Yoko Ono to Repeat Naked Appeal for World Peace

[kskiska]

For the first time in nearly 40 years, Yoko Ono is to perform one of her art "happenings" in which she invites her audience to cut off her clothing until she is naked on stage.

Ono, the widow of John Lennon, first performed the conceptual work Cut Piece as a peace protest in Japan in 1964.

At the age of 70, she is to repeat the protest in Paris later this month because of growing political tension in the world.

During the original stunt she took to the stage in a white gown, wielding a pair of scissors. Members of the audience were invited up to cut off the garment, piece by piece, while she remained motionless until she was left naked.

more…
http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/story.jsp?story=440722

[Muddleoftheroad]

1. Is this a threat?

nt

[Blue_Chill]

29. Sounds like one to me.

ack!

[Must_B_Free]

2. Right on, Yoko!

Go Peace!

[Cooley Hurd]

3. I love and respect her, but...

She's 70 years old...

[tkmorris]

4. So what?

Seriously, I don't mean to sound snippy but really, so what? I don't think the point here is to look sexy. Besides this surreal idea people seem to have that the only attractive people are between the ages of 14 and 24 is getting a tad old. Especially now that I am not within lying distance of that demographic anymore :evilgrin:

[villager]

6. indeed...

...the gesture may have more power, precisely because she is 70.

[Must_B_Free]

17. This is a call to join the tribes

This is saying we've got to do it again. We have to repeat the peace movement.

[Cooley Hurd]

7. ...just not into it.

...sorry.

However, as I said, I love and respect Yoko and all she does (philanthropy, as well as her art)

[Stone_Spirits]

10. I agree

as soon as I saw the head line, I knew there would be snide remarks.
I just have low expectations of people, am I wrong?

[Cooley Hurd]

47. As I said, I love and respect Yoko (did ya miss that?)...

...however, this conceptual art piece:
1) Has been done before
2) Is going to turn off more people than it turns on to the issue of war

[study_war_no_more]

63. snide remarks about peace

never heard none of those before so whats your point? when you go downtown voices carry. I see this as sacred i wish I could particpate in this act.

[Stone_Spirits]

82. I was actually

talking about the snide remarks made here about Yoko. I'm fully supportive of whatever statement she wants to make for peace.

[loyalsister]

16. Although I don't see her point exactly

I would have to learn more about this to understand, I think.
But, I do find the comments here revealing. There are apparently two facts that all should be well aware of and observe. Only sexy women should be naked, and only women between certain ages are sexy. It's amazing the attitudes you still find amongst the otherwise "enlightened."

[Stone_Spirits]

19. some attitudes not

"underground" but completely predictable.

[Cooley Hurd]

49. no woman should exploit their body regardless of age...

...it's that simple. She is exploiting her body, regardless of the cause (being naked for the sake of shock value is exploitation).

how's that for enlightenment? :eyes:

[study_war_no_more]

64. I detect a Male perspective

you couldn't be more mistaken.

[blondeatlast]

68. Um, no Yoko fan here, but, her body is the "medium," just like a watercolo

How can that be exploitative?

I had some snide thoughts myself, but your post is so out there I had to respond to it.

[Wednesdays]

18. I agree.

Especially now that I am not within lying distance of that demographic anymore

I'm hardly one to be casting stones, either...at my age and physical condition... :eyes: ((Y))


And I doubt there are many out there who are in a position to cast stones, either!

[Brucey]

43. Naked truth

Yes! I'd gladly get naked for peace... at least someone who can get attention is protesting the war mongers. Why aren't the rest of us marching in the streets?

[roughsatori]

5. That is why it will be more profound

A naked 70 year old woman whose clothing is cut off by actual audience members. A world apart from pre-fabricated pseudo-lesbian kisses and teen pop-porn. Of course that is why most people will hate that she is doing this piece.

[ElkHunter]

12. Sorry...

...but I think it's more important that we build a movement strong enough to oppose Bush and his war. I fail to see what Ono's stunt will contribute to building such a movement.

[bigendian]

13. focus.

She is trying to bring focus.

[roughsatori]

15. Just because you fail to see it does not make it so

I have never seen Spain, but I would bet you it is there.

I would not make the same bet on Oakland,California because, of course, "there is no there there."

[DemLikr]

56. Help me out please? I'm having trouble seeing the symbolism...

...in this "piece."

