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In Defense of Beauty
In Defense of Beauty is Bianchi's answer to his critics. This unabashed celebration of male beauty in word and pictures fills an important niche in the growing gay book market. Black-and-white photographs.
61 pages, Hardcover
First published November 21, 1995
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
September 28, 2017
Tom Bianchi makes a great argument in defense of his aesthetic sense. He finds beauty in people who may not be aware of their own beauty and captures/records it in stunning black and white photographs.
His poignant arguments dissent those who accuse him of elitism/lookism, after all, beauty, as he explains and illustrates with quotes from different authors, is within all of us, we just need to work for it—literally hit the gym—as we envision a world in which, we too, be invited to the pool party!
However ugly the world around us may be, the artist can choose to either criticize society, by not showing us what’s wrong, but by giving us something to aspire to, or by capturing depressing realities and injustices that spoil life, a life that we should celebrate.
He makes a good point about one’s own obligation to seek success, living happy and fulfilled lives; defying societal expectations of gay people as condemned individuals with no hope, but a tragic end as portrayed by the media.
This is an interesting little book; he small format seems comical as the subject matter may deems it a dirty and shameful aid for…quiet contemplation. The congenial, well build, and very nude men portrayed are tastefully posed almost candidly and the writing is accessible and thought provoking.
His poignant arguments dissent those who accuse him of elitism/lookism, after all, beauty, as he explains and illustrates with quotes from different authors, is within all of us, we just need to work for it—literally hit the gym—as we envision a world in which, we too, be invited to the pool party!
However ugly the world around us may be, the artist can choose to either criticize society, by not showing us what’s wrong, but by giving us something to aspire to, or by capturing depressing realities and injustices that spoil life, a life that we should celebrate.
He makes a good point about one’s own obligation to seek success, living happy and fulfilled lives; defying societal expectations of gay people as condemned individuals with no hope, but a tragic end as portrayed by the media.
This is an interesting little book; he small format seems comical as the subject matter may deems it a dirty and shameful aid for…quiet contemplation. The congenial, well build, and very nude men portrayed are tastefully posed almost candidly and the writing is accessible and thought provoking.
August 19, 2022
Short, yet kind of stupid. At best he saves himself by not being racist or ageist. Judging by the photos, it is not about BEAUTY, but simply gym bodies, and next to nothing else. It is obvious here that male "beauty" to him only means "lean muscle."
He likes to quote Oscar Wilde, but I doubt he would ever include someone with Wilde's body type in any of his books.
The only example that comes to mind right now is Dylan Sprayberry: as a teen and young adult, he had the idea Greek god body, but more recent photos have shown him looking more like a bear, and yet he still retains a lot of his younger beauty.
It is not that I don't appreciate men's bodies in which they clearly spent most of their time building and toning, etc. I do. I just don't think that is what automatically makes men beautiful.
He likes to quote Oscar Wilde, but I doubt he would ever include someone with Wilde's body type in any of his books.
The only example that comes to mind right now is Dylan Sprayberry: as a teen and young adult, he had the idea Greek god body, but more recent photos have shown him looking more like a bear, and yet he still retains a lot of his younger beauty.
It is not that I don't appreciate men's bodies in which they clearly spent most of their time building and toning, etc. I do. I just don't think that is what automatically makes men beautiful.
June 9, 2015
Good essay, wish there were more pictures.... and essays.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews