Nudity and Protest---The Power of Nude Protests
Last edited Fri Mar 29, 2013, 09:09 PM - Edit history (1)
Nudity is sometimes used as a tactic during a protest to attract public attention to a cause. The use of the tactic goes back to the Doukhobor social movement in 1914. The tactic has been used by other groups later in the century, especially after the 1960s. Like public nudity in general, cultural and legal acceptance of nudity as a tactic in protest also varies around the world. Some opponents of any public nudity claim that it is indecent especially when it can be viewed by children; while others argue that it is a legitimate form of expression covered by the right to free speech.
Even in places where public nudity is tolerated, it is still unexpected enough that its use by activists as a deliberate tactic is often successful in attracting publicity from the media.
Some nude activism is not to promote a particular cause, but rather to promote public nudity itself, or to change community perceptions of the naked human body, or as an expression of a personal desire to be nude in public.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nudity_and_protest
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The power of nude protests
Bare bottoms and bosoms are generally hidden from view — kept behind closed doors. But on occasion they emerge in public, along with slogans and signs, as part of a political protest.
Public nudity as a form of protest often stirs controversy, with some condemning it as a shock tactic and others lauding it as a conversation starter.
Most recently, supporters of Ai Weiwei rallied around the famed Chinese artist and government critic after he revealed that local police were investigating him on pornography charges. But rather than strip down in the streets, they posted naked or partially naked photos of themselves on a website called “Ai Wei Fans’ Nudity — Listen, Chinese government: Nudity is NOT Pornography.”
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/2012/01/07/the_power_of_nude_protests.html
As a note on DU's current controversy... A protester is protesting the subject They tell us they are, especially in repressed countries. We in America still have it very good. Much too good to be telling people who risk their lives in order to protest "how" they should do it.
(Edited for personal snark-reduction.)
= new reply since forum marked as read
