Perspective Plus discussion

I have been thinking about at lot of stuff lately,and I have been going through the pros and cons of my thoughts. I have told an author of a size positive photo book that I would be interested in being included in any upcoming books. I also have been impressed with not only Nimoy's book on size positive but with the art of Les Toil and his size positive art (see Marita Fowler's books, he does the cover for her and they are outstanding).

I am putting this out there to one and all. I would like to see a size positive book, with both men and women who are full bodied, nude or clothed, and I will be the first to volunteer for the project.

I would like to see works along the established lines of non pornographic images,natural poses,and seeing the subjects doing things that make them happy. There is a lot to work out here, but the notion I have is for a size positive artist who would like to create their own book, or show based on using every day people who are perhaps overlooked by others.

This does not have to be a major political statement, but a statement none the less. I feel that the photos should be done as casually as possible and done comfortably as well.

So are you an artist who wants to do a book? Are you a volunteer? Or do you think that this is something you could never do?

Let me know.

I have been thinking that not only do we need more artistic images of full bodied nudes, but we do need to have positive pornographic images as well. We need to change how we are seen by every one and not just a fetishist few who only want to see fuller bodied people in too small clothing, eating or some combination. We need to start demanding we get the same production quality of "Playboy" and less "Penthouse". We need to remove the sleaze factor or we will be feeding the stereotype of why we are not attractive.

I know that many of you think that the porn industry is bad for women, but in recent years, many women have taken charge and have changed a lot of that, so it is our time to take charge of public perceptions and get our own high quality look out there.

The question of porn is a difficult one. I'm inclined to support sex workers in general and push mainly for a removal of stigma, but I also saw a documentary a couple of years ago (no memory of the title, sorry) that made a strong case for how exploitative and abusive the porn industry still is, esp in regards to women. So I don't really know what to think. I suppose since getting rid of it isn't up to me, the best I can do is try to support all efforts to make it safer and healthier (emotionally, physically, etc.). And I agree that in porn as well as in all forms of media, we need full bodied representation. Anna Nicole Smith did a lot of nudes and she was a larger woman. I always liked her for that.

I feel that porn is going to be there no matter what we like or don't (basically if you don't like it, don't watch it) and yes, quite a bit is wrong on so many levels, but ever since the camera was invented there have been nude pictures. We need to embrace the idea that we are sexy and attractive so that means embracing ALL aspects of the ideal,savory and not. I would like to see the change for all women to be seen as strong and attractive,as well as see an end to exploitative practices. (There is a lot of power and money to be had so I don't think it will ever truly go away.)

I feel, though, that while this industry exists, we need to be better represented than with low quality magazines that are not well lit,air brushed, or show us in poses with food (always with food), too small clothing, or not nice lingerie like our thinner counter parts get. I am not a supporter of the porn industry as a whole, but I do recognize where it fits into our world. I would like to see a change in perception of that world and our place in it as fuller bodied people, and have us in a more positive light.