Naked Bodies and Nasty Pictures: Decoding Sex Scripts in Preadolescence, Re-Examining Normative Nudity through Art Education

Abstract

Through an analysis of his lived narratives, the author discusses the formative experiences some preadolescent boys have with nudity/nakedness as well as the initial experiences young male art students and teachers have with the nude in academia. This article examines how heteronormative ideas about sex—gender and professionalism—limit the possibility of rich educational experiences, affecting both educators and students. The conclusion of this study involves a discussion of the benefits of more inclusive examinations of the various conditions, frameworks, and approaches to interpreting the nude with a focus on specific works of art.