As children we originally experienced nudity without moral dispute. It was always acceptable, never bad. We didn’t avoid being naked, or avoid the conversation of it. Indeed, we were encouraged to be naked and were celebrated in our nakedness and vulnerability. At some point however (typically around puberty), we experience a drastic change when we suddenly learn that our bodies are no longer just beautiful, but something that must be hidden at all times - something hyper-sexualized, and also disgusting in many instances. Our vulnerability became something with a negative connotation. This new contradiction of sexualizing our adolescent bodies, and implying nakedness a bad thing can be destructive to the way we develop in our self-awareness. We learned we have a body which no longer possesses virtuous qualities, but one that needs to be cleansed, fixed, covered, shamed, protected. In their study, “On the Origin of Shame” John Terrizzi Jr, and Natalie J. Shook mention early on - “Indeed, shame and disgust share several important similarities. Both emotions involve bodily concern, are described as moral emotions, and encourage avoidance of social interaction.” We are taught that nakedness is morally improper and our bodies are suddenly seen completely different socially, which affects our psyche in so many irreparable ways. Shame is one effect of this sudden disgust we feel for ourselves. Modesty is a way we as a cohesive society have decided to hide that shame.
The three sections "disgust." "shame," and "modesty" look at the taboos of male nudity to evoke discussion of self-image, toxic masculinity, misogyny, etc.- questioning what we consider to be moral and ethical concerning the representation of the unclothed male body
