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Do All Nudists Think the Same? A few weeks ago we shared a casting call for nudists to participate in an episode shoot for a web series Spectrum produced by Jubilee Media. Several nudists/naturists we are acquainted with answered the call, and participated. The 15 minute episode is now online in censored and uncensored versions on YouTube.
The episode is the format of a visual question and response. The participants are three men and three women (during the show no one expressed a non CIS gendered identity), four non white people and two white. Participants are asked a set of questions by the production staff and then “hot takes” submitted by the “public”. Questions include – It should be legal to be nude in public, Is it appropriate to be nude among children and minors, and I am comfortable with anyone seeing me nude.The format seems a bit contrived. An examination of the subject might have been better served in a reality show format (similar to the Netflix series Worn Stories) which gave the viewer an opportunity to get to know the people sharing these opinions.
A perfect example is when the nude yoga instructor Ashanti (known to our readers from her yoga profile) shares her belief that her nude body is art there isn’t any context for appreciating her perspective. It is the first time we hear from her and learn that she is a yoga instructor, and there is no opportunity to explore the depth of that belief. We wanted to get to know the persons behind the beliefs and inside the naked bodies just a little.
Do All Nudists Think the Same? The participants come across as genuine and transparent in the beliefs and opinions. They express some valuable and sometimes controversial views and opinions about public nudity and at times about nudism. There is emotion and even some spirited dialogue back and forth between the participants as differing views are expressed. Some of the opinions expressed are presented in an overly dramatic or hyperbolic manner. Because we didn’t have an opportunity to be introduced to the participants, we were left with underlying, unanswered questions. Why do these people describe themselves as nudists? As one participant boldly proclaims “we are nudists”. Because they like to be naked? Because they get a slight exhibitionist thrill from being seen naked? Something implied by one of the participants. What’s behind the label? This feels like major flaw in the production format.
Talking about flaws in production, while the quality of the video is good, the set leaves much to be desired. The set is dark and feels cold and uninviting. The participants all have unsightly wraps that look like bandages around their midsections for microphones which is distracting and takes away from the expression of complete nudity. If possible overhead mikes would have been a better choice.
Do All Nudists Think the Same? Bottom line is the answer to the question posed should have been obvious. All nudists don’t think the same. Just like other social group there are differences of opinion, even on the definition of what is a nudist. This web series program may hold some attraction for the public nudity advocates out there, but it is unlikely to change any minds in the general public or mainstream perceptions of nudism for this simple reason. Viewers are presented with cold, uncontextualized questions and answers, rather than engaged by people we have been given and opportunity to connect with. If this were a drama we say the character development is lacking. The focus is more about public nakedness, body acceptance and less about nudism, naturism or nude recreation. Though those may be intersectional issues, terms of naturist interest, there is very little to recommend here. However to be fair that doesn’t seem to have been the producers intention. If you you have 15 minutes to spare go watch. For our part we didn’t get enough of the human beings inside the naked bodies.
What do you think bare your thoughts in a review below
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