Spencer Tunick Shoots 18,000 Naked Mexicans
May 7, 2007 5:55 AM   Subscribe

 
Then the INS showed up and thanked them for preparing for the strip search.
posted by jonmc at 5:59 AM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


A single link MetaFilter post can be, though.
posted by DU at 6:00 AM on May 7, 2007


DU: what did you want, a dissertation?
posted by davehat at 6:07 AM on May 7, 2007


I just head-pronounced 'mexicocity' to rhyme with 'viscosity', and I think I prefer it that way.
posted by chrismear at 6:09 AM on May 7, 2007 [2 favorites]


I never would have discovered this "Reuters" if not for this post.
posted by mendel at 6:17 AM on May 7, 2007 [4 favorites]


18,000 naked Mexicans are, on the whole, a lot paler than I expected. And doing this in front of a cathedral is kind of weird.
posted by lostburner at 6:21 AM on May 7, 2007


I just head-pronounced 'mexicocity' to rhyme with 'viscosity', and I think I prefer it that way.

Taco Bell burritos have now reached 30% mexicocity.
posted by jonmc at 6:22 AM on May 7, 2007 [2 favorites]


Well, he beat my naked Mexican record.
posted by Astro Zombie at 6:30 AM on May 7, 2007 [7 favorites]


I never would have discovered this "Reuters" if not for this post.

Fine, but tell me with a straight face that this isn't the best of the web.
posted by ZenMasterThis at 6:36 AM on May 7, 2007


:| This isn't the best of the web. :|
posted by DU at 6:46 AM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


DU... hmm... having a bad day...?
posted by HuronBob at 7:01 AM on May 7, 2007


No.... This is just dumb. LOLMEXICANS?
posted by DU at 7:04 AM on May 7, 2007


Nothing a few naked Mexicans couldn't cure.
posted by jonmc at 7:04 AM on May 7, 2007


I've never really understood the appeal of these mass nude photos... they've always seemed a lot more like a PR stunt. But I have to admit the very distant shot showing a pale, square crowd was kind of neat.
posted by rolypolyman at 7:18 AM on May 7, 2007


Why would anyone be LOLing? Spencer Tunick's work is world-famous and people love being included in it because though one is just a faceless blip in the sea of bodies, the actual experience of being nude in such a large group with no sexual motivations is a very human experience.

My favorite is his cover of POZ Magazine, in which all of the participants were HIV positive. The documentary about the shoot, "Positively Naked", was incredibly heartbreaking, as people in every possible stage of the disease tell their stories about the shoot.
posted by hermitosis at 7:23 AM on May 7, 2007


Does anyone else find it weird that not having clothes on can be considered dehumanizing and detrimental to dignity?

now being really, really fat is undignified *ducks*
posted by Grod at 7:29 AM on May 7, 2007


the actual experience of being nude in such a large group with no sexual motivations is a very human experience.

Um, dude, come on. It's art and all that shit, but do really think that a lot of the people aren't there to ogle nuditity for the off-chance of getting laid?
posted by jonmc at 7:29 AM on May 7, 2007


I think Tunick takes a concept that could indeed be a very callous PR stunt in another's hands and really imbues it with something special.

What's more, it's very difficult to arrange such large-scale shoots without having the weight of a corporate advertising budget behind you.

The photo on his main page, for example, just boggles my mind, and knowing that anyone is welcome to participate just adds a layer to my thoughts about it, as I try to imagine what it must have felt like to be in that sea of people.
posted by hermitosis at 7:32 AM on May 7, 2007


What's more, it's very difficult to arrange such large-scale shoots without having the weight of a corporate advertising budget behind you.

Probably not as hard as you'd imagine. If the amount of homemade nudie pix online is anything to go by. tehre's an awful lot of exhibitionists out there, and with the added bonus of getting to look at other naked people, this is a great way to bring them out.
posted by jonmc at 7:36 AM on May 7, 2007


It doesn't work that way, jon. The people show up early, are assigned spots, wait around for a long time, get shuffled back and forth, and when everything is all arranged, THEN they are asked to strip, their clothes are collected for the duration of the shoot. When Tunick's got his shots, the clothes are redistributed and everyone is done.

If it doesn't sound very sexy, it's because it isn't, really. It's very mechanical and meticulous, just like nudity in films, though people's enjoyment of it certainly varies from one person to the next.

Besides, if you wanted to ogle nudity, why would you go to all the trouble of getting into a Tunick shoot? That's what the internet is for.
posted by hermitosis at 7:39 AM on May 7, 2007


As far as commercial influence, there is a pretty rad Vaseline commercial that homages Tunick (at least I don't think he had anything to do with it) ... the choreography is beautiful.

