The blog has been sooooo quiet for days – or more like weeks. Apologies, I have been too busy with my numerous projects although ‘Adventures’ remains very close to my heart.
There are a couple of posts i intend to write including my review of Babeland, a New York sex shop i visited a few weeks ago. In January i did a nude photo shoot with my dear friend and the very talented photographer Nana Kofi Acquah and I have been debating whether i should upload one of the pictures with a write up on body confidence (something i do not always have), as well as the reasons why i did the shoot. However i have a dilemma, would I be contributing to the exploitation of women if i post a nude silhouette of myself? Let me know your thoughts.
‘Adventures’ is now available in print – well some excepts from the blog. If you live in Accra do pick up a copy of ‘Dust’ a new free magazine, yours truly writes/edits the sex & relationship section of the magazine. In each issue i also include snippets from the blog – in the first issue it is not clear that some of the posts are by Guest Contributors so i will be working with the Editor of the magazine to ensure that guest contributors are properly credited although the majority are anonymous. You can also view the magazine online at www.accradust.com
Where are all the guest contributors? Remember ‘Adventures’ is a site about African women and sexuality, written by African women (yes, we do allow a few male contributors). Please send in your contributions to adventuresfrom[at]gmail.com . Do indicate if you want to be anonymous and if you have a preferred name. I reserve the right to reject/edit your contribution. Any editing done will be mainly to correct typos/grammar. I hope to now recieve a deluge of contributions 🙂
As usual, share your thoughts, especially on nudity and nude photos. Are nude photos gratuitous, artistic or could nude photos even be phototherapy?
16 comments On Calling All Guest Contributors & Introducing ‘Adventures’ in Print
Nice to know ur okay!;-) Congrats with accradust.com. Saw it advertised at Silverbird Lifestyle, with a huge picture of Kubulo(sp??) Congrats on the initiative. My nude shots…are in the very private custody of my very serious girlfriend!;-D
How much is stardust paying for contributions?
I’ve had the bad experience of writing for Canoe Quarterly. My article was published but I never got paid. And i was never credited for the article. So I’m wary now.
@EKB – Thanks 🙂 I worry about pics in other people’s private custody though. To be honest i would almost rather put my nude pic on the web…that way i know i put the information out there myself. What happens when the girlfriend or boyfriend decide for some reason that they want to show your pics to the world..
@Esi – Stardust? That’s a lovely name but the magazine is called ‘Dust’. I did get paid for my contribution to Dust. The amount you’re paid depends on the type of writing, the number of pages you are writing, etc. I think its best to check out their site and email the Editor to find out how much they pay for the article you want to submit. Charle, i’m sorry about the bad experience with Canoe – i wanted to write for them ‘once upon a time’ but never got my act together.
“exploitation of women”
What does that mean anyway? In my dictionary, it is different from slavery.
So how does an individual’s choice make another person an exploiter?
I like working with visual aids so lets use this picture: scantily clad women, seductively dancing in music videos. Some groups claim the music industry is “exploiting” these women. I don’t get it.
I don’t think you’ll be contributing to the so called “exploitation of women” Teasing me, Yes. But not exploiting women.
come on lets see your bits dont be shy.
I don’t think you will be exploiting other women. My concern is just like you said above ‘in someone else’s custody’. If you decide to go ahead with this picture, sign a legitimate contract agreement with the people involved + a legit lawyer (no kidding). Don’t leave any loopholes. Your body and your piece of mind is worth it.
@ Nana Darkoa – I’ve been thinking over the past couple of days about whether you should put up the nude pictures of yourself, especially since there are a lot of idiots out there that will refuse to elevate their minds and see the beauty and purpose behind what you are doing.
However, that said, I do not believe that any one made a difference in the world by having their actions restricted by the “small-mindedness” of others.
I think you should, but I understand if you don’t.
Much love.
I don’t think anything you and Nana Kofi Acquah do will be exploitative of women. You seem pretty up on the issues. I do think that more of us should be naked in pictures…mostly to dispel the image of model-like beauty, which I think is truly exploitative of women.
lol@stardust. Dunno where that came from. I meant to say dust. Thanks for the response. Will keep an eye out for it. I heard you were at expressions last night. One of my coworkers called to say he met a whole bunch of people who knew me including you. How was it?
@ Mike – Lol at teasing you 🙂 it’s fun to tease, but since that is not my mission on this blog…Explotation of women? I do feel the music, fashion, media, and virtually any industry you can think of exploit women. They exploit women by commercialising their bodies and using to sell adverts and anything else you can think of. This leads to ‘beauty myths’ which we get socialised into accepting, resulting in self esteem issues, etc
@ev – If you don’t see my bits it will not be because i’m shy – cos i’m not
@LAK – I have already taken the pictures oooooo. I really trust the photographer though…at this point in time he is the only one i will allow to do nudes of me
@Crystal – Hmmm, at the moment i’m swaying towards not putting it up. I think there will be no real purpose to putting up the pic. Maybe i can write about the experience without putting up pic 🙂
@Kofi – Thank you! Definitely agree with you on dispelling images of model-like beauty
@Maameous – Expressions was aight 🙂 Yes, you’re pretty famous oooo
Methinks the way a nude picture is viewed depends a lot on the photographer. A picture can scream ‘lewd’, ‘beauty’, ‘peace’.
That’s why I love Ann Leibovitz’s pix. Did you ever see that nude pic of a preggers Demi Moore? That’s art I tell you!
Apropos the diversity of women’s images, check out Leonard Nimoy’s photo series.
http://www.leonardnimoyphotography.com/7body.htm
Bold, liberated, adventurous.
Hmmm, now i’m feeling tempted…
As your BFF, I’ve already seen your lovely bits, and they are indeed lovely. Might as well share them with the world! DO it.
Are there any legal consequences to posting nude pictures of yourself on the internet in Ghana? I would check on that first as Ghanaian society can be a bit conservative sometimes, and I know that even stores that sell sex toys in Accra have to do it on the sly.
@Abena – hahahahahahah, well, you’re clearly biased
@Anon – Hmmm, good question. I hadn’t even considered that. Any lawyers who can answer this – what are the legal consequences of posting a nude picture on the web?