Man Mode

   

     For a long time women have had a saying that beauty is pain, suggesting that all the work to be desirable is a gruesome process that constantly must be maintained and upkept. But in a culture where media and pressure to be beautiful are at its highest, has it knocked down the great barrier of masculine thought? I'd say that the answer is definitely. Most products you find for women, have a male version as well.
     I believe that the pressure of Hollywood has seeped into our daily lives.  When looks are set up on such a high pedestal, we cannot ignore them without repercussions.  However chasing the definition of masculinity is a fruitless one as well as a hopeless one.
     Ultimately it is important to keep up appearances for the chase of finding one you love, while your appearance may get you a decent first impression, it doesn't speak much for your character and will not carry you further into a relationship. In my experience, It is the women who take appearances too seriously who are missing out, and I see as undesirable myself.
     That being said, If a man wants to look good I think he is entitled to it, but to be pressured to have to do it I think is wrong. Ostracizing a man for wavering too far on either side I believe is a mistake.

Mansome

A couple of weeks ago I watched the documentary called Mansome with my good friends Nicole, Becca, Emerald, and Lance. The message was pretty interesting. I think Morgan Spurlock made this documentary to sort of highlight the struggles that modern men have with their appearances (and that it's not just a problem that only women have anymore) and what society defines what makes a man.

While this is clearly the most impressive beard ever caught on camera, this guy was kind of a d-bag.

What I gathered from the film was that there are a lot of men that really obsess over their appearances, and it seems like we are moving towards a society that places a lot more pressure on men's looks than in the past. However, I kind of wish Spurlock would have dug a little deeper and actually investigated why there is a trend in "meterosexuals" and why facial hair is becoming incredibly popular and required for someone to be manly. It was still pretty entertaining to hear all of these men's stories though.

Thanks to Nicole for showing me this awesome movie!

Double Bog Credit Opportunity!

Hello, people of the world.
On Friday evening at precisely 9pm in HINER HALL (SCIENCE HALL, ROOM 225, the same room class is held), we will be watching Mansome, as summarized by IMDb, "A documentary that explores the question: In the age of manscaping, metrosexuals, and grooming products galore- what does it mean to be a man?"
Since we got to watch Miss Representation for double blog cred, Leeper agreed to give the same credit for Mansome (watch and blog). Women are not the only ones with gender role probs, so we shouldn't leave the fellas out.
This documentary contains Jason Bateman, Will Arnett, Zach Galifianakis, and Morgan Spurlock (the guy who did Supersize Me). It is going to be a glorious time. For realsies. 
If you are not sure if you want to watch this documentary, please revel in this marvelous trailer.

Comments after:

Overall I found this film delightful. It was interesting to learn how serious some people take their beards. I mean, look at this guy (to the right, son). Everything he does is for the health and growth of his beard. It is kind of ridiculous. And it bothers me how his hair doesn't go with his look. Consistency is key, my friends. But, hey. We all need hobbies. I also did not realize how much effort guys put into their appearances. I was under the assumption that it was a bathe, clothe, and go kind of life (I extend my sincerest apologies for such misconceptions).