In Praise of Masculine Beauty

[shereads]

Michelangelo's is more "beautiful," but Donatello's is "prettier" and perhaps more sexy:

http://www.templejc.edu/dept/Art/ASmith/arts%201304/Joe1/Class5Images/T_donatello%20david.jpg

I always thought this David looked like a shepherd-girl.

Has he just bitch-slapped Goliath?

 

[shereads]

My question for the ladies:

Is the abs /buns/arms combo that seems to be prevalent the only defining "beauty" for men? When I think of beautiful women, there are variations, not all of them are the same body types, but there are themes.

What I am seeing (with Maeve's description as the exception) is a beautiful man is a six pack abs, round butt high and firm, and 12+ arms.

For me, the sexiness of Varian's photos has less to do with the men's physique than with the sense of contained power, the anticipation of movement, the tactile beauty of skin stretched over muscle. I can see a photograph of an ideal male body and not be moved one whit, if the attitude isn't there.

VARIAN P: You're one hell of a photographer as well as a storyteller.

 

[starrkers]

Nothing intelligent going on here, just passing through

http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y286/starrcats/smilies/drool.gif

 

[Liar]

The thing is, male beauty is one aspect of the man that can make women go ga-ga.

Yah, isn't that always the case, men, women, other? Sexy looks is one thing. Sexy behaviour and a sexy mind is where the real hotness it.

But my spontaneous reaction to the stuff posted in this thread, is that the blokes (Except Rox' David statue. But dude, it's a statue.) seems to represent a very homogenous beauty ideal. When I've seen similar threads of hot women, the ga-ga triggering female body types seem to range from thin waif to toned athlete to voluptous valkyrie. I'm not un-interrested in men, but my interrest is not very visual. Maybe there are similar variation here, but I don't see it?

 

[Salvor-Hardon]

For me, the sexiness of Varian's photos has less to do with the men's physique than with the sense of contained power, the anticipation of movement, the tactile beauty of skin stretched over muscle. I can see a photograph of an ideal male body and not be moved one whit, if the attitude isn't there.

VARIAN P: You're one hell of a photographer as well as a storyteller.

Now that I can comprehend and work with. Thanks sher.

 

[Varian P]

For me, the sexiness of Varian's photos has less to do with the men's physique than with the sense of contained power, the anticipation of movement, the tactile beauty of skin stretched over muscle. I can see a photograph of an ideal male body and not be moved one whit, if the attitude isn't there.

VARIAN P: You're one hell of a photographer as well as a storyteller.

Thank you kindly (if belatedly) for the compliments. That may be the most wonderful thing anyone's said about my photography.

 

[Lovepotion69]

My question for the ladies:

Is the abs /buns/arms combo that seems to be prevalent the only defining "beauty" for men? When I think of beautiful women, there are variations, not all of them are the same body types, but there are themes.

What I am seeing (with Maeve's description as the exception) is a beautiful man is a six pack abs, round butt high and firm, and 12+ arms.

I'm asking as there are some things I can chance and am changing, but my butt is not going to be the high round firm, without implants.

I googled "male nudes" the other day and all I got were a bunch of muscle men with chiselled jaws. I was looking for inspiration how to pose etc and take pics of a guy, nice sensual as well as sexier shots. Although I love the B&W fine art nudes, they are majority of men with lots of muscles. Look great in the correct lighting, but don't help me when trying to get ideas how to pose a regular built man. And the men are always very smooth (waxed?). Admittedly I'm all for men who are smooth all over, but that doesn't apply to every man out there either.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but yes, we will all be going ga-ga over some of the stereotypical images. We're only human, but even when looking at the stereotypical images, we will all have different opinions on who is seen as attractive.

I've never been able to understand two things about women. That's two specific things about women. The first incomprehensible thing is the fascination with jerks, bad boys who will knock you up, treat you like dirt and then leave you for someone else. The second is stubble. What is it about a guy with a face who can take your skin off that is so sexy. Without a clean, recent shave, Hot Mama won't let me anywhere near her but I keep reading statements like Varian's. I'm so confused . . .

Bad boys are men you have that hot fling with, but you don't have a relationship with. At least not me. They're just there as toys for a bit of fun and to let out that inner slut in you. I hade my best sex (physically best sex) with a bad boy. It was partly because he knew his stuff and we were compatible, but also because I think I just let loose mentally as I knew nothing would ever go further than sex. Weird, but that's how it was for me, I could just not give a damn about anything but the sex. Kinda liberating.

And stubble, not my thing. I like 'em clean shaven...all over. My current bf is the only man I've been with who has lots of hair. (go figure!)

 

[lesbiaphrodite]

The only kind of guys I ever slept with (when I used to sleep with guys) were bad boys. The best one was a high-school drop-out mechanic named Mike. He had gorgeous dark hair and vivid blue eyes. He was muscular as hell and drove a motorcycle. One night, long ago, Mike and I were sitting outside on my car talking. He kissed me very forcefully, and then suddenly, I slid off the top of the car onto the side. He turned around with his back to the car and lifted me up, held me that way, and fucked me standing up against that little Toyota. Mmmmm. Afterward, we just had a cigarette and he blew off on his bike. It was awesome sex.

