BosomBuddies: a Photo History of Male Affection (photo essay)

[Taz]

This is actually really good Thanks JB!

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

I once posted a thread ruminating on the nature of Victorian friendships. Now, I give you Part 2 of that long-ago thread.

Most often, same-sex friendships in those days meant showing real affection, on camera and off. At times, to modern-day eyes, their affection towards each other seems so effusive as to appear overtly homosexual.

I believe that if men nowadays didn't feel so constrained about showing their brotherly love towards each other, we wouldn't have so many social problems.

This essay features dozens of photos of brotherly affection, dating from 1860s-1920, brought to you courtesy of my favorite website, The Art of Manliness.

Hope you enjoy it:

Bosom Buddies: A Photo History of Male Affection | The Art of Manliness

world is not victorian or modern or is history of male affection
or it naoploean or lenin or mussolini or donald duck

until great lands figa it

no gold star taday

nice pics anywaywaywayay


thankyou

 

[ashonfire]

Yep, thanks JB! I thoroughly enjoyed that.

 

[HunterM]

When I went to India for the first time, I thought there were a lot of openly gay men in public. Men hold other men's hands walking down the street. Men put their arms around each other's waist or around each other's shoulder while walking. Men give each other shoulder massage or back massage at the office. Those are not "gay" gestures at all. It's a culture that fosters male affection...unlike in the US.

In Argentina, men kiss each other (men and women) on the cheek as a greeting.

 

[FPNY]

Excellent post, bravo. I enjoyed those photos.

 

[ashonfire]

When I went to India for the first time, I thought there were a lot of openly gay men in public. Men hold other men's hands walking down the street. Men put their arms around each other's waist or around each other's shoulder while walking. Men give each other shoulder massage or back massage at the office. Those are not "gay" gestures at all. It's a culture that fosters male affection...unlike in the US.

I also thought of my experiences in India (I think I've seen similar behaviour in some North African countries too) while reading and viewing the article. Especially when it talked about how sexes were largely segregated, leaving men to form particularly strong bonds with one another. I'm fairly sure this is true of parts of India.

I particularly love the pics when the friends have their legs intertwined. So sweet.

 

[HunterM]

I also thought of my experiences in India (I think I've seen similar behaviour in some North African countries too) while reading and viewing the article. Especially when it talked about how sexes were largely segregated, leaving men to form particularly strong bonds with one another. I'm fairly sure this is true of parts of India.
.

Good point.

 

[Legionair]

Good point.

I like that too. Might sound stupid but kind of reminds me of that quote from iRobot:

" Why is it that when some robots are left in darkness, they will seek out the light? Why is it that when robots are stored in an empty space, they will group together, rather than stand alone? How do we explain this behavior?"

 

[glasvegas]

It reminds me of my best friends I met last 6 months. We greet each other with hugs. One of them even kissed me on the cheek before he left Australia.

 

[SLOPPYSECONDS]

I think it's just the opposite. I think men stopped showing such brotherly love because as gay men became more present in society, the need to show that they are heterosexual caused many of these displays of "brotherly love" to be shelved.

wot land is this?

change sum a words fit many ways Man of lands bleed da day

thankyou

 

[refujiunderground]

this is so touching. these guys geniunely look and seem happy with themselves.

the best love truly is gay love.

 

[refujiunderground]

^But these guys aren't gay.

if they weren't gay then, then they're gay now.