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Beach brouhaha is only natural
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Nude sunbathers in tropical Hainan have attracted legions of gawkers and now a crackdown. It's better they are kept from public sight, but the public should be ready for the winds of change. While the rest of China is shrouded in winter cold, the southern tip of Hainan Island is bathed in summer heat. That's why people from the bleak north flock to cities like Sanya. A few of the visitors got so carried away by the welcoming sun that they started skinny-dipping or lying on the beach in their birthday suits. And that has riled local authorities. First, the Party secretary of Hainan province issued a warning that nude bathing is against decorum and those who insist on violating the rules would be rounded up. To back up his words with deeds, armed police have been sent along the suspect beaches in Sanya, to check that people are not overexposed. This seems to be overkill - even if they are dealing with dedicated exhibitionists who would die for their right to be naked. I wonder what kind of weapon they are going to wield against the armed police if they put up a fight. However, if you take the perspective of the morality police, these people could be worse than rioters. They disturb social order by exposing private body parts normally concealed from the public eye and, by extension, hint at lascivious acts that corrupt the morals of society. Beach brouhaha is only natural Public nudity is a strange and uncomfortable notion in contemporary China. It is caught in a limbo between the past and the future. In the old days, it was more accepted, sometimes out of necessity. When few households had pipes for hot water, people washed themselves in public bathhouses, which turned into venues for social gathering, taking on some of the functions of teahouses. The young generation growing up now with middle-class domestic facilities cannot imagine undressing in front of a big crowd - albeit of the same gender - and nowadays the connotation of the public bathhouse is changing from cleansing one's body to all kinds of sex-related activities. In rural areas, it was commonplace for adults and children, usually male though, to strip off completely and bathe in the local river. They would not go nude sunbathing as getting tanned was not in vogue in an agrarian society. In some places, though, even women would not go to great lengths to cover themselves while bathing. Generally speaking, the more economic adversity at a time or place, the more relaxed the dress code, even down to the absence of a single shred around one's body. It is only in prosperity that clothing, or the lack thereof, takes on the meaning of expressing oneself and one's desires. Fast forward to when China will