Friday, February 8, 2013

Gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity

Have you ever heard of Gymnophobia? According to Wikipedia, gymnophobics experience anxiety from nudity, even if they realize their fear is irrational.

An example of gymnophobia is what is seen in Japan these days. There they want to put underwear on a nude statue. A replica of Michelangelo’s famous statue was installed without much warning last summer in Okuizumo, Japan. But the famously nude biblical hero is raising eyebrows – and reportedly scaring children — in this town of 15,000 in southeast Shimane prefecture, we can read in Time Newsfeed.

Queen Victoria was not fond of nudity either. The statue of Michelangelo’s 'David' was originally presented to Queen Victoria by the Grand Duke of Tuscany in 1857, but was immediately given by the queen to the South Kensington Museum (now the V&A).

The plaster cast of a fig leaf, half a metre high, was made in London soon after the statue’s arrival and attached to the statue to spare the blushes of visiting female dignitaries.

You can read more about the troublesome statue here: Fig leaf, half a metre high.

Then we have good ol' attorney General John Ashcroft. He became world famous when the media around the world told that Ashcroft ordered covered two nude statues in the Great Hall of the Department of Justice.  Ashcroft did not like to be photographed in front of those two partially nude statues.

The list of gymnophobics is long - very long. Did you expect to find Apple on that list? It is indeed on the list! Apple is a company which likes to censor books, book covers and anything with nudity in it. Poor fragile Apple. Some say It’s Time to Declare War Against Apple’s Censorship.

I am sure John Ashcroft and other gymnophobics would never want to visit the public park in Oslo - Vigeland. The Vigeland Park is the world's largest sculpture park made by a single artist, and is one of Norway's most popular tourist attractions. The park is open to visitors all year round. The park is full of nude sculptures - and no report of scared children.

What will be next? Apple denying visitors to the Vigeland Park to use Apple phones while they are in the park?





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