Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
The first and only time I saw a Morgan Spurlock documentary, it was Supersize Me! The film is about how evil McDonald's is. Well, propoganda is completely lost on me and so my friend and I left the theater and decided that we wanted some fast food french fries. In fact, I had never really eaten fast food until after watching that movie when I learned about the joys of french fries, a junior bacon cheeseburger and the rest.
The lefty documentarian is out with a new one --Mansome -- asking whether men are more vain in 2012 than any point previously in history:
“We’ve created this society where what you project externally matters, almost more than anything else,” says Spurlock after a screening of “Mansome” in New York last month. The film opens in Boston and select cities on Friday. “To say it doesn’t matter how a man looks anymore is untrue.”
Spurlock, best known for his gut-churning documentary “Super Size Me,” follows a diverse group of men in “Mansome,” including a champion beard grower, a pro wrestler who regularly wages war with his bounty of body hair, and a barber who specializes in creating custom toupees. Between these vignettes, there’s commentary from actors Jason Bateman and Will Arnett, debating what it means to be a man (as they are pampered with luxe spa treatments). Experts also weigh in.
The underlying message is that there is a growing obsession with appearance among men from all walks of life.
“I think male vanity has lived in many different forms,” says Ben Silverman, an executive producer of the film. “But it may be entering its most superficial era ever. It was once tied with Darwinist elements such as procreating. Now it’s about six-pack abs and fake tans.”
OK, I have a question. If men are more vain now than at any point previously in history, why do they tend to look so unkempt? Why are so many grown men wearing T-shirts with sayings on them? What's up with the pants hanging low? Or skinny jeans? Also, memo to Silverman: the six-pack abs and fake tans are likely also about procreating or at least practicing toward same.
On the other hand, the documentary shows that spending on male grooming products and services is way up. I'll fess up that when I want to do something nice for my husband, I get him some nice lotions and creams (I have noticed that many men like things that make their skin tingle, such as peppermint soaps. Someone needs to explain this to me.). I went out of my way to visit my favorite Cobble Hill-Brooklyn toiletries shop this past weekend before heading home. Their selection of items marketed to males was way up.
So what is this about? And isn't manliness still represented best by sandpaper hands?
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Comments:
Dec '11
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Its bunk. Any kind of review of male fashion and style will see that the rigid satorial rules, and the previous peacock nature of male dress (prior to understated refinement as a social equilizer), would know that we are just demonstrating these things in a different way.
All males have a method of demonstrating status to other males and females. Dress and appearence in light of todays fashions is just one expression of this.
Jun '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
KC: If you can deal with the metaphysical aspects, it says more than all.
Totally agree. If I don't shave everyday, I begin to experience what I can only describe as "existential dread."
One thing I don't get is the three day's beard combined with laser hair removal everywhere else. I, for one, find my back hair to be awesome.
Dec '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
I include the cute bear cub with my picture so women look at it instead of me.
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
No, I had. It's just that I could count the number of times I had. This was due to growing up in rural areas and later when we lived in more exurban areas it didn't match our lifestyle of eating together as a family at home (I remember "the time" my mom took us to McDonald's when my dad was out of town.)
What I know now: fast food french fries are awesome (probably best if done in moderation).
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Don't mind me. Just cleaning up a few things on my desk lest Pilli suspects any of the Ricochetoise are untidy thinkers.
Jul '11
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
A neat desk is the sign of a sick person Mollie. Don't give in to the dark side or Mr Hemmingway might get a Brazilian wax on you.
Apr '12
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
I will admit it. I am fastidious about my appearance....but for one very good reason - my wife prefers it.
Aug '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Men, just like all sinners, have always thought of their navels as the center of the universe. However, whereas in the past, men were satisfied with routine washing of said navel followed by a shake of Gold Bond Medicated Poweder or Pinaud Clubman Talc before covering the navel with an undershirt, a dress shirt, a tie and a suit jacket, now they seem to favor a shaved chest and belly and showing said navel to the world.
Do young women find that even remotely attractive? Without going down this path too far, I also find disturbing the alleged trend of woman shaving, er, how do I put this, "too much."
Jun '11
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Put me down for sandpaper hands. I've adored my husband's for thirty years now. Much like DocJay, he has worn the exact same make/style/size of blue jeans as his daily attire as long as I've known him, was deeply offended when I gave him a white dress shirt, and shaves twice a week whether he needs it or not. He has six pack abs earned not in the gym but in what he refers to as the "company fitness program":
Seems to me the brief appreciation for manly men prompted by 9/11 firefighters' bravery has long since faded, but if we have an apocalypse I'm sticking to him like glue.
Edited on May 17, 2012 at 5:07pmNov '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Doesn't look like he went to Japan (and I suspect much of the more affluent parts of China and Korea are the same way). Old internet joke: you see a young Japanese couple and can't immediately discern which is the man. How can you tell? The prettier one is generally going to be male.
Aug '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Jojo: Put me down for sandpaper hands. I've adored my husband's for thirty years now. Much like DocJay, he has worn the exact same make/style/size of blue jeans as his daily attire as long as I've known him, was deeply offended when I gave him a white dress shirt, and shaves twice a week whether he needs it or not. He has six pack abs earned not in the gym but in what he refers to as the "company fitness program":
Seems to me the brief appreciation for manly men prompted by 9/11 firefighters' bravery has long since faded, but if we have an apocalypse I'm sticking to him like glue.
How dare you discriminate against pasty-white, flabby-bellied, keyboard-tapping, cubicle dwellers!!!
HATE CRIME!!!!!
;-)
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Wow, that's a bear? The image is so small and I've always assumed you were holding a chimp or some other type of monkey.
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Matthew Lawrence: Men, just like all sinners, have always thought of their navels as the center of the universe. However, whereas in the past, men were satisfied with routine washing of said navel followed by a shake of Gold Bond Medicated Poweder or Pinaud Clubman Talc before covering the navel with an undershirt, a dress shirt, a tie and a suit jacket, now they seem to favor a shaved chest and belly and showing said navel to the world.
Do young women find that even remotely attractive?
No.
Mar '11
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
As a registered nurse who is accustomed to the fit of body armor, I am constantly confronted with what makes a man a man. I always seem to feel that I am looking my best with a Kevlar helmet and a properly fitted ballistic vest. But what do I know, I'm just a male nurse.
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
This is a hard topic for me, because I'm so beautiful.
Sep '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Not to mention humble.
Edited on May 17, 2012 at 5:31pmJul '11
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Wranglers. 36x36 and the belt worn by my deceased grandpa 35 years ago. I also just ate 4 scrambled eggs I pulled from the coop this am. Time for work.
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
DocJay
Wranglers. 36x36 and the belt worn by my deceased grandpa 35 years ago. I also just ate 4 scrambled eggs I pulled from the coop this am. Time for work. · 6 minutes ago
I *love* that belt.
Apr '12
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
Supersize me has a section where they show young children photos of icons like Ronald McDonald, George Washington, Jesus, etc. my kids were young and surprised me when they knew George Washington but then shocked me when they thought Jesus was Osama Bin L.
Sep '10
Re: Six-Pack Abs, Fake Tans Or Sandpaper Hands
When my grandfather died a few years ago my brothers and I cleaned out his closet. I took home some pretty awesome stuff, or so I think. My fiancee says my work wardrobe now makes me look like Dwight Schrute without the glasses.