A haptic geography of the beach: naked bodies, vision and touch

Journeying with: Qualitative methodological engagements with pilgrimage

“…This ontology foregrounds existence as a located performativity in which meaning and form are continuously generated together. In this framework, knowledge is appreciated as being situated, it is produced in the interplays of self, others, and world (Obrador-Pons, 2007). From this foundation, pilgrimage can be examined as an embodied spatial practice that forges participant and path.…”

Material Presence and the Detox Delusion: Insights from Social Nudism

“…Similarly, Gill commented: “We are all the same [when] naked, and when you are naked you look like everyone else … bodies are similar, there's not much of a difference.” The analysis shows that “being stared at,” an act highly elicited by the clothed environment is, for the social nudist, an act of dehumanization. Pau Obrador‐Pons (, 132) supports that social nudists “downgrade the eyes” and treat the visual as mostly “a threat or an impediment rather than a source of pleasure.” Similar to Medusa from Greek mythology, the naked body during social‐nudist experiences is not a spectacle for the public gaze and therefore remains visually unnoticed. Karl summarized the absence of staring in a nudist environment: “Nobody really cares what you look like.” Social nudism provides a new way of looking that differs from the public gaze of the clothed environment.…”

Affective Tourism

“…'Haptic' is a word that is derivative of the Greek term 'haptikos = able to come in contact with' which in turn comes from the Greek 'haptein = fasten' . Haptic refers to the largest and most decentred human bodily system of feeling and perception that deals with touch (Obrador-Pons, 2007). Haptic refers to the largest and most decentred human bodily system of feeling and perception that deals with touch (Obrador-Pons, 2007).…”

“…The mingling between vision and touch -a visuo-haptic collocation - (Paterson, 2006) is intensified when physically manipulating virtual as well as material objects. Touch, beyond its physicality and tactility of the skin, becomes an awareness of temperature, pressure and locomotion (Obrador-Pons, 2007;Straughan, 2012). Touch, beyond its physicality and tactility of the skin, becomes an awareness of temperature, pressure and locomotion (Obrador-Pons, 2007;Straughan, 2012).…”

“…Physical touch is complemented by the proximity and intimacy of material objects, places and bodies. Some tourists in Spain, for example, engage haptically with a nudist beach as wind and sand are felt by the skin (Obrador-Pons, 2007). These play an important role when engaging in and with tourist places and activities.…”