Brief History of Nakedness
Publisher: Reaktion Books, Limited; Reaktion
Published: 2010
Language: eng
Number of pages: 286
ISBN-13: 9781861896476
Subjects: Nudity in the performing arts
Description: "Ì absolutely loved A Brief History of Nakedness. Besides being a fascinating read, it contains the most fun, intriguing, and diverse collection of nude photographs anywhere. A must for anyone interested in art, political activism and cultural studies. This "brief" history must have taken forever to research. It makes me want to rip off my clothes for a good cause immediately'-- Annie Sprinkle PhD. artist sexologist" "Ǹot only the best book on its subject, but a marvellous read: racy, compassionate, candid and perceptive.'-- Ronald Hutton, Professor of History. University of Bristol" "Ìn this lucid and wide-ranging book Philip Carr-Gomm strips bare the paradoxes of humanity's attitude toward its own naked figures. Using a snappy blend of history and imagery. he invites readers to join him in making thrilling, confusing, funny, and beautiful realizations about that simultaneously mysterious and obvious state of unclothedness. From the rituals of witchcraft to the human art installations of Spencer Tunick to the non-nakedness of the Naked Chef, Carr-Gomm offers the revelation that far from being merely a basic physical state, human nakedness - sacred, obscene - holds the key to understanding politics, culture, and our very nature as human beings, '-- Kathleen Rooney, author of Live Nude Girl: My Life as an Object" "À Brief History of Nakedness admirably uncovers religious, political and popular performances of and reactions to nudity in a remarkable array of cultures, Everything from ancient religious devotional practices to recent streaking controversies is discussed in an expert and delightful manner.-- Dr Graham Harvey. Reader in Religious Studies, The Open University" "T̀his ought to be something of a classic in its own right, given the depth and eccentricity of the subject An amazing story. Read it naked!'-- Jonathan Miller of Antimedia."

"Confrontations with naked human bodies can provoke powerful, and often contradictory, impressions and feelings. Just as they might either thrill or revolt, they can signal innocence or sexiness, frankness or madness, a oneness with nature or a separation from society. Advertisers and the media are very aware of the complex and highly subjective associations that most of us have towards nakedness, and use images incessantly to compete for our attention. Yet mystics have embraced nudity to get closer to God, while political activists have discovered that baring all is one of the most effective ways to gain publicity for a cause." "In A Brief History of Nakedness, Philip Carr-Gomm traces our preoccupation with nudity in three distinct areas of human endeavour, religion, politics and popular culture. Rather than study the history of the fine-art nude, or detail the ways in which the naked body has been denigrated or imprisoned, this book explores new territory -revealing the ways in which religious teachers, politicians, protestors and cultural icons have used nudity to enlighten or empower themselves, or simply to entertain us." "From the naked sages of India and St Francis of Assisi to modern-day witches and Christian nudists, from The Full Monty and Calendar Girls to Lady Gaga, A Brief History of Nakedness surveys the touching, sometimes tragic, and often bizarre story of our relationship with our own and with others' naked bodies."--Jacket.