"The Male Body: A New Look at Men in Public and in Private"

Paper Summary:

The book describes eras of media coverage regarding the male's private parts as well as society's acceptance of the norm. While probing the male form the author seeks to prove that given the similar myths and pressures applied to men and women regarding their bodies, there are parallel effects on both the male and female mind. Bordo concludes that society, although a shift began in the 1990s, has neglected the male body in film, literature, magazines and advertisements as it has never done with the female body.

From the Paper:

"Although, Burt Reynold's appeared nude for the magazine "Cosmopolitan"in 1972, the penis was hidden behind his hands. Brando in his tight undershirt in "Streetcar Named Desire" or William Holden's bare chest in "Picnic"was the raciest exposure of the male body the public witnessed in film or media of any kind. Bordo points out that John Travolta was the first hunk to appear in briefs on-screen in "Saturday Night Fever" (Bordo 18)."

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