Nude vs. Naked

Words, words, words.

For most of this blog I’ve used the word “naked”. I have written about “nudity”, but I don’t think I’ve written about being “nude”, always “naked”. That hasn’t been the case.

In the past I’ve certainly talked or written about being “nude”.  

But what’s the difference?

I’ve heard people—the common folk— who, trying to be funny or cute or whatever, describe the difference between nude & naked as: nude means you’re not wearing clothes; naked (or “nekkid”) means you’re not wearing any clothes AND you’re up to no good.

There’s a more “art school” type difference. Someone is naked if they know they are being watched, and they’re nude if they don’t. John Berger in Ways of Seeing puts it this way: “To be naked is to be oneself. To be nude is to be seen naked by others and yet not recognized for oneself. A naked body has to be seen as an object in order to become a nude.” He also says that nudity is a form of dress, a type of display.

That sort of feels like the opposite of the common folk definition.

I think often people in defending their lack of clothing embrace the words “nude” &”nudity” as a way of saying it’s not a sexual thing. It’s a similar distinction as using “sensual” instead of “sexual”. I’ve certainly made that distinction in the past. But the more I think on it, the more it feels like pretension.

To say “sensual” as a way to say “it’s not sexual” suggests that sex is one thing and it’s not good, or at least not something that should be a part of most interactions.

The trouble is, sex is a part of many interactions. If you get a massage and say “it was sensual, but not sexual” I feel like that’s just sort of bullshit. I would say, rather, that of course it’s “sensual” in that the senses and sensations are involved, but there is also a sexual aspect to it. If you look up the definition of the word “sensual” somewhere in there you’ll probably find relating to or suggesting sexuality.

In the same way, I think to use “nude” as a way of saying there’s no sex involved is probably bullshit as well. Sex is part of it, but sex is part of everything. As my friend Bob commented, “Sometimes a person’s genitalia is referred to as his or her ‘sex’.” So why not just admit that and deal with it? And deal with the idea that sex isn’t always SEX!!!!

So...my naked nude-ness here on this blog... Yes, it is me being without clothing. And yes, it’s a sort of display. (Duh, I’m taking pictures and posting them online.)

I suppose my “nudity” is an attempt to represent my “nakedness”. That’s using the art-definition.

But since most folks aren’t art-students...vice versa.