Emma Watson (HP's Hermione Granger) says she would get naked for the right role

[PantsMcFist]

There is a lower standard for violence because there are good reasons to attack people and it is quite exciting to witness violence on your TV screen. Of course Saving Private Ryan was violent but it was all in the name of a good cause: defeating fascism.

Nudity is generally unnecessary. I do not need to see nipples to understand that sex has transpired between two characters.

If you want to see naked women, you should consider using your internet. You can not only see nude women but you can even see them doing all sorts of interesting things.

I do not think it is necessary for my entertainment to see nudity in some normal film. It is distracting and I am just not that interested in arousing my sexual feelings during a film, nor am I interested in the sexual feelings of pre-teens and young teens being aroused in my presence.

So why?

Nudity can be artistic but I think that belongs more in paintings.

Maybe we should also examine why it is considered okay to be entertained by violence and gore, even if it is pursuit of a good cause. I see no reason why a naked woman can be less entertaining than men killing each other, without any sense of sexual arousal. We should also get over our cultural disposition to sexualize nudity. Doing so objectifies the woman who is being held in your gaze (and in your mind if it's arousing, because arousal is a cognitive process).

Also, why not ask the big question as well - why do we have such a need to be entertained? Are we really so dull as a group that we can think of nothing better to do than watch TV?

 

[wanderingone]

If you paid attention to what Ryal Kane had written you would have seen he said "Britain's attitudes to sex are a little less puritanical than the US." And even "less puritanical" does not eliminate puritanical attitudes altogether, which leaves plenty of room for those who would be "silly about the fact," or even "all worked up."

*Sheesh*

I hope you aren't really taking it as seriously as your post seems to suggest... I shall never comment on the similarities between brit and US prudishness again.. .. ::insert eye roll here::

 

[Washington]

I think people fail to understand the concept of implication.

If, for example, the nudity is in art form or non-sexual context - than yeah, maybe they can get away with a PG rating.

But if a nude Emma Watson is straddling Harry's lap - keep that PG-13 and up. That's kind of the reason for having the ratings in the first place.

Which is why I said: "(not talking any sexual activity)"

 

[max1120]

Jane_the Bane_ I think we sat by that couple at the theater too...lol
Truth be told we are a sex obsessed nation. The U.S. has way to much of an obsession with all things sexual..including nudity in film and even art. I see nothing wrong with nudity in film.

A great example of how strange we become in the U.S. over nudity is that in 2002 George Bush's Attorney General (John Ashcroft) spent $8,000.00 to purchase curtains so they could be used to cover up the exposed breast of the-art deco "Spirt of Justice" statue at the Department of Justice. This 12ft statue has been standing in the U.S. Department of Justice Offices since the 1930's. This is a good example of how prudish some can be here in the states.

 

[7thKeeper]

Heh. We are talking about people who wear swimsuits and -trunks in the sauna, Veyrlian. Hullu maailma!

Whaaaa-!? That's unnatural! Then again I've run into people outside of Finland who seem to think it's natural to come to the sauna to read a newspaper and get < staff edit > when I decided to throw some water on the rocks. Perhaps they mistook the place for a library...

As for Emma, if she gets a role where nudity is a part and she's fine with it... *shrugs* Go for it girl.

 

[Washington]

I hope you aren't really taking it as seriously as your post seems to suggest...

Why wouldn't I? I've certainly seen much more badly interpreted posts than yours. Your's just had too much of a serious tone to it to toss aside as a joke. Maybe I've been over-conditioned to expect such responses.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I think people fail to understand the concept of implication.

If, for example, the nudity is in art form or non-sexual context - than yeah, maybe they can get away with a PG rating.

But if a nude Emma Watson is straddling Harry's lap - keep that PG-13 and up. That's kind of the reason for having the ratings in the first place.

I seriously doubt that we are talking about a Harry Potter film here. She's not limited to that one role, you know?

 

[Wyzaard]

Nudity is generally unnecessary. I do not need to see nipples to understand that sex has transpired between two characters.

Seeing gratuitous amounts of simulated violence is not necessary to understand that fascism was terrible and needed defeating.

I do not think it is necessary for my entertainment to see nudity in some normal film. It is distracting and I am just not that interested in arousing my sexual feelings during a film, nor am I interested in the sexual feelings of pre-teens and young teens being aroused in my presence.

Do you normally stare deeply into pre-teen crotches? I doubt it... so how would you notice?

 

[Tenka]

I can, but I prefer not to.

Usually the naked people in the movies were chosen to be naked because they are sexy. Usually their nudity acomodates a sexy scene.

Do you watch movies, Tenka?

I have seen a lot of movies where nudity is not in the context of a sex scene, are you able to separate nudity from sex?

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

Violence=good, sex=bad.

Who else thinks that these are two very twisted equations to make?

 

[keith99]

Saddly I think it would be very realistic for an American film to show a heroine stopping to get dressed when the building is burning down all around her when she would make it clear with no problems if she would just run outside naked. Hmmm will she make it out or not?

 

[QuakerOats]

Which raises the question: Is nudity or even semi-nudity (not talking any sexual activity) in movies now perfectly acceptable? Should tasteful nudity now merit a PG or even a G rating?

It already does here in Canada. Our general attitude toward nudity, sexuality, and intimacy more closely mirrors the UK, I think. I have absolutely no problem with nudity in art, whether it be film, television, stage, or drawn/painted/sculpted, etc. That said, I like Emma Watson, and as a consenting adult, I believe she has every right to take off her clothes for a movie if she chooses to. It should come as no surprise to anyone to see an 18 year-old adult exploring her sexuality, as it were, and taking on more mature roles.

 

[Washington]

Violence=good, sex=bad.

Who else thinks that these are two very twisted equations to make?

