Charles MacFarland
Encyclopedia
Charles MacFarland is an Australian videographer, photographer, and producer who makes films (available on DVD
and VHS
video formats) through his company Synetech Video featuring naked
people in social settings. Locations include naturist resorts and beaches all over the world, including France, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Synetech also has videos about yoga, recreation, family nudity at home, body painting, and naked parties.
His films aim to challenge existing laws on nudity in public places
and rethink some traditional moral views on the unclothed
human body
and sexuality
. One of the unique approaches MacFarland has used is interviewing people on the street who witness his film subjects go naked in public. He also has shot his subjects at a distance to see if removing the camera from the film shoot would affect how people respond to the unexpected nudity without knowing the subject is being filmed or they are being filmed. This approach was also used in the Allen Funt film What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1960).
Charles MacFarland received a B.S. in Physics at MIT
and taught Physics in the Peace Corps
in Malaysia. Then he did an M.A. in English at the University of Virginia
, after which he emigrated to Australia
and taught English and Physics for about 12 years.http://macfarlandart.com/biography.htm
In 2003, Charles collaborated with Body Freedom Collaborative
in producing Naked In-Sight. Daniel Johnson
wanted to produce a film with segments he felt were groundbreaking in film dealing with society's response to public nudity
. Charles agreed to provide segments from his various videos on the topic and Mark Storey
, BFC's co-founder, directed the film, while Johnson carried out the editing as directed by Storey. Mark Storey, gave this description of the 47-minute documentary in advance of the premiere screening at the 2004 Naked Freedom Film Festival in Seattle: "Australian videographer Charles MacFarland contends that laws against public nudity are obsolete. His films record women and men as they walk naked in public, usually to the amusement and applause of those who pass them by. Naked In-Sight explores MacFarland's vision of a naked society, where offense at mere nudity is a thing of the past. http://bodyfreedom.org/nfff/schedule3.html
and nudists, it is taboo to include footage of nudity which includes overtly sexual activities in the context of nudist/naturist film. Controversy surrounded Charles' latest work called "Adventures in Freedom 3", which included nudity in some sensual and sexualized contexts. Some of the films include segments which include female masturbation
. Nude & Natural
magazine, a publication of The Naturist Society
subsequently dropped advertising for his body of films.
Charles later released a series of films which had more sensual and sexual content in a series called The Free & Wild. These videos were not marketed as purely naturist films. On his Web site, Charles says of this latest video series: "The Free & Wild videos are not really naturist videos, but they celebrate the liberation which is the foundation of naturism. Naturism can never succeed as long as women are not free." http://synetechvideo.com/sexyvideos/
DVD
A DVD is an optical disc storage media format, invented and developed by Philips, Sony, Toshiba, and Panasonic in 1995. DVDs offer higher storage capacity than Compact Discs while having the same dimensions....
and VHS
VHS
The Video Home System is a consumer-level analog recording videocassette standard developed by Victor Company of Japan ....
video formats) through his company Synetech Video featuring naked
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
people in social settings. Locations include naturist resorts and beaches all over the world, including France, the United States, Canada, and Australia. Synetech also has videos about yoga, recreation, family nudity at home, body painting, and naked parties.
His films aim to challenge existing laws on nudity in public places
Public nudity
Public nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
and rethink some traditional moral views on the unclothed
Nudity
Nudity is the state of wearing no clothing. The wearing of clothing is exclusively a human characteristic. The amount of clothing worn depends on functional considerations and social considerations...
human body
Human body
The human body is the entire structure of a human organism, and consists of a head, neck, torso, two arms and two legs.By the time the human reaches adulthood, the body consists of close to 100 trillion cells, the basic unit of life...
and sexuality
Human sexuality
Human sexuality is the awareness of gender differences, and the capacity to have erotic experiences and responses. Human sexuality can also be described as the way someone is sexually attracted to another person whether it is to opposite sexes , to the same sex , to either sexes , or not being...
. One of the unique approaches MacFarland has used is interviewing people on the street who witness his film subjects go naked in public. He also has shot his subjects at a distance to see if removing the camera from the film shoot would affect how people respond to the unexpected nudity without knowing the subject is being filmed or they are being filmed. This approach was also used in the Allen Funt film What Do You Say to a Naked Lady? (1960).
