I met Martinez once, very briefly. I also participated in several X-plicit Players performances in People’s Park in Berkeley. I truly appreciate this excellent piece of writing and reporting.
I was saddened again when I read this fine article. Thank you for its tone and content. I was first saddened when I learned of Andrew Martinez's suicide. He was so Thoreau a person who wanted to offer a simple example on how we each can change the world. Baxandall's microcultures are growing with backyard pools, hot tubs, and sauna for skinny-dipping house parties. Welcoming friends and strangers to one's clothes-free home for pot-lucks or meditation has become more popular. In 1919, William Calhoun Walker wrote in the first American nudist publication "Common Sense": "Oh, if heaven is a place where everyone is happy and comfortable I am going to pick a secluded part of the Elysian Fields where folks never wear clothes and where the fashion never changes. And, I fancy I will find congenial company there, too!" I expect that Walker is there with Baxandall enjoying themselves in conversation with Martinez.
Life is complicated as is the history of every topic. As a history instructor I tried to point out to my students that what we are taught on the surface is only popular history. That doesn't mean its necessarily true or accurate. The story told of Andrew Martinez fits that model. This well written article helps us get a better understanding of his story and message. Glad I'm a subscriber to get this kind of information.
I was so impressed with that guy! So sad he's dead. Such an important statement. Definitely formed my ideas about how much freedom I could claim--if only in embracing my naked body as a good thing to celebrate all by myself! Thank you so much.
I can't help but believe that if Martinez hadn't been so insistent on "everywhere—all the time," his message might have been better received.
I'm no fan of mandatory clothing, and I have had my public displays of nudity, but I have rules I follow. If one's nudity is so "in your face" that it results in a rule or law being passed against it, then regardless of your intent, it is counterproductive.
1) Not where it is factually illegal.
2) Not where anyone is likely to object.
3) No attempt to shock or surprise.
3) Not where someone might feel unable to get away or look away from me. Textiles do NOT think like nudists.
His nudity in the classroom violated numbers 2 and 4. His street nudity violated 2. Only he knew if rule 3 was a part of it. And now the college and the town have antinudity rules they didn't have before.
Public nudity is like any public protest. If you don't push it enough, nobody notices. If you push too hard, you generate more blowback than support. There is a balance to be had. IMHO, Martinez pushed a bit too hard and tweaked many people's neuroses.
How could he be nude as much as practical and still not generate huge blowback? That is the question he needed to ask. I imagine that was quite a bit, just not "everywhere - all the time." There is an "Overton window" one needs to respect when pushing radical ideas.
I met Martinez once, very briefly. I also participated in several X-plicit Players performances in People’s Park in Berkeley. I truly appreciate this excellent piece of writing and reporting.
I was saddened again when I read this fine article. Thank you for its tone and content. I was first saddened when I learned of Andrew Martinez's suicide. He was so Thoreau a person who wanted to offer a simple example on how we each can change the world. Baxandall's microcultures are growing with backyard pools, hot tubs, and sauna for skinny-dipping house parties. Welcoming friends and strangers to one's clothes-free home for pot-lucks or meditation has become more popular. In 1919, William Calhoun Walker wrote in the first American nudist publication "Common Sense": "Oh, if heaven is a place where everyone is happy and comfortable I am going to pick a secluded part of the Elysian Fields where folks never wear clothes and where the fashion never changes. And, I fancy I will find congenial company there, too!" I expect that Walker is there with Baxandall enjoying themselves in conversation with Martinez.
“Comment” is too small a word for what you’ve written, Carl. It’s beautiful. Thanks.
I’ve been interested in his story since he made headlines. Thank you for the article.
It’s long past due for the collected writings of Lee Baxandall.
Life is complicated as is the history of every topic. As a history instructor I tried to point out to my students that what we are taught on the surface is only popular history. That doesn't mean its necessarily true or accurate. The story told of Andrew Martinez fits that model. This well written article helps us get a better understanding of his story and message. Glad I'm a subscriber to get this kind of information.
I was so impressed with that guy! So sad he's dead. Such an important statement. Definitely formed my ideas about how much freedom I could claim--if only in embracing my naked body as a good thing to celebrate all by myself! Thank you so much.
Hi
I can't help but believe that if Martinez hadn't been so insistent on "everywhere—all the time," his message might have been better received.
I'm no fan of mandatory clothing, and I have had my public displays of nudity, but I have rules I follow. If one's nudity is so "in your face" that it results in a rule or law being passed against it, then regardless of your intent, it is counterproductive.
1) Not where it is factually illegal.
2) Not where anyone is likely to object.
3) No attempt to shock or surprise.
3) Not where someone might feel unable to get away or look away from me. Textiles do NOT think like nudists.
His nudity in the classroom violated numbers 2 and 4. His street nudity violated 2. Only he knew if rule 3 was a part of it. And now the college and the town have antinudity rules they didn't have before.
Public nudity is like any public protest. If you don't push it enough, nobody notices. If you push too hard, you generate more blowback than support. There is a balance to be had. IMHO, Martinez pushed a bit too hard and tweaked many people's neuroses.
How could he be nude as much as practical and still not generate huge blowback? That is the question he needed to ask. I imagine that was quite a bit, just not "everywhere - all the time." There is an "Overton window" one needs to respect when pushing radical ideas.
https://www.ideatovalue.com/inno/nickskillicorn/2021/10/overton-window-how-extreme-ideas-become-mainstream/
It is dangerous to be right when most people are wrong.