Re: I'm our culture
Submitted by ATN on 2002-09-30 00:02:31, Monday
In reply to I'm our culture submitted by Reason Filled on 2002-09-28 13:59:53, Saturday
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I have not entirely come to a final conclusion on this; the position I'm stating is my "working model." Having been brought up (and still being) extremely modest, I completely relate to what you say about how a child of 8 or 9 would have to feel awkward standing naked in front of a camera in this country. However, a few points raise themselves: a) I have been forced to see that this is simply not true, universally. Some children are perfectly comfortable naked, even non-nudist children. And as for nudist children, of course, the case speaks for itself. b) I do think our culture may be too modest. It wasn't this way 50-60 years ago.... children, especially boys, routinely swam naked together with no thought, right up to 11 and 12 and even higher. I am unaware of any evidence suggesting it was because of safety that this changed, but just I think because of a society that became more sex-minded, and began to associate all nudity with sex. I am not a nudist, and I don't advocate nudism, but I do believe that to some degree they are right about point (b). So, while I would completely protect anybody's right to be modest, and would never suggest they try to change it unless it became an issue for them, or that they pose for nude pictures, I also think that if a child is comfortable nude, there is no problem with non-sexual nude pictures of him. The nude male child is, let's face it, beautiful; and therefore, it is I think art. The other problem, as drifter mentioned, is that for us sometimes we can start to see them as sexual objects. That's another issue, and we obviously must avoid anything that causes us to lust. Yours in Christ, ATN |
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