For Writers:
Today’s writer topic comes from QSFer Jim Comer:
Jim sent me this link a while back:
http://www.queerty.com/heres-how-the-male-standard-of-beauty-changes-around-the-world-20150319
What makes a man physically attractive? Depending on where you live in the world, your answer to that question might vary greatly.
In the U.S., the current standard seems to be moving towards the “lumbersexual” — masculine, muscular, bearded and white. In Brazil, “Germanic features” with tan skin are considered an ideal beauty combination, and cosmetic surgery for men is becoming a normal thing to hear about. In Turkey, there’s a trend of body hair removal for men — we remember when smooth was the standard in the U.S.
So do you have a preference for what makes a man beautiful in your own writing? How has this shifted over time in your culture? Do we need to account for this as writers when we write stories set in other cultures?
Actually, I find the very opposite direction of the lumber sexual beautiful. I love the bishounen of Japanese manga/anime. I loved the almost aesthetic moments on ‘Forever Knight’ with Nick Knight/Geraint Wyn Davies playing the piano by candle light, or lounging around in his silk night robe, playing with cards. Or Sherlock sitting wearing a black coat, looking very pale, shouting at the TV, which managed to make him attractive and humorous at the same time.