Is there something about her nakedness that will somehow relate to current warlike events? Will this slow baring be done in complete silence? Will she have a peace sign scrawled on each breast?

:shrug:

[study_war_no_more]

65. nudity is beautiful and of the spirit

war is obscene and of the reptialian conciousness.

[DemLikr]

84. You think Yoko naked at 70 will be beautiful?

:scared: :scared: :scared:

Sounds like Halloween is coming early this year.

[Dookus]

86. *I* think it will be beautiful....

I'm capable of finding beauty in the absence of sexual arousal.

[Dirk39]

93. Dignity is always beautifull...

as opposed to people getting turned on by power and blood. This isn't two breast-implants combined with a brain-implant. It's about being defenseless, being abandoned, being "naked" like all of us.
Peace from Germany and keep on Bed-in Yoko,
Dirk

[DemBones DemBones]

9. It's conceptual art, not striptease.

[Cooley Hurd]

50. I know, but she's done it before, which makes it less...

...conceptual. I would like to see her do something original. Wouldn't you?

[mitchum]

54. But she's never done anything original. She has always been nothing...

but an avant garde cover act. I have nothing against her personally and I believe that she truly and deeply loved Lennon, but I have never thought much of her "artistry"

[study_war_no_more]

62. give me Yoko over Britney

A poem about the Body by Robert Hass comes to mind.

[paulk]

8. yoko ono to repeat naked appeal for publicity

nt

[Dookus]

33. oh please...

Yoko has been one of the most dignified and quiet people among those with her fame and wealth. She has also NEVER fought back against the decades of vicious attacks on her.

If she wants publicity, she can get it quite easily, and has mostly refused. She didn't write a book about John Lennon, she didn't turn their apartment into Graceland, she hasn't hawked cheesy merchandise with John's image.

She's an artist. A weird one, I'll be the first to admit. But this sounds to me like a powerful piece of performance art, and I applaud her for doing it.

[Brucey]

45. Go Dookus

You nailed it!

[Paragon]

11. Yoko Oh No!

Jimmy Kimmel's joke, not mine.

[mitchum]

14. Can't she just donate some of John's $$$$$$$$$$?

It has nothing to do with her being Yoko or 70 yrs. old, it's just a silly stunt (familiar ground)

[Racenut20]

20. That might make me want to

Start a war.

[hunter]

21. I hope she invites John Ashcroft...

He just might come!

[Coffee Coyote]

22. truly...

A one-person WMD. :scared:

[Stone_Spirits]

23. clever

bet that took a lot of thought

[Coffee Coyote]

27. I give GD as much thought as it deserves

I don't see you contributing anything worthwhile on ANY topic, in ANY forum. I save my heavy hitting for better topics than the prospect of a naked Yoko. Or snarky bullshit from a non-entity like you.

[Stone_Spirits]

28. cool!

:hi:

[uhhuh]

24. This may be Important

This is not a stunt to get publicity for herself. This is an attempt(I hope) to remind people of the peace movement in the Sixties.

By reprising this act, it may get covered widely, and remind people of a time when peaceful protest against unjust war was growing and becoming a movement. This may lead to developing in people's minds a correlation of our current world and the past, when groups of peace-minded individuals came together en masse and helped end a great degree of destruction.
All this event has to do to achieve success is to cause people to remember and think about the similarities of today's threats to peace and those of the past.
Although I have never really appreciated Yoko's art or music, I have always had a respect for her devotion to peace and I hope this performance is a succcss.

[Stone_Spirits]

25. thank you

and of course she knows she'll be 'attacked' for it, just as her and John were back then. She knows full well she'll be ridiculed.
I commend her for her convictions.

[SpaceCatMeetsMars]

46. Maybe that is her whole point. She should say something like --

"Go ahead and ridicule me and say I look like a silly celebrity who is trying to get attention and go ahead and say that "60s ideals" are dead --BUT

Who is being more silly and unrealistic? Me, or the politicians that told blatant lies to lead people into a quagmire? Me, or the media who supported the war and sold the idea that peace is a silly conceit? Me, or the mislead armchair warriors who think peace and diplomacy are nothing but quaint ideas from the 60s?"

Well, maybe this is too literal for conceptual art, I never understood it all that well, but I think she could make a point.

