Welcome to the first in a series of posts displaying images of male beauty “in morning light,” or at least in what could be construed as the light of morning.
This series will present images that convey both beauty and simplicity. These images will show men looking as natural and non-posed as possible, going about their various morning routines and rituals – sleeping-in, rising, shaving, showering, dressing. (Of course, some morning routines are best kept private. So rest assured I’ll spare you any images of guys engaging in their morning constitution!)
Throughout the series I’ll do my best to identify the photographers and/or subjects of the images I share.
Accompanying this series’ inaugural image is a reflection on male beauty by Brian Vargo.
The Latin word bellus, the linguistic descendant of the modern term “beauty,” was intended as a compliment only to women and children. When used in reference to a man, it was meant as a form of mockery, a connotation that affects our usage of the word even today. Although the concept of “male beauty” has gained societal acceptance, it is still relatively rare that one would describe a man as “beautiful,” at least in terms of his appearance.
For men throughout the ages, the most consistently acceptable method of attaining the ideal body shape has been through exercise and conditioning. Whether for sport or as part of battle training, contests of strength and endurance between men have been integral parts of many societies dating back to at least the 6th century B.C., when the first Pythian Games were held. Since then, male beauty has had as much to do with the physique as with the face, a standard that has changed little since the establishment of the ‘Greek ideal’ . . . It is the form beneath the clothes that has traditionally been seen to make the man beautiful.
Excerpted from The Standards of Beauty – From Ancient Times to Today by Brian Vargo.
Image: Jonathan Vargas
No comments:
Post a Comment