Charles MacFarland received a B.S. in Physics at MIT
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
and taught Physics in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Malaysia. Then he did an M.A. in English at the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
, after which he emigrated to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and taught English and Physics for about 12 years.http://macfarlandart.com/biography.htm
In 2003, Charles collaborated with Body Freedom Collaborative
Body Freedom Collaborative
The Body Freedom Collaborative is a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the integration and acceptance of non-sexual social nudity in a variety of public and private settings...
in producing Naked In-Sight. Daniel Johnson
Daniel Lorenz Johnson
Daniel Lorenz Johnson is an American permaculturist, artist, activist, community organizer and writer who has worked for the advancement of various progressive/social liberalist causes through interdisciplinary, collaborative projects involving grassroots politics, media art and popular culture...
wanted to produce a film with segments he felt were groundbreaking in film dealing with society's response to public nudity
Public nudity
Public nudity or nude in public refers to nudity not in an entirely private context. It refers to a person appearing nude in a public place or to be seen from a public place. It also includes nudity in a semi-public place, where the general public is free to enter, such as a shopping mall...
. Charles agreed to provide segments from his various videos on the topic and Mark Storey
Mark Storey
Mark Storey is a board member of the Naturist Action Committee and has testified at anti-nudity legislation hearings all over the United States....
, BFC's co-founder, directed the film, while Johnson carried out the editing as directed by Storey. Mark Storey, gave this description of the 47-minute documentary in advance of the premiere screening at the 2004 Naked Freedom Film Festival in Seattle: "Australian videographer Charles MacFarland contends that laws against public nudity are obsolete. His films record women and men as they walk naked in public, usually to the amusement and applause of those who pass them by. Naked In-Sight explores MacFarland's vision of a naked society, where offense at mere nudity is a thing of the past. http://bodyfreedom.org/nfff/schedule3.html
Gender and body diversity
MacFarland has been criticized for featuring mainly conventionally attractive, younger women in many of his films. This issue was addressed by MacFarland in the film Naked In-Sight.Sexual content
For many naturistsNaturism
Naturism or nudism is a cultural and political movement practising, advocating and defending social nudity in private and in public. It may also refer to a lifestyle based on personal, family and/or social nudism....
and nudists, it is taboo to include footage of nudity which includes overtly sexual activities in the context of nudist/naturist film. Controversy surrounded Charles' latest work called "Adventures in Freedom 3", which included nudity in some sensual and sexualized contexts. Some of the films include segments which include female masturbation
Masturbation
Masturbation refers to sexual stimulation of a person's own genitals, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation can be performed manually, by use of objects or tools, or by some combination of these methods. Masturbation is a common form of autoeroticism...
. Nude & Natural
Nude & Natural
Nude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
magazine, a publication of The Naturist Society
The Naturist Society
The Naturist Society is a national naturist organization based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism. The Naturist Society was established...
subsequently dropped advertising for his body of films.
Charles later released a series of films which had more sensual and sexual content in a series called The Free & Wild. These videos were not marketed as purely naturist films. On his Web site, Charles says of this latest video series: "The Free & Wild videos are not really naturist videos, but they celebrate the liberation which is the foundation of naturism. Naturism can never succeed as long as women are not free." http://synetechvideo.com/sexyvideos/
Filmography
- Most movies were rated by the Australian OFLC, except for some rated PG or less.