Like what a weird world this is where a 70 year old naked celebrity is considered so shocking, but all the horrible stuff that goes on in the world is considered normal. Bush stands up like a naked emperor everyday and the media pretends it's all normal and great.

[ButterflyBlood]

26. there are plenty of women i'd love to see do this

however none of them are 70 years old. blech.

[Maple]

30. Perhaps because

it reminds you what you all will be some day.

[study_war_no_more]

66. At seventy she is beautiful much more so

those who prefer britney.
If it takes a crow a million years to know what a pine tree is for when he sees this nothing will be as clear.

[charlie]

31. Uh-uh, don't do it Yoko

There are far more people in the world who'll do anything for 15 minutes of media glory than there ever were in the 60's. Close contact with scissor-wielding strangers is a good way to join your husband on the roster of senseless tragedies.

[proud patriot]

32. Yay Yoko

:bounce:

[Iverson]

34. She's got guts.

I applaud her for this.

[Impeach Whistle Ass]

35. Yoko, please, spare us

Not interested in seeing your aged body

[stickdog]

36. I'm willing to make her a deal.

I'll stop fighting if she'll keep her clothes on.

[G_j]

40. not sure I get that

what are you fighting?

[Dookus]

57. grrr.....

I can't believe what so many people are writing here.

Did it occur to anybody that maybe, just maybe, her nudity is NOT meant to sexual?

I've seen some absolutely beautiful art photographs of naked, elderly people. It's not meant to be sexual - it's meant to show our common humanity.

Go Yoko!

[birdman]

37. All I am saying

is give clothes a chance.


http://images.google.com/images?q=tbn:UEWfWeR5p1oC:members.aol.com/diggamma/graphics/peace.gif

[sushi]

38. She is just

a bit strange. This will get her in all the newspapers again, which is probably what she wants.

[Impeach Whistle Ass]

39. What's the deal with peace activism and public nudity?

So many people would get naked as anti-war statements. Wha's the deal with that? Why do some people draw the connection between getting nekkid and peace? Do they think people will take them more seriously if they're not wearing clothes? Forget the logic of war, explain the logic of nudity to me.

[tinanator]

41. because there are very few ways to gain the media's attention

pretty obvious. Either shed blood or shed clothing. The people who have it in them to do and organize these actions are to be congratulated and respected.

[Dookus]

55. Maybe

it's a statement about how, if we remove the clothing and the jewelry and the uniforms and the sidearms, we can see each other as all very much the same, which seems sort of the basis of the peace movement: we're killing our brothers and sisters, not just a generic "enemy".

Just a thought.

[G_j]

42. I'll bet if this is posted over at FR

you'll find similar comments about her age. Just a thought.

[Sweetpea]

44. Maybe she should get naked to promote peace in DU

There seems to be a lot of name calling.

[UTUSN]

48. "ONO ... Naked Appeal..." THAT Otta Scare Everybody to Pieces,uhPeace n/

[DinahMoeHum]

51. Personally, I'd prefer a repeat of the "Bed-In for Peace"

n/t

:evilgrin:

[carpetbagger]

52. Could be worse. She could threaten to sing.

That would be the WMD.

[Blue-Jay]

53. Will it be on pay-per-view?

I'm just askin'...

[Demobrat]

58. Oh shut up Yoko.

It's not about you.

[Dookus]

59. I'm sure...

she'll give your suggestion all the attention it deserves.

How DARE she have the gall to perform her own art? How DARE she advocate for peace? How DARE she expose her aged body when we don't find it sexually stimulating?

I'm sure I could find your exact quote over on FR.

[Demobrat]

60. Yoko was a boring poseur in the sixties

and she's a boring poseur now. The only difference is now she's a boring poseur who hasn't had an original idea in 35 years.

[KittyWampus]

67. Yoko Was Actually At The Forefront Of An Art Movement

She came up with quite a few ORIGINAL and ENGAGING performance art pieces.

Look up the term "Fluxus".

And just out of curiosity, have you followed her career closely enough over the last 35 years to know categorically that she's not done any new artwork whatsoever?

Your opinion of her being a "poseur" is an opinion most likely formed in ignorance of what she actually did.

And further, I guess that ALL performances (theater, music, comedy) must be done publically only ONCE because after that they are unoriginal and boring...

[Demobrat]

77. ORIGINAL and ENGAGING.

Like cutting things in half and calling it art? I guess you really can fool some of the people all of the time.