(There's also some making of clips that gives some insight into what it could be like behind the scenes at one of his shoots here and here).
posted by pfafflin at 7:40 AM on May 7, 2007


I didn't see any boobies. :-(
posted by zorro astor at 7:48 AM on May 7, 2007


18,000 naked Mexicans can't be wrong.

NO. 18,000 NAMED MEXICANS IS VERY WRONG.
posted by quonsar at 7:56 AM on May 7, 2007


NAMED JOSE.
posted by quonsar at 7:56 AM on May 7, 2007


OR MAYBE JESUS.
posted by quonsar at 7:57 AM on May 7, 2007


Clueless
posted by magullo at 7:57 AM on May 7, 2007


OSCAR, EVEN.
posted by quonsar at 7:57 AM on May 7, 2007


the lady in the third picture of magullo's link has a nice tush. just saying.
posted by jonmc at 7:59 AM on May 7, 2007


We should do this at the next meet-up.
posted by Dizzy at 8:12 AM on May 7, 2007


christ, what an asshole.
posted by Wonderwoman at 8:19 AM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


The Mexico City Missed Connections on Craigslist should be a laugh after this. "All I saw was your ass . . ."
posted by veggieboy at 8:26 AM on May 7, 2007


Eh, there are probably a lot of Missed Connections like that on there already.
posted by veggieboy at 8:28 AM on May 7, 2007


18,000? Yet Metafilter had 50,000+ members? hmmm.....
posted by Brandon Blatcher at 8:32 AM on May 7, 2007


The coolest thing about the photos on the AP story is the thousands of naked people surrounded by thousands of piles of clothing. I wonder how many of those people are going to end up going home in someone else's pants?
posted by jacquilynne at 8:43 AM on May 7, 2007


I've been in Zocalo Square and I've posed naked for Spencer Tunick. What do I win?
posted by sciurus at 9:09 AM on May 7, 2007


The euphemism for nakedness should now be changed from "birthday suit" to "Spencer tunic."
posted by GrammarMoses at 9:22 AM on May 7, 2007 [9 favorites]


ah, grammar moses. that is brilliant
posted by lapolla at 9:27 AM on May 7, 2007


Tunick's web site is designed by Wang Media.
posted by chundo at 9:27 AM on May 7, 2007


I'm picturing the Missed Connections section of the paper now...

"I saw you across the square. I caught your eye. You smiled & I sensed a spark so I smiled back. Then we lost eachother in the crowd. I was the naked Mexican guy..."
posted by miss lynnster at 9:42 AM on May 7, 2007


Did you know in Mexico, it's just called "food"?
posted by inigo2 at 9:51 AM on May 7, 2007


What if they disagree with 19,000 naked mexicans?
posted by voltairemodern at 10:33 AM on May 7, 2007


do really think that a lot of the people aren't there to ogle nuditity for the off-chance of getting laid?

And now you know exactly why you're never invited to those kinds of parties.
posted by jjg at 10:59 AM on May 7, 2007


Yeah, it's all about art, maaaan.
posted by jonmc at 11:00 AM on May 7, 2007


When I read that article, my first thought was "I bet that smelled bad."
posted by Charles Wilson at 11:01 AM on May 7, 2007


I find large groups of naked people quite cool, especially in conservative countries. Thanks!

I met lots of way cool Mexican's but I rarely find Mexican women attractive, just a little too chubby. Mexico, England, and the U.S. maybe have similar average fatness. But there are plenty of hotties in England and the U.S. while I find that Mexican girls have less weight variance. Or maybe it's just my friends.
posted by jeffburdges at 11:08 AM on May 7, 2007


There are even more hotties in England when people have their mouths closed. [not British dental hygiene-ist]

And lotsa hotties in France if you're out of olfactory range! [not French B.O.-ist]
posted by miss lynnster at 11:34 AM on May 7, 2007


you forgot Poland.
posted by jonmc at 11:40 AM on May 7, 2007


great shots. viva mexico!
posted by cell divide at 11:42 AM on May 7, 2007


Also, isn't anybody worried these people are going to cross the border and take jobs away from Naked Americans?
posted by jonmc at 12:01 PM on May 7, 2007 [2 favorites]


Did you know in Mexico, it's just called "food"?

Not only that, but in Mexico, Mexicans are just called "people."
posted by Citizen Premier at 12:09 PM on May 7, 2007


Not only that, but in Mexico, Mexicans are just called "people."

Really? Just in Mexico?
posted by eyeballkid at 12:38 PM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


jeffb--
I am fascinated.
Please tell me more, lots more, about your preferences regarding Mexican's women's.
posted by Dizzy at 12:51 PM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


Do you know that in Brazil, Brazil nuts are just called nuts.

