Marcus Schenkenberg: New Rules [Paperback]

Marcus Schenkenberg (Author), Gianni Versace (Author), Boss Models (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 15, 1997

Male models and men's fashion are changing the way we look at men. Marcus Schenkenberg, the world's first male supermodel, is at the forefront of this movement in men's style, fitness, beauty, and image. Included here are the greatest photographs of Marcus's career, plus many taken exclusively for this book, from such top fashion photographers as Bruce Weber, David LaChapelle, Richard Avedon, Karl Lagerfeld, Steven Meisel, Peter Beard, Patrik Andersson, Tyen, and Albert Watson. Drawing on personal diaries, exclusive interviews for this book, and commentary from industry professionals, New Rules defines today's new male ideals, from fitness training to the runway. Renowned menswear designers such as Valentino and Versace, image makers such as Kevin Krier and Jim Moore, and beauty experts such as makeup artist Francois Nars and haircolor guru Brad Johns, share with Marcus their groundbreaking, trendsetting ideas about masculinity, beauty and style.

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Universe; First Edition edition (September 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789300974
• ISBN-13: 978-0789300973
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #485,728 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars This man, this glorious man..., April 2, 2002

By 

Libretio - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marcus Schenkenberg: New Rules (Paperback)

Writing in 'Clothes Show' magazine in 1995, journalist Sylvia Patterson memorably declared: "Marcus Schenkenberg is so good-looking it is, frankly, preposterous. He's a cartoon fantasy man...his chest is a two-seater sofa!" It isn't simply that Marcus is so completely, breathtakingly beautiful - that much should be obvious to anyone who's ever seen his image in print, on film, on the Web, or even in the flesh - it's also because his inevitable success as 'the first male supermodel' prompted a renewed interest in men's clothing and hygiene at a time when the fashion industry seemed oblivious to this gaping hole in the market, and because he paved the way for an entirely new breed of celebrated male models, including Michael Bergin and the awesome Tyson Beckford, amongst others. Hence the title of this archetypal 'coffee table' book, "Marcus Schenkenberg New Rules" (1997), an uncredited collection of essays, interviews and observations from some of fashion's top-rank glitterati - Gianni Versace, Bruce Weber, Richard Avedon, et al - copyrighted by Universe Publishing, Marcus Schenkenberg himself, and Boss Models.

Anyone expecting a pure beefcake portfolio in the manner of Marcus' eye-popping calendar work may be slightly disappointed by the majority of photos in this book, which examines the 'Marcus' phenomenon almost exclusively within the context of his achievements as a fashion model. There's a smattering of wholly gratuitous body shots, of course (including a number of magazine covers, and a full-page, full-color study of his naked torso on p. 8), but even those images which feature partial nudity are as much concerned with selling the clothes as the man who's wearing them. There isn't a lot of biographical detail in the sparse text, either: We learn that he was born Marcus Lodewijk Schenkenberg van Mierop in Sweden - there are brief valentines from his mother and older brother, along with some endearing childhood photographs - but we're only given a vague summary of his early family life, and not even a specific date of birth (4 August 1968). We're also told that he came to America to seek his fortune in 1988 and was discovered by photographer Barry King the following year whilst rollerblading in Venice Beach, California. Immediately signed to an agency, Marcus struggled for a time to secure meaningful employment until 1991, when his appearance in a Calvin Klein advertising supplement (designed and photographed by Bruce Weber) in 'Vanity Fair' made him famous overnight. And no wonder: Amongst other things, the supplement contained the justly-famous shot of Marcus (reproduced here in slightly abbreviated form on p. 49) luxuriating beneath an open shower, totally naked except for a loose pair of jeans which he's holding between his legs, barely concealing his modesty - an image so erotic and powerful, it can take even the most jaded observer completely by surprise. The rest, as they say, is history...

And yet, much as the reader may be overwhelmed by the sheer intensity of Marcus' physical grandeur - augmented by a rigorous daily exercise regime, and cultivated by some of the world's finest photographers and stylists - the book ponders his modeling triumphs whilst revealing virtually nothing about Marcus the MAN. He describes himself as an ordinary guy in an extraordinary position, whose personal life amounts to little more than an endless round of photo-shoots and modeling assignments. And that's it, really. If there's more to Marcus than meets the eye, he isn't telling. Those who complain about our culture's tendency to define others simply by their appearance will find no reassurances here, with a subject who positively encourages us to view him at face value, a blank page on which we're allowed to write our wildest, raunchiest fantasies. In this case, it's more than enough. And while some of us still prefer his beefcake/calendar work, "New Rules" ultimately provides a useful - though somewhat shallow - overview of Marcus' life for newcomers and devotees alike.

Favorite photos: The 'angel' pose (p. 115) taken at the Givenchy Haute Couture Alexander McQueen Show in 1997, with a near-naked Marcus framed by two enormous feathered wings which emphasize and encapsulate the transcendent nature of his physical perfection. And Barry King's 1989 snapshot of Marcus (p. 38) rollerblading on Venice Beach whilst clad in little more than tight shorts and a bandanna, drawing our attention to the strong line of his body, his long legs and heavy chest, a vision of incomparable beauty. Like all the best pin-ups, Marcus Schenkenberg is naked even when fully clothed, inviting all-too-predictable comparisons with the likes of Michelangelo's David, amongst various other exalted works of art. Which isn't too far-fetched when you think about it. I mean, just LOOK at the guy! Who could possibly resist the temptation of such voluptuous splendor?...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Marcus Rules, July 23, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Marcus Schenkenberg: New Rules (Paperback)

Marcus Schenkenberg is incredibly photogenic, blessed with good height, ruggedly handsome looks and a body which closely resembles a Rodin sculpture.This book should soon find its way into every man and woman's bedroom.The photos are stunning and the articles are awsome.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars When a GOD walked the Earth, April 12, 2000

By 

Irishlad "irishlad" (Fergus, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marcus Schenkenberg: New Rules (Paperback)

Anyone familiar with the runways of Milan, New York, Paris should be familiar with this true demiGod..... he has been everywhere and with everyone... at least in his photoshoots! Unbelievably handsome with a body ( check out that torso! ) that goes on forever, Marcus is the thing that dreams are made of. Full of photos dating back to his discovery while rollerskating in a teensy pair of pink shorts, this book will satisfy every possible hunger that relates to Marcus. Universe has done it again with this volume of breathtaking splendor! *******Sigh!