Taking It Off

Have you ever had to take your clothes off for a role?

I haven't yet.  Not really, anyway.  There was a scene in a play I did in college where my character was constantly changing her outfit, so naturally I ended up with just my underwear on more than once, but that was college, and all art students get naked in college, right?

I do not have a problem with artistic nudity.  At all.  I've always been all for the human body and the admiration of it, and even though I do not consider myself an exhibitionist in the least, I have never taken personal issue with anyone (myself included) sans clothes on the stage or in front of a camera, as long as it doesn't feel arbitrary, gratuitous or any of those other words that generally define something that doesn't deserve that kind of vulnerability from an artist.

For full disclosure's sake, I will say that I absolutely understand the other point of view, why posing/performing/suggesting nudity can be damaging to your career, why some actors won't do it, why it's against code in some places and situations - I am aware of all of those arguments and have no desire to prove any points against them.  But this is about each individual artist's journey, and this is mine.  So here we go:

On Tuesday I began rehearsals for a show with provocative content.  It's an adaptation of a Strindberg play, so of course it revolves around forbidden desire, suppression and subversive feelings.  It's fascinating.

To make it even more interesting, we are performing at an underground location in the Lower East Side, adding to the feeling of secrecy and collusion.  The intrigue is intrinsic to the show - how do you get somewhere you are barred from going?  What is the next level? How do you come to be there?

Over the past week I have been thinking a lot about the term "taking it off".

Sure, usually this phrase refers to things on your body.  But then there are things like "time".  I have to take time off of work to rehearse this show - both a blessing and terrifying fact at this transitional point in my career.  What if there isn't another show after this one?  Will I have to go back to work?  What if my job is gone?  Will I have to find another one?  

And then there are expectations.  I suppose usually you "let go" of those, but I think "taking them off" works just as well.  This show is still very much in development. It is experimental and unlike anything I have ever experienced before.  I could be terrified, but I know that I will only be truly creative if I let go of any fear and expectations.  Come what will.  I'll be there with all I've got.

"Taking off" is also a flight term.  This is how I like to think of it best.  Anything could happen.  The only place you can go is up.  Be weightless and see the world from a different perspective. It's all about sprouting wings.

I feel like I am running naked on the beach, about to plunge into warm, salty waves.  And I realize that this is the kind of artist that I am.  My mind likes to circumvent norms and rules.  I enjoy pushing boundaries.  Owning up to that, without a shroud of shyness is probably the most naked thing I have ever done.

To me, it's not about bodies, labels or stigma.  It's about exploring new things, chartering unknown territory.  I blame my insatiable curiosity.

What is the bravest thing you have ever done on stage?  Or what is the bravest performance you have ever witnessed?

-- Sarah Wharton

Photo credit: Photographer - Thom Kaine, Art Direction/Design - Marco Morsella

 

Comments

[brad widener]

Mabou mines DollHouse. Breathtaking. And had artful nudity.

[Ann Hu]

I've done full frontal nudity in live theater, eight shows a week. It's liberating. Do it.

[Jbee]

i also agree when it comes to showing off the body in and artistic light its beautiful.Like say, in a art painting class outside of the material world (In the aesthetic world) .I feel when it comes to "Show Biz" after all film and stage is a "Business". Which alot of people seem to forget .No matter what you decide to show is a commodity .It's a product;made for mass consumption.

Marlon brando said there is no artist's the industry.I believe that to be a true to heart statement.Whether on stage or film your just being and exhibitionist .Your "Selling" your naked body to the public .That's the truth;especially in today's world .Nothing wrong with doing it if you feel comfy doing it .Just understand it's not art or artistic;understand how your body will be viewed.Not as and work of art but as just another commodity to sell something.

Primarily sex,i feel if and actor/actress feels like doing nudity artistically .It should be done in and art class where it will be appreciated .Not on the world stage

[Sarah Wharton]

Jbee: Where do you draw the line between the "aesthestic world" and "the industry?"
If someone poses for a nude painting, and then the painting is sold at an auction house (the price of which could easily be higher than any profits made in the theatre) then how is that any different?
What if the performance is free and the actors are not being paid (as is very frequently the case)?
How is creating a beautiful image on stage with the human form for an audience to admire and learn from different than a person posing for an art class? Are we not all art students when we go to the theatre?
Yes, we cannot disregard the "business" side of "Show business", but equally, you cannot disregard the "show."
I can tell you now that no actor goes into theatre for "the money". There is no money. If you are lucky, you get paid enough to sustain yourself as an actor but you are not "rich". You do theatre for the art.
The same goes for film. Even though compensation in the film world has the potential to be higher, any actor who does it solely for the paycheck will not be able to sustain the energy and dedication it takes to get to that point in your career. To get to that place you have to have endless passion, hope, and a love of the art.