[Pert_UK]

61. OH NO, Ono! Oh no, oh no, oh no Ono! NO! Ono! No. OH NO, Ono!!!

"I will have a single plum, floating in perfume, served in a man's hat".

Won't somebody think of the children?

P.

[Yupster]

69. I think it is symbolic of

Moslem women and their efforts to fight anti-choice legislation in the Mid-east.

Am I close?

[Forkboy]

70. Eeeeesh

Endless war might be better.

[Dookus]

71. Nope...

i'll take this attractive woman, naked, over endless war any day.

[G_j]

72. have I lost my sense of humor?

or is that really not at all funny?


:puke:

[Forkboy]

80. you've lost your sense of humor

it's a joke people...joke...like I really prefer endless war :eyes:

Good grief.

I just hope she's discovered the advantages of razor blades.

[G_j]

81. that it was

a joke is not what escaped me...

but never mind, it's not that important.

[theboss]

73. The horror . . .

the horror . . . .

[Art_from_Ark]

74. I can't believe some of the cheap shot replies in this thread

For crying out loud, Yoko is on the side of peace, and has been for at least 40 years. How many of us can make that claim?

But I would venture to say that it has actually been much longer than that. If she is 70 now, that means that she was 8 years old at the time of the Pearl Harbor attack, and 12 years old when the nuclear and other incendiary bombs were being dropped on her country. So undoubtedly she has some vivid first-hand memories of the horrible things that war can do to a country. And she saw more violent death years later when she witnessed the senseless gun murder of her husband.

As for her artistic ability, few artists have been appreciated in their time. Munch and van Gogh were called lunatics, Schubert was virtually unknown when he was alive, and during the heyday of the Baroque period, Georg Telemann was a far more popular composer than J. S. Bach.

Regarding the "unoriginal" comment, let it be known that van Gogh painted not one but 7 pictures of sunflowers; J.S.Bach's Harpsichord Concerto #6 is exactly the same as his Brandenburg Concerto #4, and his Concerto for 4 Harpsichords in A minor is a direct transcription of Vivaldi's Concerto for 4 violins in B minor; and Handel liked his Hallelujah Chorus so much he wrote an organ concerto based on the theme. So much for originality, huh?

And then there's that remark about why doesn't Yoko donate some of "John's" money to peace organizations. Who says she doesn't? And it's no longer "John's" money-- it's hers, as John specified in his will.

So lay off of Yoko-- she's one celebrity who is at least trying to use her fame for a truly noble cause.

[G_j]

76. thanks for this post

well said, I almost forgot where I was. :scared:

on edit: am I wrong, or there a sort of mean spiritedness underlying some of these posts?

[Fescue4u]

75. Make peace...or You'll have to look at me NEKKID!

lmao...

damn...talk about WMDs!

[JPace]

78. I admire her courage......

baring it all to encourage reflection on
peace is exceeding brave. I do wonder if
I am the only paranoid perspective though
as I find it rather disturbing to trust
dozens of strangers to surround me while
holding potential weapons (sharp pointed
scissors). Especially after what happened
to her husband.

She's a very brave lady for many reasons
and wish her peace.

[pdx_prog]

79. Perfect reason

for immediate peace......so no one has to look at her naked!...lol

Brrrrr.....

[Dookus]

83. Just for fun....

I checked out what they're saying about this at Free Republic.

I can't see any difference between their thread and this thread:


To: Bon mots; PoisedWoman

Ew. My EYES! MY EYES! This is so gross!!!!

She's always been UGLY and GROSS!!!

--------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bon mots

My eyes...MY EYES!...FOR THE LOVE OF GOD I'M BLIND!



--------------------------------------------------------------------

For the love of Mike, can't anyone persuade her not to do this? Oh the inhumanity of it all!


--------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bon mots

BWAAHHHH!!! Please, let me get my contacts out before you post the JPEGs.
---------------------------------------------------------------------


To: Bon mots

Somebody call PETA.....beavers all over the world are hanging their heads in shame.


---------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bon mots

well, no one can fight if their eyes are gouged out.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To: Bon mots

Did she threaten to do this often? Tough choice, peace or Yoko.

[G_j]

87. I figured as much but,

I refuse to go there..
thanks though, maybe at least one person will pause to think about it.

:think:

[Forkboy]

88. Yes...all of us are just like the freepers

get back to me when you guys are capable of critical thought.

