Famed photographer Mario Testino has collaborated with VMAN magazine on a visual dissection and study of the furthest edges and extremes of modern manhood. According to VMan, "In a world where anything goes, there are as many versions of masculinity as there are men."
With plastic surgery, sex changes and ‘pregnant men,' Testino argues that "masculinity has come to be determined less by a man’s exterior than by his kindness, his fairness, his taste, his behavior. Now you can look like one thing and be completely the opposite."
It was his fascination with this idea that lead Testino to study the extremes of masculine identity today. He thought of all those extremes he has encountered in his life and found representations of them.
His visual celebration of those extremes includes the obsessively tattooed man, the beach bum dude, the tomboy girl who wants to look like a man, the androgynous man who want to look like a girl, the man with the long hair and beard, the extremely elegant man and much more.
The editorial (if we can call it that, as it is more of a visual social study) was styled by Beat Bolliger and appears in the new Winter 2008 issue of VMAN magazine (VMAN 12.)
See the full editorial at Fashiontography.
Dissecting Modern Manhood
Visual 'Extremes' by Mario Testino in VMAN
Trend Themes
1. Exploration of Masculine Identity - The study of the extreme edges of modern manhood presents an opportunity for the beauty and fashion industries to develop new products and services catering to non-traditional masculine identities.
2. Changing Notions of Masculinity - The shift from external appearance to behavior as defining masculinity presents an opportunity for organizations in the gender studies and LGBTQ+ advocacy industries to promote a more inclusive and accepting definition of what it means to be a man.
3. Visual Representation as Social Study - The use of visuals to dissect and celebrate the modern masculine identity presents an opportunity for the photography and media industries to create thought-provoking campaigns that shed light on underrepresented or marginalized groups within the male community.
Industry Implications
1. Beauty and Fashion - As the definition of masculinity evolves, the beauty and fashion industries can capitalize on the growing demand for products and services catering to non-traditional masculine identities.
2. Gender Studies and LGBTQ+ Advocacy - The changing notions of masculinity provide organizations in the gender studies and LGBTQ+ advocacy industries a chance to promote a more inclusive and accepting definition of what it means to be a man.
3. Photography and Media - The use of photography and media as a visual representation of modern manhood presents an opportunity to create thought-provoking campaigns that shed light on underrepresented or marginalized groups within the male community.