It's time to get nude at Brown!
Brown University in Rhode Island inaugurated its second season of 'Nudity in the Upspace' week, Monday. The week aims to tackle stigmas about nudity and celebrate the human form.
The event, which will be held until Oct.5 in the Providence campus, will feature nude open mic nights, body painting, cabaret, theater and yoga classes (Tuesday). In addition, a discussion forum, and other nude student performances and events will also be organized.
According to CBS local, the discussion forum 'Stripping Privilege: Undressing the Isms' on Wednesday, is described as 'an open and honest discussion about power, privilege, race, class, gender, ability, and other isms how they intersect with nudity, body image, nudity in relation to (de)sexuality, etc.'
'A Devised Piece of Nudity,' on Friday will involve students sharing 'personal testimonies, movement, reflections, and more nudity.'
Becca Wolinsky and Camila Pacheco-Fores, junior organizers of the event at the Ivy League school, hope that the event would promote positivity while also educating the masses.
"It's mostly the idea of talking about and addressing things that people don't 'normally' address and that can be stigmatized," Pacheco-Fores told CBS. "I hope that people will laugh when it's funny and feel moved when that is appropriate. I hope that people will come out of the experience feeling empowered and feeling that bodies and people are beautiful whether naked or clothed."
The debut nudity week held in 2012 was a major success.
"It's been incredible to learn that being naked is just fun!" Pacheco-Fores told the Daily Herald in September 2012 (quoted in Huffington Post). "Penises, vaginas, boobs, butts -- body parts that used to make me feel awkward and uncomfortable before now I just see as another part of another beautiful body."
Organizers also said that those who attended the 2012 event were 'extremely respectful, and we haven't had to worry much about our fellow students acting immature at these events.'
"Many audience members commented that it had a profound effect on the way they thought about their own bodies and the role that nudity plays in our society on an everyday basis," the organizers told Post.