 

[Lovepotion69]

I think the reason bad boys are attractive is because they exude confidence. It's what gets me at least. Confidence bordering on arrogance in many cases, but still lots of confidence and that is always attrative. And they are usually fairly dominant in bed, which I find a turnon. I'm slightly missing a bit of dominance from the man in my current relationship. Anyone wanna tell me to bed over and take me over a desk?

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I think the reason bad boys are attractive is because they exude confidence. It's what gets me at least. Confidence bordering on arrogance in many cases, but still lots of confidence and that is always attrative. And they are usually fairly dominant in bed, which I find a turnon. I'm slightly missing a bit of dominance from the man in my current relationship. Anyone wanna tell me to bed over and take me over a desk?

That's one of my favorite fantasies! Even better would be to tie you to the desk and then take you. Maybe even a swat or two, but not enough to bring tears. I'm a teddy-bear kind of dom.

 

[Lovepotion69]

That's one of my favorite fantasies! Even better would be to tie you to the desk and then take you. Maybe even a swat or two, but not enough to bring tears. I'm a teddy-bear kind of dom.

hehe I can take a spanking or two, but i don't get turned on by it so to speak. I just laugh, for me it's just a fun play thing. I do like to hear the guy groan a bit now and then, and a bit of dirty talking. Not into being called a whore etc, but just him talking while fucking me. And while it's nice to make love and have soft sex I do miss having more of the hard and fast kind. I do wish for a guy to occasionally be more dominant, push me into a wall and start making out with me heavily, take a bit of advantage in bed, tell me what to do etc.

A while back during a party I had a guy tell me to bend over the pool table in order to give me a massage. Trust me, if I hadn't had a boyfriend and there were people in the room, I'd been doing it. Sigh, and yes, I did have forbidden dreams about him later on.

 

[Varian P]

C'mon, people, less chit-chat, more pics of beautiful men, huh?

http://img.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/03_03/FiennesBWLIVE_468x656.jpg

 

[The_Fool]

hehe I can take a spanking or two, but i don't get turned on by it so to speak. I just laugh, for me it's just a fun play thing. I do like to hear the guy groan a bit now and then, and a bit of dirty talking. Not into being called a whore etc, but just him talking while fucking me. And while it's nice to make love and have soft sex I do miss having more of the hard and fast kind. I do wish for a guy to occasionally be more dominant, push me into a wall and start making out with me heavily, take a bit of advantage in bed, tell me what to do etc.

A while back during a party I had a guy tell me to bend over the pool table in order to give me a massage. Trust me, if I hadn't had a boyfriend and there were people in the room, I'd been doing it. Sigh, and yes, I did have forbidden dreams about him later on.

Good thing there isn't a check list associated the listed activities...

 

[voluptuary_manque]

hehe I can take a spanking or two, but i don't get turned on by it so to speak. I just laugh, for me it's just a fun play thing. I do like to hear the guy groan a bit now and then, and a bit of dirty talking. Not into being called a whore etc, but just him talking while fucking me. And while it's nice to make love and have soft sex I do miss having more of the hard and fast kind. I do wish for a guy to occasionally be more dominant, push me into a wall and start making out with me heavily, take a bit of advantage in bed, tell me what to do etc.

A while back during a party I had a guy tell me to bend over the pool table in order to give me a massage. Trust me, if I hadn't had a boyfriend and there were people in the room, I'd been doing it. Sigh, and yes, I did have forbidden dreams about him later on.

Have you ever told him so? We male types are pretty dense so hints don't work. You know, top from the bottom?

 

[Lovepotion69]

Have you ever told him so? We male types are pretty dense so hints don't work. You know, top from the bottom?

Yup, we've talked about it. He's getting better and he's trying but he also told me that "I'm just not that kind of guy". Which I have to respect of course. It's not a deal breaker for me, he's wonderful in many other ways. But the same way he has fantasies I can't fulfill, the same way I have to respect him not being able to be something he's not.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Yup, we've talked about it. He's getting better and he's trying but he also told me that "I'm just not that kind of guy". Which I have to respect of course. It's not a deal breaker for me, he's wonderful in many other ways. But the same way he has fantasies I can't fulfill, the same way I have to respect him not being able to be something he's not.

Isn't that the complete essence of a relationship? Attempting to approach each other's needs while striving for your own? Sounds like you two are married whether you've got a certificate or not.

 

[Lovepotion69]

haha well at least we can talk openly about stuff, that's good, and without getting mad or hurt.

 

[Varian P]

Yup, we've talked about it. He's getting better and he's trying but he also told me that "I'm just not that kind of guy". Which I have to respect of course. It's not a deal breaker for me, he's wonderful in many other ways. But the same way he has fantasies I can't fulfill, the same way I have to respect him not being able to be something he's not.

My guy and I are in a very similar situation. Except that, though we're committed, we're not monogamous, so I can go and live the fantasy, if I choose to. Still, sometimes I long for the all-in-one package.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3181/2405156715_65351233ce.jpg?v=0

^ There, here's one that's not muscle-bound.

