Carlo Palombo
Carlo Palombo’s research focuses on nudity; in particular, in his PhD he seeks to explore our society’s prohibition of nudity as a way to problematise our beliefs and assumptions of ‘freedom’ in the Western liberal world. ‘Nudity and the classroom, or: let’s play with disorder!’ is a clothing-optional experiment which seeks to disrupt the normal order of academia. Participants will be given the option of being partially or fully naked in order to practically engage with the prohibition of nudity in our society.
Title: Nudity and the classroom, or: let’s play with disorder!
Why are our naked bodies prohibited in the public space? Why is participation in society conditional on hiding our corporeality? Is it perhaps about a certain idea of full humanity, an attempt to distance ourselves from the ‘animals’ and to claim a closeness to God? Or what else? Whatever the reason(s), are our bodies really that ‘bad’, shameful, or inherently violent and ‘animal’ as we are made to believe? Can we explore a way of being together that is not founded on the exclusion of our bodies?
I propose that we engage with these questions practically and experientially. Join me for an experiment in disrupting the disembodied fiction of the academic space by shamelessly introducing our naked corporeality. In this clothing-optional discussion, we will suspend our society’s prohibition of nudity and play with disorder.
In the safe space of the event, the audience may choose to be naked (fully or partially, as and if they wish) to experientially engage with some of the problems and questions around nudity. May this experiment open a space where something new could happen? Are our clothes really necessary, or are they just a barrier between us? Let’s experience our discomfort and ask ourselves why.
Title: Nudity and the classroom, or: let’s play with disorder!
Abstract
Why are our naked bodies prohibited in the public space? Why is participation in society conditional on hiding our corporeality? Is it perhaps about a certain idea of full humanity, an attempt to distance ourselves from the ‘animals’ and to claim a closeness to God? Or what else? Whatever the reason(s), are our bodies really that ‘bad’, shameful, or inherently violent and ‘animal’ as we are made to believe? Can we explore a way of being together that is not founded on the exclusion of our bodies?
I propose that we engage with these questions practically and experientially. Join me for an experiment in disrupting the disembodied fiction of the academic space by shamelessly introducing our naked corporeality. In this clothing-optional discussion, we will suspend our society’s prohibition of nudity and play with disorder.
In the safe space of the event, the audience may choose to be naked (fully or partially, as and if they wish) to experientially engage with some of the problems and questions around nudity. May this experiment open a space where something new could happen? Are our clothes really necessary, or are they just a barrier between us? Let’s experience our discomfort and ask ourselves why.