[JoshuaMarshallPhotography]

I can't comment on the theatrical side of expression, of the human physic... But as someone on the opposite side of the film (which I gladly say I use primarily, but that's another argument entirely). I can easily see the freedom that most if not all of the models photographed have when they alone make the decision to express themselves openly and without clothes. A photographer may make suggestions to the model, but ultimately, it is a collaboration between model and photographer in order to make beautiful art. Neither the model, nor the photographer create the art alone. I can imagine, albeit I may be wrong, that theater is the same way, the actors, actresses, dancers, choreographers, directors, producers, stage hands, and all the others involved (forgive me, I don't know all that goes into a production, so if I have missed anyone, I am sorry...), must all work together in order for the art to be portrayed to the audience. I am, personally, in awe and amazed by those that are able to express themselves so openly and unabashedly "sans cloths" (as stated) whether they are in front of my lens or a live audience (truthfully, I am even more so amazed by those in front of a live audience, since the expression is more-so "first person" than via a photograph...) As to the view that the human body is a commodity, and it's nude form should be viewed as such, I can't agree with completely... Yes there is a sort of commodity with nudity in general, but only if we allow ourselves to be dictated be society, and in my minds eye, I don't think the artist should be. We shouldn't ask those around us what they think is right in life, we should be the ones who EXCLAIM at the tops of our lungs what we believe society should accept and hope that they can come to terms with us... How is a macro-photograph of a flowers stamen or carpels any different than a photograph of a (human) male or female genitalia? How is one art; and the other "borderline" pornography? Why? Because of the implied perception of the subject matter. The only problem is we all have differing perceptions on each and every moment we experience. Thus we, as a whole, can never come to terms that will ever make all people happy, as such we have to generalize and in so doing, we cheapen the whole situation. I don't know if I could ever expose myself in such a way (but then again, that's probably why I am a photographer and not a model), but if given the right motivations, and the proper cultivation in my environment, who knows perhaps, I could... If art is only an expression of our wanton need for financial progression, then why don't more people "expose" themselves? If art is (as I believe it to be) an expression of ourselves, then we as artist have a responsibility, not only to ourselves, but to society as well, to express as WE see fit!

"In a decaying society, art, if it is truthful, must also reflect decay. And unless it wants to break faith with it's social function, art must show the world as changeable. And help to change it." - Ernst Fischer

Many arguments could be made as to what that quote means, but to me, it says we, as the artist must bring forth the vision of change that the masses cannot, or will not accept, and if that change is through the complete exposure of the artist, then so be it.

Again, I am amazed by those whom will express themselves in such a way, and if they feel it is right and proper, who am I to judge? I also feel I must express the ideal that I do not believe my own personal ideals are the "one and only", I am glad to hear anyone else's perception of the situation. In fact I would be saddened to know that everyone agrees with me, for that would mean there is a great lack of thought in the world. So I guess in summation, each of us have to make our own decision on how far we will go in order to express ourselves, and progress our art.

[Angela Sauer]

I recently wrote a post on the subject of staying dressed. I just want to comment that I fully support artistic nudity and the people who choose to do it. What I do not support is people being pressured into nudity, or being considered lesser artists because they avoid nudity.

[Jbee]

@ Sarah:

"
If someone poses for a nude painting, and then the painting is sold at an auction house (the price of which could easily be higher than any profits made in the theatre) then how is that any different? "...That case it's done for art it's the purpose for doing it .Your not getting nude for a magazine selling perfume or clothing or mens body spray Etc.

"How is creating a beautiful image on stage with the human form for an audience to admire and learn from different than a person posing for an art class? Are we not all art students when we go to the theatre?"..We're not living in the renaissance era anymore.Those of people being more sophisticated and appreciating things of that nature.Are long gone,nowadays no matter what you "The artist".Think your doing theres the audiences perception of nudity.Which ties into sex let's face it the only time people are used to seeing nudity in a performance nowadays.Is when people are being intimate.

It's not how you percieve things its how they the audience precieve things.
Ever heard the saying "Artists are almost always out of step with real world because,they see thigns different"?.Your thinking is irrelevent to the current reality.

"the human form for an audience to admire and learn from ".How many times do you think you have to take off your clothes for someone to learn and appreciate what your naked body looks like ?.I dont think people are that ignorant do you ?.We are a sex driven society our markets are saturated with it .In a world like that how much artistic merrit does being nude in front of and audience still have?.

I agree the naked human body is a work of art and should be appreciated as such.Not just a piece of meat.You couldn't be artistic with your clothes on ?.Acting is about baring your soul and dealing with self expression.Which even with all the technological advancements we've made.We people still have trouble honestly expressing ourselves.

There are so many actors/actresses out there that express themselves so ugly.Yet are so willing to get naked so easily. Isn't the art of acting about making feel something .You've never felt before and showing people its ok to feel that same way?.

[Jeremy Scott Wings]

Learn to give up, life would be easier. Each feelings are the United States, accompanied by each process are also stunning. Feelings is a no answer to the questionnaire, the search is not hard to make life more **. Unfortunately, we feel a little more sewing dependents; trace of sadness we feel more nostalgia.