Well, it's been a crazy week here in Asheville. Since arriving on the scene of last Sunday's GoTopless rally I've doubled the number of exposed breasts I've ever seen, I've been accused of child sex abuse for the first time, and of being a pervert (not the first), and I've learned lots of interesting new words like "prurient" and "turgid."
In the wake of the rally (termed "Boobfest" by those of us in the press), Dr. Carl Mumpower has filed a complaint with the local DSS and the NC Attorney General, claiming that the rally constituted child sex abuse. Mumpower is self-described "ultra-conservative," a former Asheville City Councilman and candidate for US Congress. In the interest of full disclosure, Mumpower and I have known each other since I was one of his campaign photographers in 2008.
To draw more attention to his cause, Mumpower organized the "Asheville Rally to Protect Our Children from Abuse," held today in Pack Square.
Those of us in the press have dubbed this rally "AntiBoobfest." For clarity's sake, I'll be referring to those who support toplessness as "Boobers," and those who oppose it as "AntiBoobers." All clear? Great. Now a little back story.
When I heard the news of Mumpower's complaint, I literally thought it was a joke. I sent Carl a sarcastic text message, ribbing him for taking the bait. But Mumpower was not laughing. His allegations included not just the topless women, but the entire city of Asheville and anyone who was present. In fact, when we argued on Facebook he personally called me out: "If you were there ... and took no follow-up action, then you should be ashamed."
I was at a loss. I read all the local news, followed all the threads on Facebook. Nothing made sense. The media had reported before the rally that topless women were perfectly legal. They quoted Asheville police officers affirming that fact. How could Mumpower make such accusations? And why?
Friday morning I contacted Mumpower and asked him for an interview. He declined, saying that he didn't believe I was sincerely interested in the truth. Instead, he directed me to a story in that beacon of balanced journalism, World Net Daily. Out of frustration, I actually read it. Would you believe that World Net freakin Daily, of all places, cited the NC General Statutes to which Mumpower refers? I looked them up.
And, son of a bitch, he's right.*
The Law
North Carolina General Statute § 14‑190.13: Definitions for certain offenses concerning minors.
"(1) Harmful to Minors. – That quality of any material or performance that depicts sexually explicit nudity or sexual activity . . .
(6) Sexually Explicit Nudity. – The showing of:
a. Uncovered, or less than opaquely covered, human genitals, pubic area, or buttocks, or the nipple or any portion of the areola of the human female breast, except as provided in G.S. 14‑190.9(b); or
b. Covered human male genitals in a discernibly turgid state. (1985, c. 703, s. 9; 1989 (Reg. Sess., 1990), c. 1022, s. 2; 1993, c. 301, s. 2; 2008‑218, s. 1.)"
North Carolina General Statute § 14‑190.15. Disseminating harmful material to minors; exhibiting harmful performances to minors.
"(b) Exhibiting Harmful Performance. – A person commits the offense of exhibiting a harmful performance to a minor if, with or without consideration and knowing the character or content of the performance, he allows a minor to view a live performance that is harmful to minors."
*I am not a lawyer, and I recognize that there are "weasel words" (a Mumpower phrase) present in the laws. You should read them yourself at the links provided. It is my belief that Mumpower is factually correct, that the GoTopless rally violated the spirit of the law, if not the letter. Perhaps someone with more expertise can correct me. Regardless, local media should have at least quoted the general statutes.**
**To be fair, the Asheville Citizen-Times did publish the entire text of Mumpower's DSS complaint, and I'm told Matt Mittan gave airtime to the legalities as well, though I didn't personally hear it.
Carl Mumpower: The DarkTopo Interview
When I communicated to Mumpower that I was willing to concede the legal part of his argument (and badgered him with repeated texts and phone calls), he very kindly agreed to an email interview.
MC: Clearly, you are legally correct on this issue. It took quite a bit of digging for me to find the actual statutes to which your complaints refer: After arguing with you on Facebook and reading all the press from the local media, it was World Net Daily of all places that actually cited the NC law. Why aren't local mainstream media reporting these specifics?
