THE 'ACHILLES HEEL' OF NATURISM

Provocative illustrations in naturist magazines

are not only superfluous – they are a positive danger

‘During an action in which 22 newsagents were arrested in Philadelphia (Pennsylvania, U.S.A.), several thousand nudist magazines were confiscated by the police! ’

A sudden searchlight was turned on naturism’s most sensitive point as this report went through the international press and the eyes of the general public were attracted thereto. This sensitivity was, however, caused by the fact that almost all persons outside the movement misunderstand what naturism means.

Nakedness, according to the generally accepted moral code, is the ante-chamber of eroticism. We have, it is true, reinstalled nudity to its proper place after its having been forced out of communal life. We have endeavoured to make it play its part in an improved morality whenever just and fitting. But there are many who do not understand our aims and believe we go naked merely to obtain greater sexual freedom.

And these very people sometimes feel they have striking confirmation of their views. Indications are perceived in that sphere where our critics not unjustly think they can condemn us. Over-emphasized and abnormal sexuality appear to be frequenters of our community. How do people reach such conclusions? Mainly through certain magazines which in their make-up and frequent self-conferred titles pretend to be organs for the naturist movement. In many cases they are far from what they pretend to be. Often they are nothing more than inferior products of publishing houses where naturist ideology is misused in order to cash in on the sensation of nudity.

Many people unaware that naturism is a movement of high ideals take their cue from such trash and immeasurable damage is thereby done to real naturism.

This damage is brought about in 3 ways: by the illustrations published in them; by the essays and articles printed; and by the proliferation of ‘small ads’. Illustrations in magazines purporting to propagate naturism and reveal its essence must at all costs avoid sexually stimulating effects and provocative poses. The only excuse for printing nude pictures at all is to prove that there is a completely cold sexless nudity in addition to the stimulating nudity known to all. In other words the pictures in naturist magazines must reflect the same cleanliness and lack of dubiety which dominate our naturist grounds. They must take it clear unambiguously and incontrovertibly that we view the naked body in a frank and dispassionate manner which leaves no room or ulterior thoughts.

The pseudo-naturist magazines, however, are littered with photos of persons who have undressed with only one obvious aim: to expose their bodily attractions in alluring poses. But remember always: such pictures and the magazines in which they appear have no more to do with real naturism than the flowers that bloom in the spring. They cannot – by their very essence – attempt to propagate naturist ideology – that is to say nakedness devoid of sexual overtones. The effect of the above-mentioned illustrations is quite the opposite: such depictions disgust very single person worth interesting in our movement. Provocative illustrations, therefore, are not only superfluous – they are a positive danger which must not be underestimated to the whole naturist movement. They broadcast false ideals about us and attract undesired people in our ranks. Essays and texts published in naturist magazines, even ‘small ads’ and announcements can have the same denigrating effect as unsuitable illustrations. They can awaken the impression in the general reader’s mind that naturists are especially interested in treatment of themes of a sexual character. Such magazines’ content, of course, frightens away not only the seriously-minded we desire to attract but also invites those whose attitude we utterly reject.

One thing we must never forget is that the nude body has been suppressed for hundreds of years. This repression of natural humanity has caused moral deviations which have led in turn to the spread of a degenerate sexuality. Nudity is one of our basic tenets. It is obvious, therefore, that victims of sexual degeneracy assume that they can slake their desires in our clubs. Those are the ones who hope from outside to find their likes within the movement whether by ‘small ads’ or pictures which exceed the bounds of respectability and which no real naturist would ever dream of publishing. Such individuals quickly come to notice in our clubs and have no business there: eternal vigilance must however, still be our watchword. We must be constantly on the alert to ensure that nothing happens which could lend colour to the belief that nudity could be another word for sexual gratification.

There is no place within the naturist movement for those who have degraded their generative powers exclusively to the plane of base erotic sensation. We can class those pseudo-marriages in this category, which have sunk to over-sexualized unions where the partners are changeable and expendable. But we can also put the ‘lone wolves’ (predominantly male) into this class: those individuals who from feelings of inferiority, egoism or irresponsibility shrink back from founding a family believing that they can thereby indulge in a more pleasurable and varied sexual life.

But what about the overwhelming number of our contemporaries who have in no way descended to degenerate sexuality? Even they think that nudity is primarily an appeal to sex instincts, a feeling conditioned by the complex-conditioned taboo thereon. We must always bear in mind that naturism’s most vulnerable point is situated here – it is the Achilles’ heel of our movement. Our aim must, therefore, be to shield this vulnerability as far as possible with all the means in our power. Let us ensure that an intensive campaign among the general public makes clear that no false ideas as to our cause exist. Our efforts are so clearly marked by our concern for the general welfare that we need not hide our light under a bushel. Let us continue to see that our ranks remain unsullied. Let us refuse to permit our aims to be falsified and misused for other purposes. Let us, in conclusion, ensure that the educational principles (and fundamental upbringing) become generally accepted. Our vulnerability will decrease in proportion to the extent we manage this. Naturism will then march to success despite the Achilles’ Heel.

Rudolf Beißbarth

(Source: Sun and Health International Edition, Vol. 28, June-July 1964)