Bare-assed: escaping the male gaze

Rae Rostron celebrates the history of life drawing and women’s freedom

Life drawing has long been stigmatised; inspiring fears of vulnerability and discomfort where, rather, it should be promoting freedom and enlightenment. The form found its roots in 18th century France, where it was considered a compulsory exercise for student to master. But if it’s been around for so long, why is the concept of posing in the nude still cause for alarm? Our bodies house intricate subtleties designed to prod at our fascination, so why should they not encourage our artistic expression?

The female body is done being censored – and many others agree. For International Women’s Day the St. Chads, FEMSOC hosted a life drawing class to raise money for Strut Safe, in memory of Durham Alumni Sarah Everard, and Lets Get our Knickers in a Twist, a charity supporting vulnerable women set up by Durham student Serena Chamberlain. In conversation with organisers and models, I got to hear from change-makers themselves about how they view freedom and feminism.

Have you life modelled before?

“I’ve life modelled a couple of times before since I’ve really started embracing body neutrality as a concept! I think for me that stems from a place of healing and has just been something which has come from growing up, maturing, and finding peace with the way I look.” (Dite Bagdonaite, Life Model)

“I’ve never life-modelled before!.. Applying to take part was definitely a toss-up between the physical vulnerability of having my tits out in front of a paying audience, and the liberation of just existing in my body, and how empowering that would feel. And I’m so glad I took the leap; it was so rewarding!” (Anonymous Life Model)

Life modelling is a reminder that our bodies can exist for more than just sexual satisfaction, instead, it can be about performance, conveying emotion, creating shapes, excelling pride.

Do you think art is a good way of expressing freedom?

“For sure, even if you don’t end up getting (nearly) naked. On a small scale, there’s freedom in art’s ability to convey something innate and personal and that’s why I write and paint – and that desire to do so exists within everyone... Art is being heard and that’s freedom.” - (Dite) “...the very essence of the craft is to embrace the human form in whatever way it exists, and this has to be synonymous with freedom, for both subject and artist.” (Anonymous)

The liberation of just existing in my body

The rise of pornography has also contributed negatively to the stigma of the naked body, replacing the natural with the idealisation of the male gaze.

Do you think we will ever fully be able to escape the “male gaze”, and is life modelling/ life drawing one of the ways to do that?

“...I think we can do our best to tackle our own thoughts and behaviours and those of our friends, but I feel like it being truly eradicated would take some unprecedented upheaval.” (Dite)

“If we reprimand life modelling, are we not falling into the trap of labelling women as those who need to protected etc and reenforcing misogynist rhetoric? I’m not sure there’s any right answer, but certainly an issue I will be thinking on.” (Anonymous)

“...I think escaping the “male gaze” is a di cult thing, for many men see femalepresenting bodies as intrinsically sexual... life drawing can aid the appreciation of the body as just a projection of sexuality.” (Sophie)

My, hands, my waist to my hips

What is your favourite part of your body?

“I think art is a great way of expressing freedom, because... we do not have to work within the confines of any artistic margins, Art can be whatever one wants it to be.”

(Sophie Sherratt, FEMSOC)

Women have been conditioned to think that their bodies are inappropriate, and the oversexualisation and oppression that the body, particularly the female body, has faced has led to a mistaken assumption that the drawing is of a naked body, and not a naked person. At first, women were not allowed to be involved in life modelling.

The female body is done being censored

What was supposed to be a celebration of the human form excluded the female body; the body responsible for creating new bodies.

“Maybe weird to say but probably my hands? I like to experiment by wearing di erent rings and nail varnish, (Dite)

“My waist to my hips. They are big, soft and curvy and I love the way my favourite trousers rest on the top of my hipbone.” (Anonymous)

“My favourite part of the body is the hands. There is a certain delicacy and elegance to the hands, especially displayed in artistic forms like ballet.” (Sophie) travel@palatinate.org.uk

Self-expression should not be criticised or villainised and owning the rights to use and appreciate our bodies as we see fit should not be a debate. Life-models should not be classified as victims or whores but as art. So, give me a warm room and an eager artist and I’ll bare it all. I’ll let you feast on my form and then, when you’re done, maybe you can tell me what language my body is speaking.