Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection
“The poses, facial expressions, and body
language of the men below will strike the modern viewer as very gay
indeed. But it is crucial to understand that you cannot view these
photographs through the prism of our modern culture and current
conception of homosexuality. The term “homosexuality” was in fact not
coined until 1869, and before that time, the strict dichotomy between
“gay” and “straight” did not yet exist. Attraction to, and sexual
activity with other men was thought of as something you did, not something you were. It was a behavior — accepted by some cultures and considered sinful by others.”
language of the men below will strike the modern viewer as very gay
indeed. But it is crucial to understand that you cannot view these
photographs through the prism of our modern culture and current
conception of homosexuality. The term “homosexuality” was in fact not
coined until 1869, and before that time, the strict dichotomy between
“gay” and “straight” did not yet exist. Attraction to, and sexual
activity with other men was thought of as something you did, not something you were. It was a behavior — accepted by some cultures and considered sinful by others.”
“Whether the men below were gay in the
way our current culture understands that idea, or in the way that they
themselves understood it, is unknowable. What we do know is that the
men would not have thought their poses and body language had anything
at all to do with that question. What you see in the photographs was
common, not rare; the photos are not about sexuality, but intimacy.”
way our current culture understands that idea, or in the way that they
themselves understood it, is unknowable. What we do know is that the
men would not have thought their poses and body language had anything
at all to do with that question. What you see in the photographs was
common, not rare; the photos are not about sexuality, but intimacy.”
“These photos showcase an evolution in
the way men relate to one another — and the way in which certain forms
and expressions of male intimacy have disappeared over the last
century.”
“‘Who were these men?’ ‘What was the nature of their relationships?’
‘Why has male intimacy decreased and what are the repercussions for the
emotional lives of men today?'”
the way men relate to one another — and the way in which certain forms
and expressions of male intimacy have disappeared over the last
century.”
“‘Who were these men?’ ‘What was the nature of their relationships?’
‘Why has male intimacy decreased and what are the repercussions for the
emotional lives of men today?'”
Men as Friends
Portraits
“From the Civil War through the 1920′s,
it was very common for male friends to visit a photographer’s studio
together to have a portrait done as a memento of their love and
loyalty. Photographers would offer various backgrounds and props the
men could choose from to use in the picture. Sometimes the men would
act out scenes; sometimes they’d simply sit side-by-side; sometimes
they’d sit on each other’s laps or hold hands. The men’s very
comfortable and familiar poses and body language might make the men
look like gay lovers to the modern eye — and they could very well have
been — but that was not the message they were sending at the time. The
photographer’s studio would have been at the center of town, well-known
by everyone, and one’s neighbors would having been sitting in the
waiting room just a few feet away. Because homosexuality, even if
thought of as a practice rather than an identity, was not something
publicly expressed, these men were not knowingly outing themselves in
these shots; their poses were common, and simply reflected the intimacy
and intensity of male friendships at the time — none of these photos
would have caused their contemporaries to bat an eye.”
it was very common for male friends to visit a photographer’s studio
together to have a portrait done as a memento of their love and
loyalty. Photographers would offer various backgrounds and props the
men could choose from to use in the picture. Sometimes the men would
act out scenes; sometimes they’d simply sit side-by-side; sometimes
they’d sit on each other’s laps or hold hands. The men’s very
comfortable and familiar poses and body language might make the men
look like gay lovers to the modern eye — and they could very well have
been — but that was not the message they were sending at the time. The
photographer’s studio would have been at the center of town, well-known
by everyone, and one’s neighbors would having been sitting in the
waiting room just a few feet away. Because homosexuality, even if
thought of as a practice rather than an identity, was not something
publicly expressed, these men were not knowingly outing themselves in
these shots; their poses were common, and simply reflected the intimacy
and intensity of male friendships at the time — none of these photos
would have caused their contemporaries to bat an eye.”
Snapshots
“When portable cameras for the amateur
photographer became more widely available, they allowed men to
photograph themselves in a greater range of more spontaneous
situations, and the practice of sitting for formal portraits together
waned in the 1930s. The snapshots usually were developed by someone
else who would have gotten a look at all of them, so again, these
pictures were not likely purposeful expressions of gay love, but rather
captured the very common level of comfort men felt with one another
during the early 20th century.”
photographer became more widely available, they allowed men to
photograph themselves in a greater range of more spontaneous
situations, and the practice of sitting for formal portraits together
waned in the 1930s. The snapshots usually were developed by someone
else who would have gotten a look at all of them, so again, these
pictures were not likely purposeful expressions of gay love, but rather
captured the very common level of comfort men felt with one another
during the early 20th century.”
“After WWII, casually touching between
men in photographs decreased precipitously. It first vanished among
middle-aged men, but lingered among younger men. But in the 50s, when
homosexuality reached its peak of pathologization, eventually they too
created more space between themselves, and while still affectionate
began to interact with less ease and intimacy.”
men in photographs decreased precipitously. It first vanished among
middle-aged men, but lingered among younger men. But in the 50s, when
homosexuality reached its peak of pathologization, eventually they too
created more space between themselves, and while still affectionate
began to interact with less ease and intimacy.”
Men at Work
“It was also popular for men to get
portraits done with the guys they worked with, often while wearing
their work clothes — from aprons to overalls — and holding the tools of
their trade — from frying pans to hammers. That men wished to
immortalize themselves alongside their “co-workers” shows how important
work was to a man’s identity and the close bond men used to feel with
those they shared a trade with and toiled next to.”
portraits done with the guys they worked with, often while wearing
their work clothes — from aprons to overalls — and holding the tools of
their trade — from frying pans to hammers. That men wished to
immortalize themselves alongside their “co-workers” shows how important
work was to a man’s identity and the close bond men used to feel with
those they shared a trade with and toiled next to.”
