I suppose that we have never discussed the relationship of nudity and slavery and the effect it has had on the current attitudes of textiles.
I spent about eight of my first twelve years in the south in the Virginia area. I remember separate water fountains, swimming pools and school. I remember black men stepping into the gutter waiting for my mother and me to pass on a broad sidewalk and the pains of the shift during the civil rights era. There were many southerners feeling unjust criticism of the slave owners, their ancestors and Southern heritage. One of my grade school teachers stated that most of the owners treated their slaves with kindness and humanity. There was a spectrum of course.
We must remember that most people do like to think of themselves as nice, reasonable, good, not unkind and correct and act that way. People also grow up with other values and perceptions of belief and these seem perfectly acceptable to them. In the old South and true for every part of the world, at one time or another, slavery was just the status quo with no wrong. In the South, Black people were believed to be an inferior race. Dogs and cattle were believed to be inferior to humanity, also. Some dogs are smarter, friendlier, better at certain tasks, etc. Just think how many different ways dogs are treated and the reasoning. Now, ponder how many ways could one treat a slave? It is similar behavior, just a being that was born with similar characteristic to its master.
Taking freedom and exploiting others, I believe is a bad action. Yet, I can forgive people who are products of their environment in other places and times. They just don’t know any better and accept what is. In this world today, we have imperialistic abuses, class opinions of higher and lower, racism, oppressions of women, and what amounts to slavery in control. The whole thing is generally driven in ignorance by people who don’t think of themselves as bad, but good, mostly. Then without denial there are a few psychopaths at the top and damaged criminals pop up everywhere.
So, we have been with slavery forever. In the institution, one loses everything, having nothing but what is given temporarily, totally controlled. The ancient Mediterranean cultures often kept slaves undressed for various reasons. The statement of have wealth is a tool of acceptance into the society of the have wealth. It suggests success. If you want to get richer you hang with the same with the same goals. You don’t dress like a slave, or the have littles. Wearing nice adornments impresses others and impresses one’s self. It builds confidence. When one becomes dependent on this, loss of it feels naked, identity is shaken, fear arises even thinking about being unclothed to others. They push young kids into uniforms and try to indoctrinate them into the trap of “dress for success.” It seems that people will wear ANYTHING to get laid, or make a buck…or both.
Slaves have no control, no clothing, nothing, even given a name. That is what we are up against, when living in a world of manipulation. Nudity and naked, in degree, have been associated with these connotations.
I read last week that the Swedish business model nearly requires that it be conducted in a sauna, nude. The Romans had bath houses, much the way business is done over lunch, cocktail parties, or golf courses. I suspect that ‘ol Lyndon Johnson had this in mind when he coaxed visitors to skinnydip in the White House pool. He may have wanted to get them to relax and trust and to be less formal. We would come a long way, if business, relaxation and trust would connote with nudity like the Swedes. Now, with so many women in the mix, that adds new barriers to the textile world’s adaption.
With all of this in mind and the topic, how about John Lennon’s quote: “The main hangup in the world today is hypocrisy and insecurity. If people can’t face up to the fact of other people being naked or smoking pot, or whatever they want to do, then we’re never going to get anywhere. People have got to become aware that it’s none of their business and that being nude is not obscene. Being ourselves is what’s important. If everyone practiced being themselves instead of pretending to be what they aren’t, there would be peace.”
http://articles.absoluteelsewhere.net/Articles/lennon_nudity.htmlAs they say, ya gotta keep tearing away at the very fabric of society.
We are on topic…ta da!
Jbee