CM: Our local media outlets are more devoted to entertainment and comfort than news and truth. It is not surprising that they would not report facts that would illuminate themselves as pawns and co-conspirators in sexually violating children.
MC: Legalities aside, do you truly feel that harm was done to children? Is this worth the time and attention you and the rest of Asheville are giving it?
CM: Very much so. It is moral cowardice to remain passive in the face of the child sexual abuse that was supported by our community last Sunday.
If an 8 year old who kisses a classmate on the cheek is a sex offender, why are stripteasers on a city fountain in front of children OK? If receiving an unsolicited text photo of a 15 year old's breasts can result in a lifetime label as a sex offender, why is it OK to hold a celebration where 15 year olds are supported in exposing their breasts to a group of frat boys taking pictures and yelling words of encouragement?
MC: To be clear, in your ideal world, would a woman baring her breasts be punishable under the law? Why?
CM: Breasts are for nourishing children - not harming them. We're not talking about discreet breast feeding - we're talking about public, sexually charged, and celebratory behavior in front of and with children. We're talking about city and police administration, media outlets, event organizers, participants, and parents ignoring the law. This is not about breasts, it's about child abuse - and a community that should be very ashamed of its complicity, complacency, and corruption in the face of such.
"It is not surprising that [local media] would not report facts that would illuminate themselves as pawns and co-conspirators in sexually violating children."
Anti-Boobfest
One thing about a Mumpower rally: It starts on time. I crossed Broadway into Pack Square at 2 p.m. sharp, and already the space was filling up with AntiBoobers and Boobers. It was easy to tell them apart: The AntiBoobers were mostly wearing suits and appeared to have come to the rally straight from church. The Boobers looked like regular Asheville folk. By that I mean . . . well, you know what I mean.
As a photographer, the scene was disappointing. Whether it was through cosmic appeal to the alien overlords or just plain luck, the Boobers' rally scored much better lighting conditions than AntiBoobfest. Full, dead-on sun in Pack Square. And, to make matters worse, there were no boobs in sight.
Mumpower took the stage and began speaking. I tried to wrestle the poor light into some sort of imagery, mostly typical protest fare.
After Mumpower's speech there were several prayers from various clergy. This is always an awkward situation for photographers. Do you shoot during the prayer and risk being thought of as a heathen, or do you stay respectfully still and risk being thought of as a bad photographer? Hell, if I'd wanted to stand through prayers in the hot sun, I'd shoot weddings.
Luckily, the choice was taken out of my hands when one of the Boobers decided to up the ante.
Immediately the AntiBoobers went into boob-control mode. Those that were praying kept their heads down, while one of the men in a suit took off his jacket and began chasing the Boober around wildly. Those with children did what they could to obscure the view. As I moved through the crowd I heard one woman mutter, "wicked, wicked."
While all that was going on, another topless Boober had approached from behind the podium and was sitting quietly in the shade. Rather than chase the first Boober, all the media guys clamored around the one that was sitting still and talking rationally.
Very quickly, Boober #1 and some of the AntiBoobers realized that they were no longer the center of attention. Boober #1 came and sat with Boober #2, interrupting the conversation to introduce herself. Her name, she said, was Mollie. Meanwhile, a contingent of AntiBoober ladies hesitantly approached the impromptu press conference.
The AntiBoober ladies began arguing with Mollie. I began to move toward the group, expecting to hear some discussion of morality or law. Instead, the AntiBoober in charge was saying, "If I looked like that, I'd keep my clothes on." Mollie countered this with, "Bitch, look at you. Get on a treadmill!"
Oh yes, she did.
What happened next resulted in the day's only arrest. The AntiBoober, seemingly for lack of a better comeback, accused Mollie of being a pagan. Mollie advised the AntiBoober that pagans went around naked. Did the AntiBoober really want to call her a pagan? Falling back on debate skills she must have learned in the middle school cafeteria, the AntiBoober asserted that yes, indeed, she did.
Where are folks like this when it's cold out and you're daring people to stick their tongues to flagpoles?