be enjoying the living standards of Western countries. I believe people will not take another look when they bump into a band of nudists. Would it make someone uncomfortable? Sure. Would it incite a flight of fancy toward Don Juan-style sexcapades? Sure, if the object is the stuff of your dreams. But overall, they would be no weirder than a group of grannies dancing their hearts out in a park. In the late 1970s when China was opening up and social dance was reintroduced, there were murmurs that it would cause the collapse of social mores. "People not in relationships holding each other and dancing? Wouldn't that lead to illicit affairs? What would the woman's husband or boyfriend say? It must be an insult to him." Well, I did not make this up. Someone actually asked me this when I returned from a city to the small town where people had just heard of such outrageous things as men and women engaged in dance with no intention of tying the knot. Let's face it: The extent to which we cover our bodies with clothing varies with time and place and culture. In most Muslim countries, a woman would be considered immodest if she did not cover her hair. In the West, some evening gowns show all the cleavage and all the back. I remember when the first batch of Western films were shown in China and townsfolk were joking that men in those movies left their lower body naked while women covered up only their lower body. (They were referring to tights in costume dramas and gowns in party scenes.) It took a long time for the bikini to be accepted in China. I'm sure there are still people who associate it with immoral behavior. And the first time a male dancer stripped to his waist in a performance, it caused a big stir. "We did not tell the producer or stage manager, or they would never have approved of it," the choreographer revealed to me later. In contemporary China, it is indeed inappropriate to sunbathe or swim in the nude in public places. First of all, many of these beaches are frequented by parents with children in tow. Even many adults might find such a sight unsettling, for moral or other reasons. From online responses, it seems these people are not in a minority. So, those with the urge to go au natural should refrain from doing so while visiting these crowded and tourist-friendly locales. However, China's coastline is very long and there must be beaches tucked away from public prowling. Ideally, a few of these places could be designated for naturalists so that people with an aversion to the sight may not ramble into the areas by mistake. Given the social attitude of the day, this may serve to call attention to naturalists rather than keeping haters of public nudity at bay. So, the best approach might be to keep nudist places out of sight and not publicize them too widely. As a matter of fact, nudist locales