You can’t accuse the author of this site of being a prude! I have written many things in my time but reviewing a nude calendar has never been one of them.
Part 1 of 2
Raising money for charity used to be so predictable. You sought sponsors for your walk; held a coffee morning; sold raffle tickets; or even waggled a collecting tin to sell what used to be termed ‘flags’. No more. Since the WI ‘alternative’ calendar of 2000, ordinary decent folk now saucily whip off their smalls. And charge a tenner for it.
Why would they bother? Better, perhaps, to make an anonymous or even onymous donation or a pseudonymous contribution. But that lacks the ‘fun’ element. And that’s fun on both sides. There’s the obvious daring of those who pose nude and then there’s the voyeurism of those who buy.
And whatever else you may think of it, all those involved in the Clawddnewydd charity nude calendar 2009 had some fun. But what makes Beauty and the Beast—ahem—‘stand out’ among a sea of part-naked flesh that is the huge charity novelty calendar market?
Well, you get 24 poses rather than the usual 12. That’s double the norm. The calendar asks, “Which way will yours hang?” and with 12 pictures of men and 12 of ladies this, the producers think, is a first. So, that’s 42p per image.
Another difference is that here are 24 people who live in a tiny village of just 200. That's one in eight. Local people may have thought they knew their neighbours: the rest of the year, they’re ordinary, decent, presumably law-abiding members of the community, perhaps fathers and mothers, no doubt daughters and sons. These are the sort of people who might stand you a drink in the Glan Llyn, who might support (or even play in) the Clawdd summer league team, who might volunteer in community Siop-y-Fro, whose children might attend the nearby primary school.
Yet, here they are, pluckily throwing caution and underwear to the wind. But thankfully, some modesty remains! Whereas a Pirelli calendar might seem a little seamy and sordid, Beauty & the Beast 2009 offers a dash of respectability thanks to the artistic direction of local photographers Jayne & Chris Birchall.
(To be concluded)
Part 1 of 2
Raising money for charity used to be so predictable. You sought sponsors for your walk; held a coffee morning; sold raffle tickets; or even waggled a collecting tin to sell what used to be termed ‘flags’. No more. Since the WI ‘alternative’ calendar of 2000, ordinary decent folk now saucily whip off their smalls. And charge a tenner for it.
Why would they bother? Better, perhaps, to make an anonymous or even onymous donation or a pseudonymous contribution. But that lacks the ‘fun’ element. And that’s fun on both sides. There’s the obvious daring of those who pose nude and then there’s the voyeurism of those who buy.
And whatever else you may think of it, all those involved in the Clawddnewydd charity nude calendar 2009 had some fun. But what makes Beauty and the Beast—ahem—‘stand out’ among a sea of part-naked flesh that is the huge charity novelty calendar market?
Well, you get 24 poses rather than the usual 12. That’s double the norm. The calendar asks, “Which way will yours hang?” and with 12 pictures of men and 12 of ladies this, the producers think, is a first. So, that’s 42p per image.
Another difference is that here are 24 people who live in a tiny village of just 200. That's one in eight. Local people may have thought they knew their neighbours: the rest of the year, they’re ordinary, decent, presumably law-abiding members of the community, perhaps fathers and mothers, no doubt daughters and sons. These are the sort of people who might stand you a drink in the Glan Llyn, who might support (or even play in) the Clawdd summer league team, who might volunteer in community Siop-y-Fro, whose children might attend the nearby primary school.
Yet, here they are, pluckily throwing caution and underwear to the wind. But thankfully, some modesty remains! Whereas a Pirelli calendar might seem a little seamy and sordid, Beauty & the Beast 2009 offers a dash of respectability thanks to the artistic direction of local photographers Jayne & Chris Birchall.
(To be concluded)
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