“As the trades waned in importance, and
white collar work waxed, photographs of men on the job became more
formal and less intimate. Instead of seeing each as fellow craftsmen,
working for a common goal with a shared pride in the work, men became
competitors with each other, each trying to get ahead in a dog-eat-dog
world. And a lot less work-related photographs were taken in general.
Perhaps because we only take photographs of pleasurable things, things
we want to always remember, and the pleasure men took in their work had
fallen.”
white collar work waxed, photographs of men on the job became more
formal and less intimate. Instead of seeing each as fellow craftsmen,
working for a common goal with a shared pride in the work, men became
competitors with each other, each trying to get ahead in a dog-eat-dog
world. And a lot less work-related photographs were taken in general.
Perhaps because we only take photographs of pleasurable things, things
we want to always remember, and the pleasure men took in their work had
fallen.”
Men on the Field
“As team sports became one of the great
passions of a man’s life in the 1890s, the team photo became a required
ritual. A team wished to have a memento of the exploits of the season,
and no yearbook was complete without one. The changing poses of the
team photo provide a window into the evolving mores of male affection,
and perhaps into the evolving nature of sport itself.
passions of a man’s life in the 1890s, the team photo became a required
ritual. A team wished to have a memento of the exploits of the season,
and no yearbook was complete without one. The changing poses of the
team photo provide a window into the evolving mores of male affection,
and perhaps into the evolving nature of sport itself.
At the turn of the century, team photos
were more intimate and casual, with teammates piling on top of one
another, leaning on each other, and draping their arms around one
another.”
were more intimate and casual, with teammates piling on top of one
another, leaning on each other, and draping their arms around one
another.”
“Starting in the 1920s, team photos
became more formal, more like the team photos we know today. Instead of
touching each other, the men crossed their arms across their stomach
or put them behind their backs. Each player stood more isolated from
the others, much as the space between businessmen had grown as well.
Still a team, but a team of distinct individuals.”
became more formal, more like the team photos we know today. Instead of
touching each other, the men crossed their arms across their stomach
or put them behind their backs. Each player stood more isolated from
the others, much as the space between businessmen had grown as well.
Still a team, but a team of distinct individuals.”
Men at War
“Some of the most intense bonds between
men have always been found among those who serve in the military.
Gender segregation (at least in times past), is at its very highest.
Men are far from home and can only rely on each other; together they
face the highest dangers and are motivated less by duty to country and
more by the desire not to let their brothers down. Serving is such an
unquestionably manly thing, that homophobia dissipates; soldiers care
less about one’s sexuality than whether the man can get the job done.”
men have always been found among those who serve in the military.
Gender segregation (at least in times past), is at its very highest.
Men are far from home and can only rely on each other; together they
face the highest dangers and are motivated less by duty to country and
more by the desire not to let their brothers down. Serving is such an
unquestionably manly thing, that homophobia dissipates; soldiers care
less about one’s sexuality than whether the man can get the job done.”
Conclusion: What Is the Future of Male Intimacy?
“‘Boys imitate what they
see. If what they see is emotional distance, guardedness, and coldness
between men they will grow up to imitate that behavior…What do boys
learn when they do not see men with close friendships, where there are
no visible models of intimacy in a man’s life beyond his spouse?’ –Kindlon and Thompson, Raising Cain“
“Sociologists have noticed that
Millennial boys seem much more comfortable with showing affection for
each other than their fathers did. According to an article in The New York Times,
whereas their parents might have given each other a high five, hugging
has become the de facto way for teenagers to greet each other and to
part ways — even to the point that non-huggers are viewed warily — and
is as common among boys as girls. “We’re not afraid, we just get in and
hug,” said Danny Schneider, a high school junior who was interviewed
for the story. Some theorize that Millennial boys have become more
comfortable with touching because their generation is less cynical and
more cooperative and group-oriented.”
Millennial boys seem much more comfortable with showing affection for
each other than their fathers did. According to an article in The New York Times,
whereas their parents might have given each other a high five, hugging
has become the de facto way for teenagers to greet each other and to
part ways — even to the point that non-huggers are viewed warily — and
is as common among boys as girls. “We’re not afraid, we just get in and
hug,” said Danny Schneider, a high school junior who was interviewed
for the story. Some theorize that Millennial boys have become more
comfortable with touching because their generation is less cynical and
more cooperative and group-oriented.”
“Others posit that because so much of
young people’s socialization is done online, they have a deeper need to
physically connect in person to balance things out. And it may also be
traced to the culture’s greater acceptance of homosexuality, although
that has in turn solidified being gay as an identity, and it seems
unlikely that men will cease wanting to communicate to others whether
they are homosexual or heterosexual anytime soon. It also seems
unlikely that in a transient and very coed, non gender-segregated
society, male friendships will ever be as intense as they once were.”
young people’s socialization is done online, they have a deeper need to
physically connect in person to balance things out. And it may also be
traced to the culture’s greater acceptance of homosexuality, although
that has in turn solidified being gay as an identity, and it seems
unlikely that men will cease wanting to communicate to others whether
they are homosexual or heterosexual anytime soon. It also seems
unlikely that in a transient and very coed, non gender-segregated
society, male friendships will ever be as intense as they once were.”
Check out more amazing images through the full article “Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection” at The Art of Manliness, by Brett & Kate McKay published on July 29, 2012.
Source: Picturing Men: A Century of Male Relationships in Everyday American Photography by John Ibson
Photos sources: Picturing Men and Flickr
Photos sources: Picturing Men and Flickr
One Response to Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection
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Photos on flickr
Michael
December 6, 2013 at 4:15 am
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Interesting. Informative post.