The APD officers on scene swooped in and very politely arrested Mollie for indecent exposure. AntiBoober lady began recounting the events of five seconds ago while Mollie began yelling about her Miranda rights.
Boober #2, whose name I would have gotten if I were actually paid to do stuff like this, was still very calmly talking to the press. A Boober in a mock burqa quietly held a sign to the rear of the stage while the AntiBoobers kept praying.
It was interesting that both sides introduced religion into what had been a legal dispute. The pagan accusations and the BurqaBoober heightened the tension in a way that Mollie had not. And it should be noted that until the actual rally, Mumpower had not broached the subject of how God feels about boobs. My guess is that the theological ingredients were added by AntiBoobfest's co-organizer Chad Nesbitt.
Nesbitt is the former chairman of the Buncombe GOP and the man behind the activist group Carolina Stompers. I regret that I have little to report about Nesbitt's speech, because I was too busy taking pictures of naked women. Such is life.
After the prayers were finished, the AntiBoobers mounted up and marched to city hall. And without being unkind, I must say that it was quite a feat for some of the elderly AntiBoobers. In fact, most of the Boobers went home rather than take the two-hundred yard trek, and by the time we reached the business end of the park, there were only two of them left: Boober #2 and a male companion, also topless.
Can I Get a Witness?
On the steps of city hall the AntiBoobers restated their complaints, held some long and emotional prayers, and then the rally was brought to a close. The Boobers were still present, standing quietly with everyone else. Now that the rally was over, though, the AntiBoobers began to interact with them personally, and the argument shifted almost exclusively to religion.
Both Boobers were wearing the Raelian swastika/Star of David emblem on chains around their necks. I confirmed with the male (whose name I actually did ask for, but who declined to be identified) that they were indeed Raelians, and that they believe that Earth and human-kind is the result of a science experiment initiated by an alien race. They also believe in nudity and secular humanism.
"It's a pretty tall tale, I know," said the Boober. "But so is the story of Adam and Eve."
Now, if you think that perhaps I didn't take these rallies seriously enough, you'd be right. I will admit some significant personal indifference to the actual issues, and a lot of interest in the dynamics between an alien cult and Asheville's vocal far-right minority.
One by one, the churched-up AntiBoobers began witnessing to the female Boober, and there transpired several tense but polite conversations about the origin of man and what God expects from him. "Hot damn," I thought, "this is going to be good."
But, to my utter disappointment, nothing happened. I wanted to see hair-pulling, eye-gouging, boob-bruising altercations, and what I got was a bunch of bible thumpers and alien whackos that got together and acted like civilized people. Where's the fun in that?
The protesters talked with the topless girl, and not a single voice was raised in anger. One woman even exchanged "I Love You's" with the Boober before we all went home.
And this struck me: From Carl Mumpower walking around with a pocket full of pencils trying to get folks to sign his petition, to the Boober who loves all humans, to the elderly lady that is willing to stand in the hot sun and witness to those who she thinks need her help the most . . . all of these people mean what they say.
And so do I. Here at DarkTopo the truth is the prejudice. I recuse myself from any opinion on this issue except that the whole thing is ridiculous and dead serious at the same time. It doesn't matter what something looks like, or how we feel about it--the only thing that matters is what is. On that, local media failed us.
Everyone will cheer for their favorite team and get caught up in the moralities involved. And that's fine. But if the people we hold responsible for informing us of the actual underlying firmament of things won't do their jobs, where does that leave us? How long will our debates stay civil?
I heard a lot of scripture today. I'll leave you with the last two verses of the Book of Judges. People often use them to vilify anarchy. I've always thought they describe human nature:
"And the children of Israel departed thence at that time, every man to his tribe and to his family, and they went out from thence every man to his inheritance. In those days there was no king in Israel: every man did that which was right in his own eyes."
28 August 2011
Anti-Boobfest, the Law, and the Mumpower Interview
25 August 2011
Two Weddings
Such different weddings, so close together. As a photographer, it's fun to roll out all the gear and shoot a day-long, high-volume event with lots of interesting people and scenes. But there's also something about an elopement and the intimacy and closeness you can capture with prime lenses and sunlight. It's a high honor to shoot either one, and it's pretty awesome to see the same happiness in both couples, no matter the complexity of the wedding.
