Nudism, naturism, just being clothing free is really not all that interesting if it is to be considered authentic. If one thinks about it, one is simply leading one’s own prosaic existence, doing “normal” mundane things with only one difference – the lack of clothing.
So what is interesting about watching television, doing the dishes, drinking coffee, reading a book, going for a walk, sitting still in the sunshine, mowing the lawn, washing windows or the car, or sitting with another person simply chatting and sharing a favourite beverage?
In our world, these activities are almost non-events. Neighbours, strangers, and family rarely take note of our existence while we are so engaged other than to offer pleasantries. No one in their right mind would consider any of these events/activities as being sexual in nature. There is no calling upon fear or offence in the minds of others.
Yet, if one dares to be bare while doing any of these mundane, daily activities, one does risk censure by others around us, often followed by sanctions. So, why even bother recording mundane activities such as pouring a cup of coffee and sharing it with the universe? What’s the point? Surely if the intent is to be an exhibitionist, there are better, more sensual or erotic images that could be recorded.
There is something about daring to be bare that is subversive to the dominant culture. For whatever reasons, choosing nudity takes one out of the pool of being subservient into a contrasting pool labelled as deviant. Simply by choosing the individual over the collective, one becomes a threat to all with a vested interest in the “status quo.” That vested interest isn’t necessarily economic or about power – it is about self-validation. Too many of us find our validation in the eyes of others, in the collective. We dress in the fashions required, we hold the political, social, religious, and secular attitudes that best allow us to “not rock the boat.” The last thing we want to do is to have to prop ourselves up. We need propping up by all the others who don’t have the courage to be an individual.
Nudity isn’t offensive because of sex, it’s offensive because it challenges one to step outside, to risk vulnerability.