 

[Lovepotion69]

varian, do you take the pics?

 

[Varian P]

varian, do you take the pics?

Not the one of Joseph Fiennes, sadly, but the ones from my first post in the thread, and that last one, yes.

 

[Lovepotion69]

Not the one of Joseph Fiennes, sadly, but the ones from my first post in the thread, and that last one, yes.

darn, i wanted you to introduce me to Fiennes....

Cool that you take your own shot tho.

 

[Varian P]

darn, i wanted you to introduce me to Fiennes....

Step off bitch, he's MINE!

Cool that you take your own shot tho.

I'm sure Joseph will spot them any day and ask me to take some of him...

 

[Varian P]

From a humorous Nightcharm article on how--gasp!--the porn blowjob is not very much like a real blowjob ("It has almost nothing to do with an actual blowjob. It’s most closely related to the ad model who stands poised with a perfectly formed dollop of tooth paste centered across the bristles of a never-before-used brush, smiling at the camera with already-spotless teeth."):

http://www.nightcharm.com/imagesblog/2008/08/porn_blowjob.jpg

That's what I'd call a sensuous mouth.

 

[bluebell]

So I never answered this. Am painfully late with it, actually. Sorry, Liar. It might not even be a welcome intrusion at this point but will toss it out anyhow.

Yah, isn't that always the case, men, women, other? Sexy looks is one thing. Sexy behaviour and a sexy mind is where the real hotness it.

But my spontaneous reaction to the stuff posted in this thread, is that the blokes (Except Rox' David statue. But dude, it's a statue.) seems to represent a very homogenous beauty ideal. When I've seen similar threads of hot women, the ga-ga triggering female body types seem to range from thin waif to toned athlete to voluptous valkyrie. I'm not un-interrested in men, but my interrest is not very visual. Maybe there are similar variation here, but I don't see it?

Hm. I understand your point. I still feel like you're almost trying to generalize something that can't be generalized, though. Because it's so about personal preference. Or maybe it's just what we SEE in something that makes us swoony.
For example, when I look at most of the pictures on this thread I see artistic beauty. The gorgeousness of form and light and color and build. Not necessarily beauty I'd feel comfortable shagging. I can admire the loveliness of an Adonis but that doesn't mean I would want him in the way that I could want someone else. It makes me wonder if there's just different sorts of compartmentalization going on with women and men.

This all sounds like I'm tip-toeing around something instead of coming out and saying it, but I suppose my point is that most people, men or women, can appreciate some form of super-beauty. What we appreciate and what we want can be vastly different properties. I happen to notice stocky, geeky/normal (to the naked eye ) kinds of guys first. If we're going with selfish whims. But that doesn't mean I don't appreciate the skeeeny, stubbled geneticist that Varian posted.

As far as variations go, I was going to contest you and say that maybe it's just the differences in the ways female and male bodies are fleshed out, but perhaps it really is that nuanced in men. With women the curvature of the flesh is more apparent and dependent on weight, therefore creating the difference between thin waif and voluptuous valkyrie. Men have longer, more linear angles than women. Their shapes seem to be more dependent on muscle. Those angles happen to showcase more easily when a guy is sculpted.

It will probably be silly but in answer to your concern about the homogenization of male looks I'll describe some of the physical differences I see when I compare a few tennis players. I'm choosing tennis because I watch it enough to discern the differences more easily. And plus, sifting through celebrities is just hard.

Obviously they're all similar in the sense that they each share an athletic body type, but even in that way there are differences, aside from how they move on the court. Even when watching tennis I find that my favorites are the ones that come across as excellent people. The ones I like, not necessarily ones I find attractive (though I do manage to enjoy quite a few of them. I'm hopeless.) Who they are on AND off court matters more than what they look like. At least, to me.

I would put more but Lit limited my images and I don't even know if it matters enough or if anyone wants to look at more, so I won't. <insert embarrassed smiley here in your mind. I'm not allowed>

Novak Djokovic:
Tall and slender. Svelte, even. Ribs show. Sculpted, but not really fleshed out.
Endurance.

http://towleroad.typepad.com/photos/uncategorized/2007/09/09/djokovic1.jpg http://www.insidetennis.com/it_img/1007_usopen_djokovic.jpg http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c140/maki1311/Novak_Djokovic_GQ219042008_00003-1.jpg

Marat Safin:
Bigger, brawnier. More rugged looking. Broad.
Power.

http://i10.photobucket.com/albums/a117/safinaferrero2/Marat%20Safin/MY%20%20FAV%20PICS/untitledoooooo.jpg http://www.doublevixen.com/vixen_images/marat-safin.jpg

Rafael Nadal:
A little shorter, more muscle. Solid.
Speed.

http://www.ohlalaparis.com/photos/uncategorized/rafaelnadal17060604.jpg http://s3.amazonaws.com/coolspotters2_development/photos/2053/03-Rafael_Nadal.PV___profile.jpg http://www.tennismindgame.com/images/rafael-nadal-photo.jpg

 

[Roxanne Appleby]

The male swimmers in the Olympics have the most perfect, beautiful bodies I can imagine. Michelangelo would have been in ecstacy.