Idealized youth a century ago.

[+ bigjoey]

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/victorian-pre-raphaelite-british-impressionist-l16132/lot.47.html

 

Vision of youth before 24 Hour Fitness. Pure, natural beauty.

[jjkrkwood]

I don't know, perhaps I am turning into Epigonos... I like "synthetic" boys.... buffed up and ripped... When they are "natural", they look like they need to be burped and diapered, and sung a lullabye...

[gallahadesquire]

There are a few kids that look like this. The ones I see at the gym have a lot more muscle. I'm sure the overall quality of life and protein consumption has helped.

 

Truth be told, I don't remember kids in my high school looking this thin. The only gym that was available was at the high school, and we didn't (IIRC) have weight training.

[Rudynate]

I don't know, perhaps I am turning into Epigonos... I like "synthetic" boys.... buffed up and ripped... When they are "natural", they look like they need to be burped and diapered, and sung a lullabye...

 

Right on - tats and muscles and the latest trendy haircut. I feel so shallow.

[jjkrkwood]

Right on - tats and muscles and the latest trendy haircut. I feel so shallow.

 

 

 

Feeling and BEING are 2 separate things... I AM SHALLOW.....

[TruthBTold]

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/victorian-pre-raphaelite-british-impressionist-l16132/lot.47.html

Vision of youth before 24 Hour Fitness. Pure, natural beauty.

 

But boy they still had nice butts, particularly the boy on the rock. Looks as if the artist liked a nice bubblebutt.

[bigvalboy]

I say, thank God for 24 hour fitness.

[+ purplekow]

Those were probably indulged youth who did not have to do actual work. Even then, you needed a bit of muscle if you were going to do more than lift a tea cup and drop your pants.

[jjkrkwood]

I say, thank God for 24 hour fitness.

 

 

Honey, I never seen anyone get Fit in 24 hrs....

[+ Charlie]

There were very few commercial gyms when I was young. Muscle-building was very much a lower class phenomenon, because if one had a noticeably muscular physique, it was a sign that one had to do hard physical labor for a living. Middle and upper class youths didn't start working out to get buff themselves until the 1970s, and as usual, it started with gay men, who began working out at the YMCA. The Ys had gyms because the organization was founded to raise the morals of working class young men, and the founders thought that physical exercise was a healthy alternative to other kinds of activities. The Ys turned out to be excellent places for middle and upper class gay men to mingle with those muscular working class youth, and we all know where that ultimately led. When straight men realized that women found those well built gay men attractive, they began to imitate them, and a new "fitness" industry was born. It's all a part of the gay agenda to take over the world.

[+ purplekow]

There were very few commercial gyms when I was young. Muscle-building was very much a lower class phenomenon, because if one had a noticeably muscular physique, it was a sign that one had to do hard physical labor for a living. Middle and upper class youths didn't start working out to get buff themselves until the 1970s, and as usual, it started with gay men, who began working out at the YMCA. The Ys had gyms because the organization was founded to raise the morals of working class young men, and the founders thought that physical exercise was a healthy alternative to other kinds of activities. The Ys turned out to be excellent places for middle and upper class gay men to mingle with those muscular working class youth, and we all know where that ultimately led. When straight men realized that women found those well built gay men attractive, they began to imitate them, and a new "fitness" industry was born. It's all a part of the gay agenda to take over the world.

And to look good while doing it.

[+ deej]

There were very few commercial gyms when I was young.

 

For those of us who grew up in a smaller town there weren't any. I remember a guy who made arrangements with the high school PE teachers to use the HS weight room. I wasn't the only one loitering in the gym during his workouts, and yet nobody ever wondered why we were all over the gymnastics gear during those times but wouldn't be caught dead there at any other time.

 

Today, a store owner near me has had his son helping out since he turned 18. When the boy was younger he had confidence and self-esteem issues so his dad suggested hitting the weights. Well. This kid has turned in to a genuine SPECIMEN. And he's the most self-confident, sweetest, friendliest kid you'll ever meet. He knows he's hot and he knows we're checking him out and he doesn't care. When he catches me checking out his butt he just smiles, winks, and hands me my change.

 

I like this new world.

[marylander1940]

http://www.sothebys.com/en/auctions/ecatalogue/2016/victorian-pre-raphaelite-british-impressionist-l16132/lot.47.html

 

Vision of youth before 24 Hour Fitness. Pure, natural beauty.

 

I thought the pictures would look something like this:

 

http://www.fitnes.lv/assets/images/History/Arvids_Jurmalietis_93771.jpg

 

[jjkrkwood]

I thought the pictures would look something like this:

 

http://www.fitnes.lv/assets/images/History/Arvids_Jurmalietis_93771.jpg

 

 

Really Mary ? Those Granny drawers they wore were never flattering... Thank God for evolution.

[gallahadesquire]

There were very few commercial gyms when I was young. Muscle-building was very much a lower class phenomenon, because if one had a noticeably muscular physique, it was a sign that one had to do hard physical labor for a living. Middle and upper class youths didn't start working out to get buff themselves until the 1970s, and as usual, it started with gay men, who began working out at the YMCA. The Ys had gyms because the organization was founded to raise the morals of working class young men, and the founders thought that physical exercise was a healthy alternative to other kinds of activities. The Ys turned out to be excellent places for middle and upper class gay men to mingle with those muscular working class youth, and we all know where that ultimately led. When straight men realized that women found those well built gay men attractive, they began to imitate them, and a new "fitness" industry was born. It's all a part of the gay agenda to take over the world.

