Hi.
Has anyone read "Muscle Boys: Gay Gym Culture", by Erick Alvarez? Opinions, please.
Here's an excerpt of an interview with Alvarez (Edge/Boston):
Q: What impact has gay muscle culture had on straight male culture?
Erick Alvarez: The impact is bigger than most people realize. The historical chapters in my book explain how the male athletic ideal is clearly a gay-created concept. Gay culture has been very influential when it comes to shaping the male image in general, but up until now this has mostly been recognized only in terms of fashion. Gay gym culture is now at the vanguard of setting the standard for the ideal male body, and generally speaking it has raised the bar - for both gay and straight culture. For the first time in history, straight men are looking up to gay men on something as masculine related as the athletic ideal.
Has anyone read "Muscle Boys: Gay Gym Culture", by Erick Alvarez? Opinions, please.
Here's an excerpt of an interview with Alvarez (Edge/Boston):
Q: What impact has gay muscle culture had on straight male culture?
Erick Alvarez: The impact is bigger than most people realize. The historical chapters in my book explain how the male athletic ideal is clearly a gay-created concept. Gay culture has been very influential when it comes to shaping the male image in general, but up until now this has mostly been recognized only in terms of fashion. Gay gym culture is now at the vanguard of setting the standard for the ideal male body, and generally speaking it has raised the bar - for both gay and straight culture. For the first time in history, straight men are looking up to gay men on something as masculine related as the athletic ideal.
