Godiva Didn’t Have Tattoos
link Photos: PETA protesters get nearly naked in Vancouver.
It’s been done. Showing some skin to get attention may have been a bold gesture when Lady Godiva did it back in the 1040’s and perhaps still risque in the 80’s when Madonna pranced around in pointy boobs, but in this day and age, it’s at best, quaint. Speaking only for me, I can’t imagine that seeing ‘nude’ people would make me more aware of the plight of animals, or of the earth, of gay pride or of any other pop cause which seems to require nudity or near nudity to publicize.
If anything, all these ‘radical’ displays seem to accomplish is to advertise the works of various tattoo artists. The shock and impact aspect of this maneuver is way past the sell by date. It’s like 8 year old kids acting out. The first few times may be charming, but after a dozen or so displays of cuteness, it’s droll. Even an icon like Pamela Anderson fails to move the titillation meter anymore in her PETA campaigns. Having Pamela shed clothing in support of a cause is like having Michael Moore eat donuts in support of a cause; the so what factor kicks in. It’s actually sad when nudity loses its shock value. In theory, if protesters are willing to display lots of skin to prove their support of an issue, then the people at Wreck Beach and Kits Beach are giving away lots of free political action points. Someone should stick some signs on those people and make them relevant.
Shedding some clothing to make a statement pales in comparison to some of the extremes that some REAL zealots get to in showing their commitments to a cause. As many may know, during Easter, some devout Christians in the Phillipines flagellate themselves with switches and even crucify themselves on crosses in observance and support of their religious beliefs. I’d say they were pretty committed. Notice that they are not flagellating or crucifying others. They are not trying to tell others what to think or how to behave. In this part of the world, the ‘shocking’ tactic of public nudity just seems lame. If they are trying to make a point, as in all good marketing, at least hire professionals with bodies worth being shocked over….and without tattoos.