have long existed in China. The Sun Island Park in Harbin has one, which was all over the news years ago. When I visited this northeastern city, my host pointed it out to me. It's actually quite close to the traffic in this vast expanse of nature, but it is hidden inside a thick grove, which made me pry into the minds of the naturalists: Yes it's hidden, yet it's dangerously close to being discovered. There seems to be a sense of flirting with danger. In a similar vein, naturalists have to walk a fine line between respecting public moral standards and exercising their rights to this still decidedly minority hobby. If they push too hard, letting it all hang out in hot destinations like Sanya, a backlash is certain. Even the most liberal-minded authorities will have to react when there are complaints. On the part of those filing complaints or grumbling online about this form of what they deem "visual trash", they have to ask themselves whether they are totally against nudity or only against nudity by people who are not physically attractive. It is quite common for photos of a scantily clad supermodel type to be followed by a long chain of oohs and aahs, while images of not-so-beautiful people showing just a little more skin, as in the recent news photos from Sanya, would elicit booms of righteous denunciation. These people should never go near a nudist colony because nudists are mostly real people, not Megan Fox types. Most nudists are not out to challenge the status quo. They are not making political statements. And there is really nothing sexual in the activity, as far as I know. They should be left alone, and before society agrees on it, they should also make it convenient for themselves to be left alone. By Raymond Zhou ( China Daily ) |
海南的裸體日光浴一度吸引了大量目光,現(xiàn)在卻引來(lái)了嚴(yán)格的管制。如果這些日光浴游客能夠遠(yuǎn)離公眾視線,那自然最好,但是公眾也應(yīng)當(dāng)做好準(zhǔn)備,來(lái)應(yīng)對(duì)未來(lái)可能的變化。 在中國(guó)其他地區(qū)正籠罩在寒冬中時(shí),海南島的最南端仍舊沐浴在夏日的陽(yáng)光中,這也是人們從北方涌向三亞等城市的原因。暖陽(yáng)使一些游客忘乎所以,他們開(kāi)始裸泳或者全裸躺著沙灘上。 這些行為激怒了當(dāng)?shù)卣J紫?,海南省省委?shū)記發(fā)出警告,裸泳有傷風(fēng)化,違反者將被拘留教育。當(dāng)?shù)匚渚詫?shí)際行動(dòng)做出響應(yīng),在三亞的部分沙灘上巡邏,檢查人們是否有過(guò)度暴露的行為。 即使他們面對(duì)的是暴露狂,這樣的規(guī)定似乎也過(guò)頭了,他們可能會(huì)因?yàn)樽约郝泱w的權(quán)利而死。我們也不知道武警在面對(duì)沖突時(shí)會(huì)采用什么武器。 然而如果站在道德警察的角度來(lái)看,這些人會(huì)比暴徒還糟糕。他們暴露身體的私密部位,擾亂社會(huì)秩序,甚至可能引起社會(huì)道德敗壞。 “海灘風(fēng)波”只是天性使然。 在公共場(chǎng)合裸體在當(dāng)代中國(guó)人眼中是一個(gè)奇怪又別扭的概念。它夾在過(guò)去和未來(lái)之間。過(guò)去,人們對(duì)公共場(chǎng)合裸體的接受程度更高,有時(shí)候人們別無(wú)選擇,只有少數(shù)家庭有熱水管,人們只能在公共浴室洗澡,這里也變成社交聚會(huì)場(chǎng)所,具備了茶館的部分功能。而從小生活在社會(huì)中層水平的年輕一代,即使在一群性別與自己相同的人面前,也不好意思脫掉衣服。而且,當(dāng)今公共澡堂的內(nèi)涵已經(jīng)不僅僅是清潔自己的身體,而是各種與性有關(guān)的活動(dòng)。 在農(nóng)村地區(qū),無(wú)論大人和小孩都可以無(wú)所顧忌地脫光衣服,然后跳進(jìn)河里洗澡,當(dāng)然他們大多是男性。在農(nóng)業(yè)社會(huì),他們不會(huì)選擇裸體日光浴,并不認(rèn)為把自己曬黑是一種時(shí)尚。