Dorota & Geoff
Alina & Dave
Always nice to get good feedback, too:
Hot Damn! A Counter-Protest!
Scrutiny Hooligans is reporting that former Buncombe County GOP Chair Chad Nesbitt will stage at counter-protest against the Go Topless Day Rally. Nesbitt has joined my good friend Dr. Carl Mumpower in filing a complaint with the local DSS and the NC Attorney General, claiming that the original rally constituted child sex abuse. The Citizen-Times has the story.
The counter-protest will be August 28, at 2:00 p.m. in Pack Square. You know I'll be there.
If, unlike me, you don't consider it your civic duty to reward attention-seeking behavior, you can check here for the photos and write-up, sometime Sunday evening. This one might be even better than the first (though probably with fewer boobs).
21 August 2011
National Go Topless Day (aka: Boobfest)
WARNING: POST CONTAINS BOOBS.
[a link to the full gallery of photos is at the bottom of the post]
[Update: Mountain Xpress and BlogAsheville picked up the post. Since then my traffic has increased by an order of magnitude, some prominent figures have congratulated my work, and some others have told me I should be ashamed of myself. To the former, my humble thanks; to the later . . . you don't know the half of it.
To the rest of you, I've got some really awesome photos here. You should stick around for awhile.]
The Asheville Citizen-Times reported that local women would be observing National Go Topless Day (pronounced "boobfest") downtown this afternoon. Go Topless Day illuminates the grinding injustice that is the unequal privilege of men to bare their upper torsos in public. Except that it's actually completely legal for women to do so as well, at least in NC. But, as a journalist, my purpose is not to question motivations, but to always reward attention-seeking behavior.
What the ACT failed to report is that the protest was organized by the Raelians. Oh, yes. So, basically, the female members of an alien-worshiping cult protested gender inequality by baring their breasts today in Pack Square. Welcome to Asheville.
As you might imagine, the event drew a diverse, progressive crowd whose sole concern was gender equality.
Now let's get a few things straight. I have no problem with boobs, their public display, or the appreciation of them by other members of the public. Having said that, this was the most disturbing event I've ever attended in Asheville.
To begin with, the crowd was ornery. It was 70% male, and most of the females were obviously wives who'd been dragged along. Lots of tourists. I showed up and fought my way to the front of the crowd, where the attention of the hundreds of people gathered was centered on the only spectacle available:
That's right. Not a single pair of female breasts on display. Just this guy. Suddenly there's a tap on my shoulder, and I turn around to face a small, out-of-town guy in fancy clothes and wrap-around sunglasses with his wife in tow.
"Why'd you have to stand right in front of me?"
I turned back to the redneck in the bikini, then back to Mr. Short Tourist.
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah, you're blocking my view."
"It's a public space, man."
"Yeah, but why'd you have to stand in front of me?"
"Everybody is in front of somebody else, you can move around, too."
"You reporters think you're God."
Right. Exactly right. My press pass reads "As God, I shall be granted exclusive access at events . . . also, I shall always occlude your view of any member of the Sons of Confederate Drag Queens." So I turned around and started shooting. Suddenly there was a dyed-blond head in the way. Mrs. Short Tourist had been dispatched to block my shot. I leaned back and forth and watched as her thinning hair weaved in an out of the frame.
Now, I had had a long day already, and this was a lot of trouble to go through just for some boobs. On the other hand, if there's one thing DarkTopo lacks, it's boobs. The few instances of boobery that are present on the blog make the difference between "completely unknown" and "Max who?" So I was determined to stick this one out.
But everywhere I went, the men were jostling for space. I've been in a lot of intense crowds, but the spirit here was very different. Despite the preponderance of wedding rings, the fact that the internet is full of porn, and that women walk around Asheville wearing next to nothing most any day of the week, these dudes seemed to feel that the boobs about to be displayed were the only ones they'd ever see. They'd end up in the old folks home, saying "Creamed corn, creamed corn, almost saw a boob but the photographer got in the way, creamed corn."