Absolutely! In a lot of ways the United States of America is one V E R Y screwed up country.

​

 

[Beanieboy]

See HERE

Which raises the question: Is nudity or even semi-nudity (not talking any sexual activity) in movies now perfectly acceptable? Should tasteful nudity now merit a PG or even a G rating?

I don't think it should be PG or G, but I think it is acceptable if it makes sense. In places like Europe, women can go to the beach topless. My Norwegian roommate told her that for the last class in high school, the teacher brought the class to the beach, and everyone stripped down to their underwear and went swimming. She said that it wasn't an ogle-fest. People just had fun cooling off.

She contrasted this to the prudishness of the States, while being shocked that porn isn't sold in a XXX store, but the supermarket, the corner store, the gas station, etc. Pornography seemed to be everywhere, and adults seemed to have very juvenile attitudes about sex.

At G or PG, I wish that we had a society where people could just see the body without thinking it was wrong, but rather, that it was natural, was just the body.

You know that kids are curious, and going to play doctor to see it first hand. You also know, if you were anything like me, you or your friends stole some of dad's porn to look at naked women or men.

Equos is a cool story, and the nudity works in the play.
I saw Long Time Companion, and the men skinny at the end of the play, and it looks innocent.

For children not brought up by hippie parents, but prudish parents who never discuss sex, frown on nudity except in the shower, it will be shocking. To those who have seen their parents naked, or where nudity isn't responded with such shame, the kid might not think anything about it.

I think what shocks so many people is that "Harry Potter was naked" or "Hermoine was naked", but they aren't The actors are.

I remember seeing this AMMMMMAZING play done by Theatre de La Jeune Lune at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, and the guy who now plays Elliot in just shoot me, played "one of the innocents." The play, The Triumph of Love, involved an old brother and sister trying to see who would sin first, the innocent man (kept away from all people) or the innocent girl (kept away from everyone but the brother and sister.. The Innocence fall in love, but then, the woman eventually leaves for another, breaking his heart. The two making the bet also had their hearts broken as well having fallen for the opposite gender Innocent, who sees them as a parental figure, and nothing more
, sooooooo:

On stage was as muse (that came out of the water! Amazing), who was singing an operatic song, while the girl was lifted up by the new boyfriend, slowly wrapped in gauze, the betting man and woman, who had fallen for their subjects, cried out in pain from the rejection, while the male subject in a toga like costume, ran around the real grass stage, saying, "My heart is broken. I want to die." He lapped 3 times, and on his 2nd lap, the toga fell off to a diaper like short, and on the last lap, it two fell off, the man running naked, finally falling to the ground, panting, "My heart is broken!! I want to die!" while the slowly descending candelobra finally falls in the water, leaving a brief but beautiful picture that looked like a painting. It was breath taking. Some of the people in the office (we sold tickets), said, "I would watch it against just to see the last 5 minutes."

The response. I LOVED it.
The woman behind me said, "OH MY GAWD? WHAT IS GOING ONNNN?

It's just a penis. Geez.
And was really wrecking the moment for me.
And I hate when people go to a play and don't want to do any work, learn anything that might be inspiring, controversial, or make them think, but rather be fed baby food from a spoon, and not have to think about the play not only after they leave, but while they are there.

 

[Ryal Kane]

We did a sketch a few years back featuring a guy whose girlfriends is dragged along to the theatre. His internal monologue is being narrated, first about how bored he is and then his shock at seeing a naked man on stage, then trying to avoid looking without anyone knowing he's avoiding it.

 

[QuakerOats]

In places like Europe, women can go to the beach topless. My Norwegian roommate told her that for the last class in high school, the teacher brought the class to the beach, and everyone stripped down to their underwear and went swimming. She said that it wasn't an ogle-fest. People just had fun cooling off.

I'm not sure if you know this, but it's perfectly legal for women to go topless in public here in Ontario. It has been for a number of years now.

 

[morningstar2651]

We Americans are sexually repressed, violent, and have the right to bare arms.

Probably not a good combination.

 

[Jane_the_Bane]

I'd call the US-American attitude towards sexuality and nudity not merely puerile, but downright neurotic. The only thing that even remotely compares to that is the Finnish attitude to alcohol:
Many (if not most) Finns drink in order to get plastered as quickly as possible, or else feel that they mustn't (MUST NOT) touch a single drop of alcohol, as it is bad, bad, BAD. "Just look at the alcoholics at the bus stop! It's SATAN's drink!"
In Finnland, you cannot carry a bag with jingling objects (such as cans of baby food, empty bottles or just about anything else that's made of glass) without everybody thinking that there must be booze in it - and more shame on you!
There is very little middle ground, if any.

Now, look at the US attitude towards the naked human body and sexuality. Do you see the parallels?

 

[SallyNow]

You are right. A lot of American films are bad.

Also, most of the world already copies and imitates America in every single way. What do you expect?

They imitate us because it is good -- not because we tell them to.

It is usually Hollywood that copies and imitates, not the other way around. Hollywood movies often take good stories from other cultures and destroys them, puts more violence in them, takes out actual human intimacy and instead replaces it with hyper-sexualized lovers.

Nudity in Europe isn't a big deal because Europeans realize the difference between sex and nudity. Movies that deal with intimacy and relationships can have nudity without the bodice-ripping rape-fetish sex scenes that are so common in Hollywood cinema. Of course, there are brilliant, original American movies that do that too, but all too often they are considered "serious" or "artsy" or "dramatic" and do not turn into big box-office hits. Thankfully cable channels like HBO have allowed American filmmaking to delve deeper into the human condition to the levels that are seen in regular foriegn films.

 

[cantata]

I'm all for non-sexual nudity in films. The more we associate the naked human body with activities other than sex and with non-sexual situations, the better.