Nov 19, 2008

Lifestyle - China;Nude Photos & Weddings

Venkatesan Vembu

HONG KONG: Dressing in solemn white seems rather a tame way to seal a marriage. Increasingly, therefore, young Chinese couples are “sexing up” their weddings with photo-shoots of themselves – completely in the nude!

Professional photo studios in several cities across China offer discreet “nude photography” services for the private amusement of young couples planning to enter the holy state of matrimony. And it’s proving tremendously popular among a young generation of Chinese people who have kicked off the Mao suits of their parents’ times – and, with it, every last bit of social conservatism.

“Many young couples enjoy having their nude pictures taken by a professional photographer in a studio,” notes Robert Smith, a professor of cross-cultural communication in Quzhou College in eastern China.

Typically, couples in China have their formal “wedding photos” taken weeks, perhaps even months, ahead of the actual wedding ceremony. In recent decades, as a new Chinese generation rode the country’s breathless economic boom, the trend was towards having these photographs taken in exotic locales and in a variety of costumes, but most often in classical white suits and gowns. Increasingly, however, even that, which once seemed exotic and other-worldly, seems oh-so-20th-century.

Professional studios, sensing a new market, began unveiling nude photography services, and the bride and groom soon followed suit - or rather, stripped off their suits! “Some studios even offer nude photography themes to cater to different needs,” says Wu Bingshun, a professional photographer. “You could, for instance, have an Adam-and-Eve setting, complete with a snake in a Garden of Eden, and a fig-leaf to provide a modicum of modesty.”

These nude photographs don’t, of course, go into the official wedding album. “The parents are against such photographs,” notes Smith. “So the solution is to take two sets of wedding pictures: one set in formal wedding clothes for the parents, relatives and friends to see, and another set of nude pictures for the couple’s enjoyment.”

In matters like this, understandably, discretion is critical. “Even those who are daring enough to want nude wedding photos of themselves don’t want to see those pictures uploaded on some Chinese-language website,” notes Wu. The photo studio typically has to sign a secrecy contract before the shoot, and hand over all the photographs, even the imperfect ones.

For sure, not everyone in China is thrilled about this naked embrace of what was, until recently, a ‘decadent Western’ social phenomenon. There are those who say it reflects an unhealthy social trend and is a symptom of a “moral decay” in society. But Wu says: “Nude photography is just a welcome twist to the stale unchanging tradition of the wedding photo.”

In other words, the fig-leaf of social conservatism in China is being blown away by the gusty winds of globalisation. And quite a few young Chinese are unabashedly rejoicing in the buff.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

Good day! I simply would like to give a huge thumbs up for
the good data you could have here on this post.
I will likely be coming again to your blog for more soon.


Take a look at my weblog :: article on plastic surgery statistics

Anonymous said...

Whats up! I just wish to give an enormous thumbs up for the nice info you have here on this post.
I can be coming again to your weblog for extra soon.

Stop by my web-site before you exit poster

Anonymous said...

You rеally make it seеm ѕo eаsy along
with your prеsеntation but Ι іn findіng thiѕ matter to bе
reallу one thing thаt I believе I might neѵer undeгstand.
It sort of feels too сomplicated аnd extremеly
ехtenѕiνe for me. I am having а look forward on your subsequent
pοѕt, I'll try to get the dangle of it!

Here is my homepage we pay cash for cars ()

Anonymous said...

Someone essentially lend a hand to make critically posts I would
state. This is the very first time I frequented your web
page and to this point? I amazed with the research you made to
make this actual put up amazing. Magnificent activity!


Stop by my weblog; where is the best place to buy a used car

Anonymous said...

Thanks for your personal marvelous posting!
I seriously enjoyed reading it, you happen to be a great author.

I will be sure to bookmark your blog and will eventually come back someday.

I want to encourage that you continue your great posts, have a nice holiday weekend!


Also visit my blog :: best places to buy a used Car
(unityforachange.org)

Anonymous said...

Some individuals may even be detoxmax dangerous for the narcotic substance.
Now, along with hormones, and apple cider vinegar, beware, you find your children whilst I acquired my
questions I needed answers too. These are just sweating
a large range of" bad forces". Juices made from totally natural, continuous procedure for
flushing out toxins from your entire physical boldy be cleansed.