[Dookus]

90. ????

Pot... meet the kettle. "HEY! You're black!"

NOBODY said you're just like freepers. Who needs a little more critical thought?

I pointed out that the types of blind attacks seen here are the same as on Free Republic. That's undisputed.

Do you think that because you vote Democratic repeating 35 year old jokes about an old woman's appearance is an example of "critical thought"?

[Forkboy]

91. Your point was to say that the people

making the jokes are like the Freepers,which is bullshit through and through.

Ever heard of decaf there Gunga Din?

[Dookus]

92. I'll decide what my point is,

thank you.

And yes, on this topic, the people making the jokes are exactly like the Freepers. Shallow, unoriginal and mean.

How's that, Sparky?

[Forkboy]

94. good grief

you must be a blast at parties.

[Dookus]

97. solid argument

for your position. Good work.

[Forkboy]

98. Why argue?

IT WAS A FUCKING JOKE :eyes:

on edit...can't you two find more important things to get your panties in a wad over? Sorry I dared to make a joke about your idol :eyes:

[Dookus]

99. Why argue?

Maybe because you got insulting when somebody called you on a cheap, easy, mean-spirited joke.

I love when people come to a liberal messsage board, make an illiberal, mean-spirited joke about a liberal icon, then get angry and defensive when somebody else reacts with something other than laughter.

You'd also get extra points if the joke weren't 40 years old.

[Forkboy]

100. I was insulting long before getting called on anything

but it is fun to watch you over react to a joke.

I'm not even close to angry (that would be you by the looks of all your responses on this thread)....I am highly amused though :hi:

[Dookus]

101. Nope...

not angry here, either. Don't know why you the feel the need to mention anger.

And as I've pointed out, if the joke wasn't old, easy, cheap, shallow and mean-spirited, it might've been worthwhile.

Have a peachy day!

[Forkboy]

102. I will

[theboss]

104. Some things are always funny

Jokes about Yoko are always funny.

Despite the current political climate, jokes about the French are always funny.

Despite the fact that his head is the size of a small child, jokes about how Jerry Lewis are always funny.

Jokes about Hare Krishnas? Always funny.

Jokes about people who have too many cats? Always funny.

Relax. I don't know who Yoko is an icon for - poseur artists everywhere I guess? But she was funny during the bed-ins. She was funny when she screamed incoherently on albums. She was funny calling up strangers on Mike Douglas and telling them she loved them. She was funny doing that video with the midget. And she is hysterical now.

Here is why I mock these sort of "awareness" building things: Because there is no sacrifice. People think Yoko is a loon today and they will think so tomorrow. The only difference is she has her name in the headlines for the first time in years. I mean, start a foundation, go to work, feed an orphan, tie yourself to a missle silo. I could bloody well take my clothes off. What does that really accomplish?

[G_j]

103. it's not your comment

in particular, but a lot of comments here taken together could be perceived as "age-ism".

I'll bow out now, because this isn't about you Forkboy, but a subtle but harmful trend in our culture.
The other side of the coin being the focus on "babes" and the resulting effects: eating disorders etc.

repeat, ...not trying to focus the issue on your one comment alone.


peace

[Forkboy]

105. Well that's a criticism I can appreciate

I honestly dont have anything against her.I haven't considered your angle on this and you make a good point.In this sense I see where you're coming from and will think twice about making jokes like this in the future.

Peace to you as well.

[G_j]

106. believe me

when I tell you, you spend your life (52 years in my case) around brilliant 'feminists' as I have, you get to look at some issues you might have missed (especially as a male)...
I know I have had my share of painful education, LOL, but I thank my lucky stars for it.

btw, I probably won't be shedding my threads for peace, I'll make my statement in other ways. :eyes:

peace (again)

[G_j]

96. ok

please tell us to what "critical thought" is.


btw. why wasn't I suprised? Because some of the comments REMINDED me of freeper comments. If can you understand that.

I'm not sure why you're bringing up critical thinking. :think: :think: :think:

[Dookus]

89. Probably not....

this seems to be one of those "blind" prejudices that people don't ever stop to question. Ya know, like Al Gore is a liar and Hillary's a murderer.

[QC]

85. Any truth to the rumor that Yoko will also

revisit another early success by breaking up U2 and R.E.M.?

[RummyTheDummy]

95. Noooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!

NT