Then a hush fell over the crowd when, out of nowhere, a real live female began untying her wrap. "OMG," I thought, "there might be boobs under there!" The wrap came off and there they were. Boobs. Two of em.
The crowd went nuts.
Now, before we go any further, I need to warn you again that there are boobs in this post. If you don't like boobs, this is not the post for you. If you think I'm kidding about there being actual, nipples-exposed boob shots, rest assured that I take boobs very seriously. So having said that, scroll on down for the goods.
This photo was just a warning. I'm really serious here. Keep scrolling, and the next thing you see will be boobs. Don't doubt me.
Awwwww, yeah.
Alright, enough fooling around. I think this is what you're here for:
One by one, women began exposing their breasts to good-natured applause from the crowd. It was an all-out, feel-good, feminist blowout. You know what I'm talking about. Dove commercials, self-esteem seminars, and every "women of all shapes and sizes" platitude you've ever heard could not prepare you for the wallowing we were doing in our own sacred femininity.
But then something happened. A girl took her shirt off like all the rest, except that this girl was actually drop-dead gorgeous.
The crowd dispensed with the "be proud of yourself no matter what" applause and went straight to a raucous "hell yeah." In that single moment, the entire character of the event changed. What had been a kind of silly, harmless protest became a very creepy affair.
Because no one could see, the women climbed up onto to the giant, circular fountain. Tattoo Girl immediately seemed to realize that she'd gotten more than she bargained for, clutching her shirt at her breasts and turning inward to the other women. The men in the crowd began pushing for a better view.
At the same time, the presence of this young lady seemed to bring out the full contingent of Asheville crazies. They got louder and closer to the fountain. The topless women on "stage" worked hard to maintain their grace as men began fumbling up onto the fountain as well.
Though I was lucky to be on Tattoo Girl's side of the fountain, the men around me were very disappointed that she had turned away from us. They began vocalizing that disappointment. The crazies got even weirder and louder. Someone yelled out that all the women should circle around the fountain so we "could see all the tits."
Now, men were encouraged to attend the protest, so long as they wore a bra or bikini top to show their solidarity with the oppressed women. Tattoo Girl's boyfriend jumped up with her, which seemed to ease her a bit, but then the fountain started getting crowded with men who clearly just wanted VIP access to the boobs.
It was a feeding frenzy. The prettier the girl, the more men yelled at her. Pleas to bring the boobs closer. Suggestions for what to do with the boobs. Leers and gestures.
It was the most unsettling mix of beauty, ugliness, ego, naïveté, and animal drive. This was why Mr. Short Tourist had been so rude. This was what some of the women were protesting for, and exactly what others were protesting against.
There were reports that a church group was going to stage a counter-protest. I only found one member, named Bart, who was peaceful and polite. We talked for awhile. "God doesn't want these people showing their bodies."
Bart seemed to think that this spectacle was an example of decaying culture. But what I felt in the crowd is not some new sickness--this was ancient human nature. It doesn't come across well in the photos, because everyone is smiling. Or maybe it wasn't there at all. Perhaps I'm too old fashioned.
But the next photo marks the moment I turned to leave.
A second later, that particular Asheville crazy looked up and caught my eye. I shook my head. He pretended not to notice. Long ago, I was advised not to take pictures of anyone that I couldn't love or respect. I didn't take any more pictures of that man.
I decided the moral of the story was this: If you allow yourself, for one moment, to celebrate your own vulnerability--whether as an object of beauty or one over whom that beauty has power--there will be people waiting to condemn you or exploit you. The illusion of civility keeps you from seeing that they are already circling you like wolves.
But as I made my way back out of the crowd, I heard someone say, "Oh my God, she's pregnant." A very pretty young woman climbed very carefully onto the fountain, and looked back down at us without a trace of the self-consciousness shared by everyone there. She did not circle. Among all those people protesting, she seemed to be the only one celebrating.
A full gallery of my photos from Go Topless day is here.
