In the past week, a lot of brouhaha has arisen over one seemingly controversial piece of Harvestfest merchandise: The Men’s Club Soccer Calendar.
This year, as in years past, the team’s innovative approach to the “what-the-hell-are-we-going-to-sell-at-Harvestfest” problem caught the eye of the student body and parents. Naked calendars!
The reaction? A general mix of pride and shame from dads and moms alike, while Camel students seemed to praise the efforts of the team.
Thus far, in my short time here at Conn, there is not one thing I regret more than missing the calendar photo-shoot (an impressive fact considering I’ve been to most Cro Dances).
Still, when team member Ben Schachtel ’13 notified me that he was asked by no less than five women to sign his featured photo (January), I knew I had indeed missed a golden opportunity.
The photo shoot took place at 6 AM on a chilly Saturday morning, paying homage to a now four-year-old tradition of dodging the public eye, in the hopes that only a few lucky custodians would sight them. Pictures were taken in various places around campus, including the mailroom, the Arboretum and Cummings.
But the calendar is more than just an archaic Camel tradition. A proud owner of the calendar myself, I’ve discovered more than I bargained for in my ten dollar purchase. Beyond a superficial and comical appeal, each photo speaks artistic volumes. The eyes of the models portray emotion, strength and ultimately, love. Folks, with small traces of Zoolander’s “blue steel,” this was no fundraising ploy. This calendar is art.
With different players and locations, each month brings a uniquely different vibe. March is tinged with ferocity, and the team’s Lion King rendition in August is a religious experience. As you appreciate each photo, try not to let tattoos, chest hair (or a noticeable lack thereof), interfere with your experience. Embrace the passion in the eyes of each teammate, the crafty choices of camera angles and the sublime black and white color effect.
I believe that for four years and counting, the men of club soccer have sent a message to the campus community: We are not just athletes; we are artists.
The 2013 Connecticut College Fútbol Club (CCFC) calendar certainly affords Conn a new perspective on this nationally-ranked liberal arts school. After four years, it may be time we take the hint. Wake up early one day and embrace Temple Green unashamed in the ways you’ve always wanted too.
For broadening our perspective and stimulating our minds, the men of CCFC deserve a warm thank you. We can only hope that the team will continue to bring its bold artistic vision to Harvestfest for years to come.
Sounds like a great idea, this calendar. But if the small photo accompanying this article is representative and the “crafty choice of camera angles” operates throughout, then the calendar offers a large dose of typically American, shameful body phobia. Hiding genital areas consistently creates an artistic distraction and promotes the problem it only pretends to solve. Indeed, almost nothing draws attention to those same areas of the body more than artificially hiding them repeatedly.
I hope my assumption is wrong.
We agree with DR. P R As naturist we feel hiding any part of the nude body indicates shame or wrong doing. These athletes represent bodies that are in fine form and are examples of something we should all strive to be as in being just healthier. There is beauty in the genitalia of both the male and female and it should be enjoyed by the viewer along with the rest of the body form.
The above comments are not incorrect, but there is the whole history of the British Naked Calendar and “Calendar Girls” to take into play, and how these new American calendars evolve and differ from such fare.