosphere. Without the clothes, everyone is created equal (more or less.) You can't tell who wears Gucci or who wears a mechanic's uniform.

"Women say they're not harassed as much" at nudist resorts, Mangold said. "Because men are vulnerable too--it's all out there--[men] don't want to look like a fool."

Mangold is working with Chicagoan Greg Silva on a documentary called "Naked in America." But despite their partnership, Silva disagrees that nudism is just family recreation.

"Nudists like to say it's not about sex at all. Sexuality is there whether you're naked or not. It's a thrill to see people naked," Silva said. "But that sense of arousal dissipates quickly. When you take away their sexual persona, you're left with just skin and we all have the same equipment. Once your curiosity is satisfied, that's 90 percent of the arousal factor. The same goes for your shame and embarrassment."

So what's the big deal?

That's what their documentary aims to find out. They hope to discover why so many Americans have a hangup about hanging out.

They were inspired by the furor over the Janet Jackson Superbowl Nipplegate, and Atty. Gen. John Ashcroft covering nude statues at the justice department. Silva suspects we still feel the influences of our Puritan ancestors. Of course, they never experienced the thrill of revealing their privates in public while riding a boogie board.

Source: http://wgntv.trb.com/news/local/morningnews/wgntv-news-093005larrysworld,0,4716740.story?coll=wgntv-home-3