Abstract
Depictions of nakedness in Antarctica are rare, although there are many sub-cultures and traditions there that involve nakedness – often as an expression of the human body confronting or overcoming the extreme environment. An examination of some of the sub-cultures of nakedness, shows that there are markedly different attitudes to nakedness “off-station” and “on-station”, with official attitudes sanctioning nakedness as not appropriate behaviour “on-station”, but with less rigidity as to what happens “off-station”. There is also a strong sense that naked behaviours, or depictions of nakedness, from earlier eras having a sense of cultural heritage, which can be at odds with contemporary needs of stamping out sexism, as more and more women take up positions on Antarctic stations – often in roles of management. And while no longer condoned in contemporary practice, that such former depictions of nudity can be seen as worth preserving - demonstrated in the reaction to the destruction of the nude pinup pictures on the ceiling of a heritage hut in Australia’s Mawson Station (mainly due to their inherent sexism and objectification of women) shows that views of nakedness can be seen as both heretical or heritage, from different perspectives.
Highlights
Depictions of nakedness in Antarctica are rare, there are many sub-cultures and traditions there that involve nakedness – often as an expression of the human body confronting or overcoming the extreme environment
[7] There is a strong culture of nudity in Antarctica, often as an expression of the human body confronting the extreme environment
It is difficult to know her full intent – defiance or mockery – without a deeper level of enquiry, but it does demonstrate the strong knowledge networks that operate internally in Antarctica. Such networks can prove very difficult to penetrate for the short-term visitor, or researcher at distance, which is the point of studying the different meanings of the Sistine ceiling in more detail. It represents a sub-culture of pornography, as it existed in the past that largely lies beyond the official records, and is difficult to fully understand from afar, as modern values have tended to silence the voices of those expeditioners of that era, who often do not wish to be judged by contemporary standards
Summary
“Two words that don't go together: Antarctica and Naked.” [7] There is a strong culture of nudity in Antarctica, often as an expression of the human body confronting the extreme environment Over time these have moved to a sub-culture, to avoid official approbation and censure, in line with contemporary workplace norms, and stand in stark contrast to more blatant expressions of nakedness during the 20th Century. Understanding the cultures and sub-cultures of nakedness in modern Antarctica presents a challenge to researchers as much of behaviour is self-censored, and stories and images and not widely shared, to prevent official condemnation. It is possible to use stories and social media posts, outside of official records, to gain and understanding of contemporary attitudes and behaviours involving nakedness in Antarctica
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