|
|
|
Look at this picture and try to imagine how this happened... what was the "director" saying to these guys? "OK, here wear these boxers, now go climb all over each other in the surf, be sure you're touching at least two other guys, and if you've got biceps show 'em off..."
This just doesn't happen spontaneously, but that's what this photograph implies. It shows friends who just play around with each other like this when they just feel like it. No one's ashamed or worried or paranoid about what anyone's going to think. They're not drinkin' beer, they're not competitive wrestlers or playin' ball.
It's fantasy land! where friends just climb all around on each other because it's a good time and there are no repercussions whatsoever. No girl's going to find you any less desireable. No guy's going to think you're a fag. If anything they'll just be impressed by your body, and after everyone dries off you'll all go out and drink together.
What are these images saying about the state of our self-confidence with ourselves and our friendships?
If we weren't all a little scared to be physical with our friends like that would these photographs have nearly as much selling power? The photographs work because they tap into something we know we can't do easily in real life. Two girls can sit around and play with each other's hair and it's nothing to comment about. Two straight guys doing that would lose their outstanding male reputations forever or might even get beat up depending on where they were...
Somewhere some guy's reading this saying, "Who cares I'd never want to be close to my friends like that anyway!"
Maybe that's self-consciousness, maybe it's insecurity, maybe as far as he's aware it's true... but most people enjoy physical contact on some level from people they like - guys or not. It's not being genetically male that makes guys nervous about physical contact with each other (even when it's a good friend or someone they really like) it's that voice in the back of our head's we can't shake that's saying don't act like a girl... don't look like a fag.
The guys in that photo hear no little voice. They're fearless. Happy, and fearless.
Why can't two friends be close to each other without it having to be viewed as homosexual? Do every one of those girls going around holding hands and doing each other's hair fantasize about lesbian sex the entire time?
It's not that we don't fundamentally need and enjoy closeness with people we like. It's the reality of a social situation that has rules. Beer and contact sports grant a few exceptions. But do we ever really pal around and hang on each other without any self consciouness at all? Like girls can?
Whoever came up with this photography for this really sucessful line of clothing knows that it tempts us with something... a freedom... that we know we don't have.
|
