Title: Nakedness Taken Seriously, Finally
Product review: This book must surely be the best of its kind on the subject. It is a highly readable yet erudite examination of the historical, psycho-social, and symbolic meanings attached to the unclothed human body in Western societies. Barcan (herself a nudist) draws upon philosophy, religion, literature, popular culture and personal interviews to analyze the nudity/clothing dialectic, the metaphorical uses of nakedness, the makeup of anti-nude attitudes, and the influence of embodiment on one's sense of self and community. In addition to consulting other nudists in preparation for her writing, Barcan discussed matters with nude models, tattooists, health professionals, strippers, pornographers, and educators. Thus, the book is both well-grounded theoretically and "fleshed out" by the lived-experience of individuals for whom nudity is experientially significant. Barcan teaches in the Humanities Dept. of the University of Western Sydney (Australia).
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