Actually, that's not true at all. They're called castanhas-do-ParĂ¡. I suspect in ParĂ¡, they're called castanhas-do-Julio. I suspect Julio calles them mis-castanhas.
posted by Astro Zombie at 12:57 PM on May 7, 2007 [1 favorite]


In France? French fries aren't even called FRIES! wtf?
posted by miss lynnster at 1:00 PM on May 7, 2007


Where I live they call sprinkles "jimmies".
And they call jimmies "willies".
Advise, please.
posted by Dizzy at 1:03 PM on May 7, 2007


Not only that, but in Mexico, Mexicans are just called "people."

Surely it's puebla.
posted by dhartung at 1:04 PM on May 7, 2007


So where do women from Iceland, Sri Lanka or New Zealand "fit" (haha!) on this continuum? I'd really like to establish a "fattie" scale which will enable my fat married US ass to summarily mock all but the very hottest women from around the world.
posted by maxwelton at 1:15 PM on May 7, 2007


60,000 Naked Hoosiers
posted by bigbigdog at 1:24 PM on May 7, 2007


Mexican's women's what?
posted by Dataphage at 2:28 PM on May 7, 2007


Preguntate el jeffo.
posted by Dizzy at 2:32 PM on May 7, 2007


jeffbirdges, it's your friends. I know many, many Mexican women and plenty are very good looking, especially if they are naked in the middle of Zocalo.
posted by dov3 at 2:43 PM on May 7, 2007


One-link or not, whatever your opinion of the project, this link and the comments were completely worth it for producing the new word, "mexicocity."

In order to shop in my neighborhood you need to speak Spanish, because of the degree of mexicocity.

chrismear, thank you thank you thank you.
posted by nax at 4:21 PM on May 7, 2007


Actually, it is a really great word. Second best one I've heard this month. The first being a word I overheard when I stopped on my way down to LA for a bite to eat. The woman at the table next to me was clearly drunk & was trying to say "flustered" and "frustrated" at the same time. She said "flustrated." Totally rolls off the tongue, don't it? She had no idea she had said a non-word, nor did her friend. But I quickly wrote it down & declared it a brilliant addition to my vocabulary, which now contains "Mexicocity" too. Yay!
posted by miss lynnster at 4:28 PM on May 7, 2007


jeffburdges, you've obviously never met a girl from Monterrey.
posted by CrazyLemonade at 4:29 PM on May 7, 2007


Then the INS showed up and thanked them for preparing for the strip search.

Why (and HOW) would INS show up? They're in Mexico. Unless there's something called "INS" there. Enlighten me.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 4:31 PM on May 7, 2007


Then the INS showed up and thanked them for preparing for the strip search.

Every Mexican is a potential illegal immigrant*. We must prepare ourselves for the worst!



*except for those who are light skinned, and speak English with an American accent.
posted by Citizen Premier at 5:42 PM on May 7, 2007


Um, you two, it's called 'satire.'
posted by jonmc at 6:01 PM on May 7, 2007


(by which I mean that anyone with the IQ of a houseplant can tell I was poking fun at both the current US paranoia about immigration and the fact that it's a big bunch of naked people, so I assume you just felt like getting indignant for no particular reason)

(of course, if you are both houseplants, I apologize to you and all Botanical-Americans everywhere)
posted by jonmc at 6:05 PM on May 7, 2007


eh, i like it.
posted by stackmonster at 4:05 AM on May 8, 2007


Even my ficus snickered.
posted by Dizzy at 5:55 AM on May 8, 2007


"Hi, I'm Spencer Tunick! I'm a one trick kinda guy, and I got famous for making people get Nekid! I've never branched out from this one concept - people getting Nkid, and I make my living from getting more and more people Nekid with each outing. Talent? Originality? I don't really need 'em. I just need Nekid, Nekid, Nekid!"

"Hi Spencer, I'm Nekid! I don't know why I'm Nekid, but I think I need validation in my life and 15 minutes of obscure fame! Can I feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself (even though it isn't)- that's a bit risky (even thought it isn't), that's NEKID (which it IS!)??!!! I'll buy one of your books and a print of this shot if I can, thus keeping you in cash. I'll also tell all my friends seeking validation, a sense of community, etc. etc. and next time the'll get Nekid with you too!"


"Hi Spencer, hi Nekid, I'm searching for porn on the Internets. I know you say this photography isn't about sex, but it sure seems like it - either that, or like a bunch of Nekid corpses, which is creepy at best, not really thought provoking. I, like most people that look at your photos, am really just looking for Nekid people and you keep delivering! Thanks, Spencer, and Nekid, I want you to know that the minutes of elicit pleasure you helped give me before work this morning was well worth digging through Spencer's photos until I saw a clear shot of your ass."
posted by Muddler at 6:10 AM on May 8, 2007


I'm trying to find the right words to convey I agree with Muddler's comments or quotes. This is all I got: Tunick = tool.
posted by IndpMed at 5:25 PM on May 8, 2007


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