The Century Project Weathers a Storm

Dr. Paul Rapoport chronicles the obsession of Oklahoma State University professer John Foubert with Frank Cordelle's "The Century Project".

Although images of nudity may occasionally surprise, confuse, or bother some people, and individuals may misuse some, naturists need to oppose the claim that the existence or viewing of such images causes or increases sexual violence or crime. Countering it may be a tough task. But the mythology and censorship surrounding nudity, especially the non-sexualized variety in naturism, are large and hysterical, and as disturbing as John Foubert’s fabrications and bullying.

You can read Dr. Rapoport's full article here, published in the latest issue of "Nude and Natural" magazine.

Dr. Paul Rapoport Steps Down as "Going Natural" Editor

Statement released today:

For nearly 13 years, I've edited Going Natural magazine for the Federation of Canadian Naturists, the last five years with an excellent Francophone co-editor. The summer 2010 issue, which just came out, is my last as Editor. I hope to assist whoever takes over with whatever the magazine becomes.

My work in naturism may involve more research and writing but less editing and managing. I have non-naturist projects to carry out also.

The FCN is in the process of deciding how to continue the magazine. It will probably involve both print and digital media, as it does now. Neither the FCN nor the magazine is going away!

With kind regards,

Paul Rapoport

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Dr. Paul Rapoport
Co-Editor, Going Natural / Au naturel
Federation of Canadian Naturists
Box 81128 FGPO
Ancaster ON L9G 4X1
Canada
editor@fcn.ca

The Century Project Comes to Oregon

Dr. Paul Rapoport passed on this article about Frank Cordelle's The Century Project, which is supportive, but the real interest is in the comments, which reek of vitriol and ignorance. A taste:

At its root, the pornography industry and those who sell access to pictures of women's naked bodies is about making money without regard for the consequences to the objectified images it deals in. The pictures you are selling access to continue to convince people that women and girls images can be bought and sold. That is evil. That harms the society in which we live. Please stop.

This comment is from John Forbert, who apparently has tried to block every exhibition of the project, all unsuccessfully. It's sad that so many people view any image of a nude child as being either pornographic or exploitative, and it's indicative of a society which has sexualized and objectified the human body to unhealthy levels.

Going Natural Fall 2009 Issue Available as Digital Edition

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Dr. Rapoport Responds to "Good Nipple, Bad Nipple, Part Two"

This post has been moved to the comment section here: "Good Nipple, Bad Nipple, Part Two"

Report from Toronto's World Naked Bike Ride Event

Paul Rapoport writes:

The stated aim of the ride is to protest "indecent exposure to cars" and oil dependency. For this event, the naked body seemed not a provocation but simply an antithesis au naturel to concrete and cars. Although naked may also imply vulnerable, we felt strong and determined in our large, merry horde...My strongest memory of the ride is a naked young woman cycling to the front of our group to hold the traffic at a busy intersection. She revealed complete calm and confidence. I saw no fainting spells or car accidents.

Debunking Myths About Child Nudity

Must reading from Dr. Paul Rapoport.

The prime myth is that all photographs of child nudity are illegal. This is no longer in the background but considered a specific "fact." In early April, Ruth Marcus of The Washington Post left no doubt: "Nude photos of minors -- even if the minor is you --are child pornography." Not only is there no basis for that absurdity in jurisprudence in North America, it maligns family snapshots as well as photos in the arts, medicine or naturism; and it declares the sole purpose of a lack of clothes to be immoral, harmful sexuality.

UNC Wilmington Bans The Century Project

In a stunning display of ignorance, the Provost of the University of North Carolina at Wilmington has banned all photos of females under the age of 18 from being displayed as part of Frank Cordelle's The Century Project exhibition, scheduled to begin next week. The University is the only organization to ban any of the photos in the 18 year history of the project.

It has been reported that the ban took effect after a complaint was lodged by someone in Oklahoma.

What does the book's publisher think of the ban? Dr. Paul Rapoport of Heureka Productions states, "UNCW was misinformed about The Century Project. It should have done some easy homework, to learn what the Project is and does. The Project has captivated and helped tens of thousands of people."

"What about the University's prior commitment to The Century Project?" asks Dr. Rapoport. "And freedom of expression and inquiry? Also, by banning all the photos of the under 18s, the University indicates they may be pornographic or illegal, which they aren't. That's unjust.

"UNCW's unnecessary censorship does violence to The Century Project. It's deplorable, coming from a university."

Kids Need Protection, But Art Is Not Porn

Dr. Paul Rapoport comments on the two recent Australian fiascos regarding nude photographs of children.

The goal of protecting children should have no argument. But making children afraid of all nudity doesn’t protect them. It makes them anxious, insecure and more susceptible to poor body image and other problems, including abuse. The desireless subjectivity that we construct as childhood innocence seems never to work. Then we construct dangers to justify our wrong notion, like pedophiles lurking on every street, or good sex education causing teens to have sex. These are contemporary versions of warnings about masturbation causing blindness.

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