 

Which Chapter and Verse in the Gay Agenda? I've lost my annotated copy.

[+ WilliamM]

There were very few commercial gyms when I was young. Muscle-building was very much a lower class phenomenon, because if one had a noticeably muscular physique, it was a sign that one had to do hard physical labor for a living. Middle and upper class youths didn't start working out to get buff themselves until the 1970s, and as usual, it started with gay men, who began working out at the YMCA

 

Exactly my experience, Charlie. Two of my friends started to work out in the Boston College gym in 1964. They did not ask me, and I was glad because I had no interest.

[jjkrkwood]

I meant their bodies... not the suits.

 

I'm glad you're back posting despite your threat of leaving

 

Correction, I Never threaten to Leave..... I just DO !

 

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/67551675.jpg

[Epigonos]

Charlie is so right regarding the timing of when gay guys became interested in going to gyms. In 1975 I got feed up with my physical appearance. I was 35 years old. I was exactly 6' tall and weighed 145 pounds. I had 11 3/4 inch biceps and a 34 inch waist. I started working out at a local down and dirty body building gym NOT a spa. I spent 4 to 5 hours a day six days a week working out with heavy free weights. Two years latter, age 37, I was still exactly 6' tall but I weighed 215. I had 18 inch biceps and a 32 inch waist. In the process I also managed to built a very fine ass. For the first time in my life I was willing to wear skin tight polo shirts and skin tight jeans. I loved the way I looked. Now if I told you I accomplished all of these physical changes without the use of steroids I would expect you to laugh at me and you would most definitely be correct to do so.

[+ deej]

Hubba hubba! Tell us more about that ass!

[+ purplekow]

Correction, I Never threaten to Leave..... I just DO !

 

http://cdn.meme.am/instances/67551675.jpg

Yes it would not really be threat, more a promise.

[jjkrkwood]

Yes it would not really be threat, more a promise.

 

Give it up PK... You are really boring with this shit already. It's obnoxious, and you lost your side kick Will Do... I've been ignoring YOU, please extend me the same courtesy.

[+ nycman]

In the process I also managed to built a very fine ass.

 

Pics or it didn't happen.....grin

[Epigonos]

nycman the stupid truth is that although I was teaching photography at the time I despised being photographed and thus have NO photographs of myself from that time. Maybe it is for the best considering how I look now as opposed to how I looked then. The photos would likely make me cry.

On our one non workout day (Sunday) I photographer virtually all of my gym buddies. The guys always wore their posing trunks and used poses from their competition routines. They never requested nude photographs and I never suggested they do so. We were all very straight of course!!!!! I worked only in black and white. I developed the film and printed all the photographs myself. Most bodybuilders love being photographed and willingly paid for the film and paper because I never charged them for my time. I ALWAYS gave the guys ALL the negatives and ALL the photographs I developed and printed and kept NONE. Looking back now I probably should have kept a few of the prints for myself but I didn't so that's that. It's hard for me to believe that all that happened nearly forty years ago -- damn time flies.

[jjkrkwood]

Yes it would not really be threat, more a promise.

nycman the stupid truth is that although I was teaching photography at the time I despised being photographed and thus have NO photographs of myself from that time. Maybe it is for the best considering how I look now as opposed to how I looked then. The photos would likely make me cry.

On our one non workout day (Sunday) I photographer virtually all of my gym buddies. The guys always wore their posing trunks and used poses from their competition routines. They never requested nude photographs and I never suggested they do so. We were all very straight of course!!!!! I worked only in black and white. I developed the film and printed all the photographs myself. Most bodybuilders love being photographed and willingly paid for the film and paper because I never charged them for my time. I ALWAYS gave the guys ALL the negatives and ALL the photographs I developed and printed and kept NONE. Looking back now I probably should have kept a few of the prints for myself but I didn't so that's that. It's hard for me to believe that all that happened nearly forty years ago -- damn time flies.

 

Epig, don't lament a saggy ass. At our age, that's NORMAL.... (just try to avoid Ass-less Chaps and thongs)

 

BEFORE

 

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j186/EaracheMotorsports/Denver%20homes/chaps_zps3ancvgwa.jpg

 

AFTER

 

http://patrick.net/content/uploads/2014/07/ass-less-chaps.jpg

[LivingnLA]

Yes, privileged gay men had an important role in the creation of the muscle phenomenon that's existed for a couple decades now. However, what really pushed it into a mass movement and sustains it today is the growth of feminism and how our growing awareness of feminist issues has increased the objectification of the male form to bring it on par with centuries of objectification of the female body.

 

Millennial males today are aware of their bodies as objects of desire the way women have been for a very long time. This has its plus and minuses, but generally I think it's a positive trend so long as the unhealthy aspects (bulimia, anorexia, etc.) are dealt with by all of us.

 

Personally, I wish the rise of feminism resulted in the reduction of objectification, but thanks to the power of "advertising & marketing" we've actually seen more objectification than ever before.

 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/feminism-objectification/

http://www.livescience.com/21806-brain-male-female-objectification.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/thinking-man/11395576/Men-are-now-objectified-more-than-women.html

http://www.alreadypretty.com/2013/08/male-bodies-and-objectification.html