CARNAL NATION

As the old adage says, "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again." Developers in the Chinese city of Chonqing recently built a sex theme park called Love Land, which featured giant replicas of genitalia and a photographic history of sexuality. However, just before the park was completed, Chinese authorities had it torn down, calling the project "vulgar, ill-minded and misleading."

Well, as China becomes more and more capitalistic, it seems that one of the key lessons that business people have learned is that sex sells. Despite the Love Land debacle, they're at it again in Chonqing. This time, they're using the prospect of nude photography to lure tourists and, more specifically, their money to the municipality in south central China. A two-day photography competition has been set up in two scenic areas, Heishangu and Shilin. Nude models will be made available to prospective photographers in exchange for a 380 yuan ($60) membership fee. The models will pose in any manner dictated by the photographers. There is no word on what prizes will awarded and for what criteria.

Even before the competition has begun, criticism has already started to mount. Some have called the event pornographic while others say that it will harm children. Some of the more jaded critics claim that the event is merely a prurient ploy to make money. Welcome to capitalism where even in the morally bankrupt but financially flush West, we're still shocked—shocked, I tell you—that sex sells. Morals can be a rather high-priced commodity; some might even call them a luxury.