Community | December 16, 2008 | 15 comments

Naked Protest in Paris

source: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/dec/16/france-art-life-models-protest

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DeliaTheArtist
"From Rodin and Courbet's naked muses and lovers to Degas's clinical study of the female form, the nude has always taken pride of place in French art.

But Paris is now being accused of showing such philistine ingratitude to its life models that scores went on strike yesterday, taking to the streets to pose naked in freezing temperatures to shame the state.

In front of the tastefully decorated Christmas trees outside Paris city hall's culture department, the naked and goose-pimpled models demanded a pay increase, proper contracts and, most of all, respect for their craft as they held trade union banners in the pose of Delacroix's Liberty Leading the People.

The disrespect shown to the models was "proof that something is badly wrong with French society", shouted one shivering male model through a megaphone. Artists, students and art teachers sat sketching them in support.

"This is a craft that should be respected, not just anyone can take their clothes off and hold a pose," said Deborah, 28, one of the strike organisers, who has worked as a full-time life model for four years. "It is artistic and physically demanding work."


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Nude protesting is the best kind of protesting!
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