Different cultures have different ideas about what level of nudity is acceptable in different situations. In general, Americans are widely considered to be far more prudish than our European counterparts, and that argument is very difficult to dispute. If you look at American cinema, there’s far less explicitly sexual nudity than in European cinema, not to mention less actual sex. In the DVD extras for the movie “Shortbus,” the director discusses the fact that he really wanted to make a mainstream film where actors actually had sex on screen – revolutionary in this country, but nothing all that novel across the pond. Read the rest of this entry »

Oftentimes, people think of the Midwest as a somewhat provincial place. They assume that people there are less interested in sex, nudity, and other lascivious pursuits. If this week’s naked news has anything coherent to say, though, it’s that idea is utterly and completely wrong.

You’d Think It Would Be Too Cold
When I think of Minneapolis, Minnesota, I think of good bookstores, good friends, and good times. I think of snow, wind, and cold. I don’t think of naked people lying on a table covered only with strategically placed banana leaves and pieces of raw fish. To be honest, I don’t think of that when I think of New York, either (San Francisco? Well that’s another story…), but the truth is that naked sushi has come to the Midwest. Still, you can’t escape some less than liberal attitudes. According to the owner, the only thing that keeps naked sushi classy, sexy, and fun rather than trashy, icky, and disgusting is the quality of the models. Specifically he says ” “They have to be flawless and absolutely hairless. That’s why we need to book more than we’ll need - just in case one of them gets a pimple.” Why is it Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Darestars Diva,I’ve met this insanely hot girl, but she doesn’t shave her legs. She’s smart, she’s sexy, and she’s beautiful, but the first time I saw her naked I was so weirded out by her leg hair that I came up with an excuse to go home. Isn’t shaving your legs just something you’re supposed to do if you’re a girl? I’m still attracted to her, I just kind of wish she’d keep her pants on.

Sincerely,

Furreaked out

Dear Furreaked,

I’m sorry, but I can’t take your side on this issue. Leg hair is no big deal. It’s normal; everyone has it. Shaved legs didn’t even become popular in this country until early in the 20th century when a shaving company created a series of advertisements that suggested shaved legs and underarms should be a new trend. It worked and their sales soared, but it left a lot of American women spending way too much time and money worrying about their body hair in a way that the women of the rest of the world don’t. I applaud your girlfriend for Read the rest of this entry »

It’s hard to lie when you’re naked.

Therefore I have an immodest proposal. All important negotiations should be done in the nude.

Just think about how much more pleasant life would be. If you’re negotiating with your lover, nudity is a great way to defuse an argument. If you’re negotiating at work, nudity is a great way to make certain that the meeting doesn’t go on any longer than absolutely necessary. Plus, the knowledge that you’re going to have to take off your clothes encourages good personal hygiene – something that would make any workplace a happier environment. Read the rest of this entry »

Where’s the Beef?
In a somewhat unusual piece of naked news, a playwright has been protesting the fact that one of the characters in a Chicago production of his play spends the whole production fully clothed. Douglas Carter Beane’s play “The Little Dog Laughed,” is written to contain full frontal nudity, but in the recent production of the play at the About Face Theatre the nudity was stunningly absent. The playwright protested, but it was Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Darestars Diva,
I have a problem. I’ve had a crush on my best friend’s best friend for years, and I finally asked him out and he said yes! That all sounds great, and it kind of is, but now my best friend is driving me crazy! She’s all “you two are going to have the cutest babies,” and “this is going to be the best wedding ever,” when we haven’t even gone out on our first date. All the pressure is making me want to puke! Help! How can I get her to lay off long enough for the boy and I to figure out if we even like each other that way?

Sincerely,

Stewing Under Pressure

Dear Pressure-Cooked

Take a deep breath, relax, and then hit your best friend Read the rest of this entry »

The ABC television network is facing a 1.4 million dollar fine for the 2003 showing of an episode of NYPD Blue that contained images of a woman’s naked butt.

It’s been four years since the episode aired, and let me tell you something. The world has ended. Because people saw an image of a woman’s butt on the screen, American society has become hopelessly corrupt. There is no going back to that time of innocence, purity, and overall bliss that was formally known as 2002. Read the rest of this entry »

Getting High Off Nudity
There’s nothing quite like taking off for a vacation flight with someone annoying sitting next to you. Maybe their elbows are taking up the whole armrest. Maybe they won’t stop talking to you while you’re trying to read your book. Regardless of why they’re annoying, it seems like the longer the flight the more likely it is that the person sitting next to you on it is going to drive you crazy. Rejoice! A German travel agent has found a new way to make your travel plans exciting! The company is proud to be the first to offer nude Read the rest of this entry »

Dear Diva,I have a dilemma. I recently broke up with my boyfriend, and now I’m suffering from a major case of raging hormones for his best friend. I can’t decide whether or not I should do anything about it. Is hitting on your exes best friend tacky?

Sincerely,
A Friendly Question

Dear Friendly,

If you have to ask, then it’s a bad idea. Actually, that’s a good rule in general about making relationship decisions. If it seems like something Read the rest of this entry »

Why is body art so sexy? I think it’s because it’s a permanent expression of the individual. For most people, getting a tattoo is a very personal experience. Each piece of art they choose to engrave on their skin for eternity says something about who they are. Yet, what the art is saying can often remain a mystery.

Talk to a person with a tattoo and ask why they chose it, ask what it means to them, and you will discover that each interpretation is as unique as the individual the piece is inked on. A heart might symbolize romance or family. A bird may be a reminder of a Read the rest of this entry »

This week’s roundup focuses on the theme of nudity in art. Nudity has been featured in art of various forms for thousands of years, and I suspect that people have been objecting to it for almost as long. Nude art in the modern age tends to get a very mixed reception. Some love it, some deface it, and some try to take it home with them and then change their minds…

A newspaper in Washington state reports that a rug featuring a female artist’s nude self portrait was found in a Read the rest of this entry »

Your Divaship,My boyfriend likes to wear kilts. I don’t get it! I mean, he’s got nice legs and all, but isn’t kilt just a fancy word for “skirt”? The next time I look is he going to be wearing my pink lace underwear and heels? Please, please, reassure me that my dude isn’t in danger of becoming a dame!

Sincerely,
Padlocking the Dresser

Dear Dresser,

In my opinion, you are one lucky girl. I think that men in kilts are incredibly sexy, particularly if they have nice legs. If that’s not enough to reassure you, I have research on my side. Kilts are actually a very macho tradition. The first description of the garment, according to a book on historic fashion, refers to the kilt as being “made for use (being chiefly suited to war) and not for ornament.” Some kilt wearers also claim that the garment is good for their fertility – Read the rest of this entry »