然而在部分地區(qū),即使是女人,也不會(huì)在洗澡時(shí)想方設(shè)法把自己遮住。 一般來(lái)說(shuō),在經(jīng)濟(jì)不景氣的地區(qū)或時(shí)期中,人們對(duì)著裝的要求更低,甚至低至全身連一片碎布也沒(méi)有。只有在經(jīng)濟(jì)繁榮的時(shí)候,穿衣服,或不穿衣服,才能表達(dá)個(gè)人的情感和意愿。 在中國(guó)的經(jīng)濟(jì)持續(xù)快速發(fā)展,人們的生活達(dá)到西方的生活水平時(shí),人們?cè)谂龅揭蝗郝泱w主義者時(shí)便不會(huì)再抱以異樣的眼神。這會(huì)不會(huì)讓人覺(jué)得不舒服?當(dāng)然。會(huì)不會(huì)引起“唐璜式亂性”的風(fēng)潮?如果正好是你心儀的對(duì)象,答案是肯定的。但整體來(lái)說(shuō),這些人會(huì)和一組老人在公園里熱舞一樣奇怪。 20世紀(jì)70年代末,中國(guó)實(shí)行改革開(kāi)放,交誼舞再次進(jìn)入人們的生活,當(dāng)時(shí)便有言論稱(chēng)這會(huì)導(dǎo)致社會(huì)道德觀念的崩潰。 “彼此不認(rèn)識(shí)的人們互相擁抱、跳舞嗎?這難道不會(huì)引起地下情?女人的丈夫或男朋友會(huì)怎么想?這對(duì)他完全是一種侮辱?!?/p> 這可不是我編造的。而是在我從一個(gè)城市回來(lái),去往一個(gè)小鎮(zhèn)的時(shí)候,有人對(duì)我提出的問(wèn)題。這里的人剛剛聽(tīng)說(shuō)男女在無(wú)意結(jié)婚的情況下可以一起跳舞這樣荒誕的事。 讓我們直面這一事實(shí):我們用衣物覆蓋身體的范圍與時(shí)間、地點(diǎn)和文化相關(guān)。在多數(shù)穆斯林國(guó)家中,如果一位女性沒(méi)有把她的頭發(fā)遮起來(lái),人們就會(huì)認(rèn)為她不正派。而在西方國(guó)家中,一些晚禮服會(huì)露出女性的胸部和所有背部。我記得第一批西方電影在中國(guó)播出后,市民們開(kāi)玩笑地說(shuō),那些電影中的男人下半身都是赤裸的,而女人則只遮住了下半身(他們指的是演員們?cè)趧≈写┑木o身衣以及聚會(huì)中的禮服。) 中國(guó)群眾在很長(zhǎng)時(shí)間后才接受了比基尼。但還有部分人認(rèn)為它和不道德的行為有關(guān)。在首次有男演員在演出中脫掉上衣時(shí),引起了巨大的轟動(dòng)。 “我們沒(méi)有告訴制片人或舞臺(tái)監(jiān)督,不然他們不會(huì)允許這種情況發(fā)生?!熬帉?dǎo)透露說(shuō)。 在當(dāng)代中國(guó),全裸日光浴或在公共場(chǎng)合裸泳確實(shí)是不太合適。 首先,這些海灘經(jīng)常有父母帶著孩子在玩耍。甚至很多成年人出于道德或其他原因也認(rèn)為這些場(chǎng)景令人非常不安。從網(wǎng)絡(luò)上人們的反應(yīng)可以看出,這些人似乎并不在少數(shù)。所以,那些很想以初始狀態(tài)示人的人們應(yīng)該在人潮擁擠的旅游勝地避免這樣的做法。 然而,中國(guó)的海岸線很長(zhǎng),必然有部分海灘遠(yuǎn)離塵囂。 如果這些地方能夠指定為那些自然主義者開(kāi)放,這便是最理想的情況,喜好不同的人就不會(huì)出現(xiàn)在錯(cuò)誤的地方。根據(jù)當(dāng)下的社會(huì)態(tài)度,這可能有助于增加社會(huì)對(duì)自然主義者的關(guān)注,而不是將防止人們仇視在公共場(chǎng)合的裸露行為。 所以,最好的辦法或許是使這些允許裸露的場(chǎng)所遠(yuǎn)離公眾的視線,而不是進(jìn)行大肆宣傳。 事實(shí)上,允許裸露的場(chǎng)所在中國(guó)長(zhǎng)期存在。在哈爾濱太陽(yáng)島公園就有一處,數(shù)年前曾頻繁出現(xiàn)在新聞中。當(dāng)我來(lái)到這個(gè)東北城市時(shí),我的導(dǎo)游就給我指出它的所在地。實(shí)際上這一地點(diǎn)距離城市并不遙遠(yuǎn),但隱藏在濃密的叢林中,這讓我能夠窺探自然主義者的思想:沒(méi)錯(cuò),它很隱蔽,但它也很危險(xiǎn),因?yàn)楹苋菀妆话l(fā)現(xiàn)。似乎有一種與風(fēng)險(xiǎn)作樂(lè)的感覺(jué)。 同時(shí),自然主義者必須在尊重公眾道德標(biāo)準(zhǔn)和保持這一仍是少數(shù)人的愛(ài)好之間如履薄冰。如果太放縱,讓這些裸露主義者在三亞等旅游勝地享受生活,必然會(huì)引起公眾的強(qiáng)烈反對(duì)。即使是最開(kāi)明的政府也不得不在群眾抱怨時(shí)及時(shí)應(yīng)對(duì)。 在人們投訴或在網(wǎng)絡(luò)上抱怨這種他們認(rèn)為是“視覺(jué)垃圾”的時(shí)候,他們必須問(wèn)問(wèn)自己,是不是完全反對(duì)這種裸露行為,還是只是抱怨那些做出裸露行為的人的外表并不迷人。 衣著暴露的超??偸悄軌蚴谷藗冑潎@不已,人們的這一思維定勢(shì)使他們?cè)诳吹讲⒉幻利惖娜酥欢嗦冻鲆稽c(diǎn)皮膚時(shí),就開(kāi)始了正義的譴責(zé)。這些人應(yīng)該遠(yuǎn)離那些熱愛(ài)裸露的人們,因?yàn)樗麄兇蠖鄶?shù)都是普通人,不是梅根·??怂埂?/p> 大多數(shù)的裸體主義者并沒(méi)有挑戰(zhàn)現(xiàn)實(shí)。他們沒(méi)有做正式聲明。據(jù)我所知,這些裸露行為中與性毫不相關(guān)。在社會(huì)接受之前,他們應(yīng)該遠(yuǎn)離人群的視線,同時(shí),他們也應(yīng)該尋找合適的方法使自己不被人們關(guān)注。 相關(guān)閱讀 應(yīng)對(duì)互聯(lián)網(wǎng)金融 中國(guó)傳統(tǒng)銀行發(fā)起反擊 網(wǎng)傳土耳其總理與兒子密謀轉(zhuǎn)移財(cái)產(chǎn) 奧巴馬就冬奧會(huì)比賽打賭 輸?shù)粢幌浒讓m蜂蜜啤酒 蓋茨:會(huì)撿錢(qián) 愛(ài)刷碗 買(mǎi)飛機(jī) (英文:中國(guó)日?qǐng)?bào)周黎明 翻譯:叉叉xxsunny) |
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