- Free & Wild series
- Free & Wild 8: Sexy Fun, rated R, 82 min
- Free & Wild 7: Peace and Freedom, rated R, 86 min
- Free & Wild 6: Sensations, rated R, 80 min
- Free & Wild 5: Girls Together, rated R, 84 min
- Free & Wild 4: Girl Touch, rated R, 75 min
- Free & Wild 3: Sensory Wonder, rated R, 56 min
- Free & Wild 2: Spirit in Motion, rated MA15+, 61 min
- Free & Wild 1: Party Naked, rated R, 56 min
- Naturism in the Raw series
- Naked Fun (2 DVDs), rated PG, 180 min
- Free Parties (2 DVDs), rated PG, 180 min
- Naturist Resorts & Beaches series
- The Grand Barn, rated M, 74 min
- Running Out Of Clothes, 2002, rated PG, 57 min
- Freedom Weekends, 2001, rated PG, 66 min
- Naked Lifestyles 2, rated PG, 55:10 min, Sept 1995
- Naked Lifestyles 1, rated PG, 45:40 min, June 2004
- Surrender to the Sun 2, rated PG, 53 min
- Surrender to the Sun 1, rated PG, 53 min
- Party Night and Day, rated M, 64 min
- Nude Beaches of Australia, rated PG, 57 min
- River Island Nature Retreat, rated PG, 56 min
- New Directions series
- Naked Yoga, rated PG, 78 min
- Visions of Yoga, rated PG, 85 min
- Body Love Mud Art, rated M, 58 min
- The Gathering Spirit, rated PG, 49:!2 min, June 1994
- Life in Eden, 2001, rated PG, 58 min
- Czech Video series
- Czech Naturist Paradise 3, rated PG, 57 min
- Czech Naturist Paradise 2, rated PG, 64 min
- Czech Naturist Paradise 1, rated PG, 58 min
- Czech Freedom 2, rated PG, 76 min
- Czech Freedom 1, rated PG, 53 min
- Previews from Synetech, 58 min, featuring 3–4 minutes from the first 13 Synetech titles, plus extra footage on the Naturist France Deluxe video series!
- Naked Dance II, rated PG, 49:44 min, March 1998
- Sensual Health II, rated PG, 56:18 min, June 1997
- Sensual Health I, rated PG, 53:00 min, May 1996
- Naturist France Deluxe series
- Vol 8: La Petite Brenne, rated PG, 40:26 min, March 1998
- Vol 7: Roshelle In France, rated PG, 57:46 min, Dec 1997
- Vol 6: Domaine Le Clols, rated PG, 37:48 min, April 1997
- Vol 5: Return to La Sabliere II, rated PG, 54:23 min, Dec 1996
- Vol 4: Return to La Sabliere I, rated PG, 54:58 min, Dec 1996
- Vol 3: Belezy, rated PG, 52:15 min, March 1996
- Vol 2: Laborde, rated PG, 56:35 min, Jan 1996
- Vol 1: La Sabliere , rated PG, 58:30 min, Dec 1995
- The Circle of the Earth (Naked Dance 1), rated PG, 48:52 min, Feb 1994
- Naked Paradise, rated PG, 48:10 min, Aug 1993
- Magical Nudes, rated PG, 40:28 min, June 1993
- Summer's Garden, rated PG, 40:23 min, Sept 1992
- Beauty of the Nude and Goddess of the Earth Combination Video, 60 min
- Goddess of the Earth, rated PG, 30:25, March 1992
- The Beauty of the Nude, rated PG, 25:36 min, July 1991
- Free & Wild series
Reviews
The following reviews are available on Charles MacFarland's Web site http://synetechvideo.com/nudistvideos/index.php?section=videoreviews- Reviews of Life in Eden and Freedom Weekends appeared in The Naturist SocietyThe Naturist SocietyThe Naturist Society is a national naturist organization based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism. The Naturist Society was established...
's Nude & NaturalNude & NaturalNude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
quarterly magazine, issue 21.2, Winter 2001 - By Mark Storey - Review of Running out of Clothes appeared in The Naturist SocietyThe Naturist SocietyThe Naturist Society is a national naturist organization based in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, USA. It publishes a quarterly periodical called Nude & Natural which documents and coordinates naturist activities and provides information about issues related to naturism. The Naturist Society was established...
's Nude & NaturalNude & NaturalNude & Natural: The Magazine Of Naturist Living or simply Magazine is a quarterly 100+ page naturist magazine published by The Naturist Society in Oshkosh, Wisconsin and distributed throughout the United States and internationally...
quarterly magazine, issue 22.3, Winter 2002-03 - By Mark Storey - Review of Naked Yoga appeared in The Beverly Hills Outlook A Biweekly review of the arts and culture in Southern California - By Charles Loneberger
External links
- Synetech Video Official site of Charles MacFarland's main body of video work.
- Charles MacFarland - Art Photography
- Naked Freedom Film Festival Charles MacFarland's films featured in a documentary Naked In-Sight, which premiered at this festival.