Tuesday, January 09, 2007

The Human Body Project

One of the points I make on this blog over and over is that American Society has a fear of the naked human body and this is not healthy. Tasha Diamant, a 45 year old pregnant woman in Alberta, Canada, is taking upon herself the task of challenging others to become more aware of the fragile and beautiful human body. While sitting in a chair completely nude, she invites the participants around her to write, draw, paint or comment into an open mike, but chatting is discouraged. It's a courageous thing to do.
"I cry for your courage, bravery and incredible strength," one woman wrote on a poster."I am a woman - 31 years old - who has spent every day hiding behind labels, clothes, expectations and truly ridiculous beliefs. Spending my days trying to cover who I am. But today I see you." Diamant says it's about shaking up perceptions and opening minds. She wants her own naked body to represent humankind and the earth itself - with all its flaws, vulnerability and fragility."Everything from body image to sexuality to religion gets in the way of just seeing the fragile naked body," she says.
This is very important for the human race, that we all need to find some way to crawl out from under the wreckage of society and get back to basic humanity. Getting naked is a primal way to self-awareness and re-discovery.

Diamant has encountered some difficulties along the way. Her housekeeper quit because she said she could no longer work for a "sinner", and one event in a Bible-belt town was plagued by low turnout and the presence of a police officer who did not take any action.
Friend and photographer Lorne Kemmet says he doesn't understand the double standards of a community that can't deal with the idea of a normal, middle-aged mother getting naked in front of strangers but has no problems with a nearby strip club where racy, surgically enhanced women go on display night and day...Following the birth of her second child, she hopes to take her show to bigger cities such as Toronto and maybe invite other naked people join her. "I really think we have to change in some fundamental way," she says. "I also think more and more people are ready to believe that we could do better as a race - we can offer our children a better world. It's a start."
The Human Body Project Web Site

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