Naked but not so vulnerable

Originally published: Sept 2018, Gracious Magazine

What does it mean to be truly naked?

Is it merely the absence of clothes or is there something deeper to the meaning?

A lover exposes themselves to their partner with an absence of clothing. But an artist pours all of their being into their work for the world to see, they expose their soul, true nakedness and vulnerability.

In society we are brought to believe that naked means vulnerable and vulnerable

means weakness. This traces back to our most primal instincts of survival, exposing ourselves to predators meant certain death.

But why do we shy away from being naked and vulnerable in any sense when we

are living in concrete jungles, with safe homes and access to non-poisonous food and clean water? We have become the predators.

With tabloids and social media, we have become both the prey and predator. When others people’s vulnerabilities are exposed we feast and tear them apart but when our own are shown for all to see we become afraid and humiliated of ourselves.

The epidemic of teenagers sending nude photos and these pictures being leaked is reflective of this mindset, we hold so much power in a single photograph.

But what do we do when someone finds strength in their naked vulnerability? We ultimately dismiss it. Unlike leaked nude photos, we degrade and disregard when those same people take implied or boudoir photos.

However, this particular idea of vulnerability has become more challenged by

organizations such as ScarStories, a charity that supports young adult cancer

patients & survivors through creative initiatives.

Scar Stories was founded in 2011 by young cancer survivor, Jasmine Gailer. Gailer’s mission for Scar Stories is to raise awareness about young adult cancer; raise funds for specialty care for the 18-35 year group; and help these young people come to terms with the physical scars that remind them of a grim, painful experience and see them in a new light, one that is empowering and beautiful. 

“[We’ve] taken more than 45 scar portraits with 13 professional photographers and exhibited around Australia”, Gailer said, “Scar Stories uses music, art and

photography to achieve our mission.”

Alike Scar Stories, vulnerabilities have been used for art subject matter since Ancient Greece. Michelangelo's David is a prime example; a demonstration of towering strength and masculinity. Michelangelo’s masterpiece has been widely acclaimed since its creation in 1504 for its impeccable accuracy of its depiction of human anatomy. 

David, reflective of the biblical David, reflects this idealism that there is strength innakedness and in showing yourself at your most vulnerable. David was towered by the giant Goliath and yet he used his skill and strengths to utilize that ‘underdog’ presumption to win his battle.

Similarly, Youtube has been used by creators like JaidenAnimations and Claire

Wineland who have used their platform to discuss and be an activist for topics like their experiences with Anorexia Nervosa and Cystic Fibrosis respectively. 

JaidenAnimations also recently teamed up with fellow Youtube creator David Brown (Boyinaband) to write and shoot a music video on her battle with an eating disorder and shedding light on the psychology and thought processes behind being trapped in the cycle.

With the rise of modern technology and social media, there are becoming more

opportunities for young people to share their stories and their vulnerabilities. In

multiple interviews with Youtube creator Shane Dawson, Katrina Sherwood shared in depth stories of her battle with a Pheochromocytoma tumour and her experience with Anesthesia Awareness and a terror inducing sleep disorder.

In an interview, Sherwood recounted her intense experience being unable to speak or move during open abdominal surgery to remove her Pheochromocytoma, “I felt

the doctor put in like almost a scoop and I felt him move my organs around...there are no words to describe that feeling of someone inside of your body like that.”

Another trailblazer similar to Scar Stories is writer of ‘Dear Melanoma’ Emma Betts who created an online movement with her honest depiction of her journey from her diagnosis of Stage 4 Melanoma to her death in April last year.

“We received so many emails and letters from young people who had so much

gratitude for how Emma talked about her life and her battle”, Emma’s mother Tamra said, “the way she just laid herself out for all to see, I think it really inspired some people.”

Emma’s story and her determination to live the life she wanted despite her diagnosis sparked the Dear Melanoma movement and since starting her blog, Emma raised $70,000 for the Melanoma Institute of Australia and has been praised by the Cancer Council for how she changed the perspective not only on sun safety but life after diagnosis.

“She didn’t let what was happening to her keep her from still living, she got married to Serge and made a difference in the world with her writing, she still is with Love, Emma.”

Love, Emma is Betts’ legacy, a gift box made for people who are in a tough time and need something to encourage them to keep fighting through their battles. The boxes are available for purchase through the Dear Melanoma website.

In a place where it is so easy to show a fairytale like life, with the perfect everything, there has been a noted rize in the amount of creators being raw and vulnerable to their audience. 

As seen by the responses to Scar Stories, Dear Melanoma and other creators, there is the possibility for a positive impact in the form of a new movement. This wave of changing the public’s perception of these vulnerabilities is growing constantly stronger as more are fighting the isolating fear of being naked.

“It started with her [Emma] just wanting to talk about her experience”, Betts said,

“she just wanted to tell the whole truth”.

Only time will tell if our attitude will really ever change.