Behold the Man: The Hype and Selling of Male Beauty in Media and Culture (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies) (Hardcover)

by Edisol W. Dotson (Author) "Masculinity, or manlinesswhatever we choose to call itis a cultural creation..." (more)
Key Phrases: gay male beauty, male physical appearance, straight pornography, Marlboro Man, Naomi Wolf, San Francisco (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The first comprehensive study of how images of male beauty are projected onto society, Behold the Man: The Hype and Selling of Male Beauty in Media and Culture examines the role media and society play in creating the image of the idealized male. This book explores how these images are interpreted by all genders and sexual orientations in order to investigate the phenomenon's effect on the self-esteem of adolescent and adult males. Behold the Man provides you with research and examples that identify this problem from many angles to help you realize that being a man is more than merely possessing muscles and good looks.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 188 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1 edition (January 7, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789006340
• ISBN-13: 978-0789006349
• Product Dimensions: 8.6 x 6.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,338,065 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long overdue book!, April 9, 1999

By A Customer

Dotson takes an insightful look at how our culture dictates how men should view themselves and the extreme lengths that we go to in order to achieve an unrealistic ideal. It's about time someone explored a concept once so closely associated with women. Like a surgeon, Dotson dissects this very timely subject and exposes how men can be just as gullible as women when it comes to self-image.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Immensely disappointing, August 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Behold the Man: The Hype and Selling of Male Beauty in Media and Culture (Paperback)

An angry Dotson's adds nothing but his own value judgments on male beauty (or the male physique) in today's culture. There is very little objectivity in the book as Dotson bashes everything from advertising to working out.