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Metrosexuality, a.k.a Victorian Aesthetics 2.0
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It can be argued that Gissing’s portrayal of Horace Lord through In the Year of Jubilee is a warning against young men becoming too aesthetic, a “dandy” or a “fop”. The character of Horace Lord is the most obvious example of this. In my opinion, this warning stems from a fear of these men threatening the gender constructs which, to a great extent, still permeate society today. For some, the traditional “cult of masculinity” still prevails; however, many have come to reject it. This has arguably given rise to what is referred to as “metrosexuality”:
Metrosexual: a heterosexual male who has a strong aesthetic sense and inordinate interest in appearance and style, similar to that of homosexual males (n, adj)
This metrosexuality can be seen in a number of ways and can be as simple as a man wearing a pink shirt or tie. Moreover, today we see skin care lines (Loreal, The Body Shop), coming out with product lines exclusively for males. Many spas also have created services that cater to men, and shows like “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” have a solid following.
However, in terms of gender binaries, it seems there are still lines that cannot be crossed. Exactly how aesthetic can a heterosexual young man be today without fearing an affront to his masculinity is a question not easily answered. However, it is clear that "metrosexuality" has its roots in Victorian aesthetics, further solidifying Dr. Odgen's theory that we are more like the Victorians than we would like to believe.
-posted by Jill
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1 Comments: |
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The description of a metrosexual does sound eerily familiar to descriptions of dandies in Gissing and other literature! The media's caricature of what it means to be "metrosexual" seems to center around narcissism, a preoccupation with popular culture, and the cultivation of a specific image through one's looks and clothing. What else, then, is a dandy?
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The Blog:
Created by five SFU students for Dr. Stephen Ogden's English 206 class, this blog is, simply put, just for show. We are interested in the idea of "Victorian Cool," or more specifically how Victorian aesthetics are experiencing a resurgence in popularity. The posts in this blog are materialism at its finest; fashion, architecture, jewelry, furniture, and whatever else catches our eye. Why has this brand of Victorianism re-entered mass culture? Read the blog and find out!
The Contributors:
Jill
Melissa
Alison
Jennifer
Sarah
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March 28, 2008
posted at 10:00 AM -
The description of a metrosexual does sound eerily familiar to descriptions of dandies in Gissing and other literature! The media's caricature of what it means to be "metrosexual" seems to center around narcissism, a preoccupation with popular culture, and the cultivation of a specific image through one's looks and clothing. What else, then, is a dandy?