Superman and standards of male fitness

[Radical Activist]

There are tons of commentaries I've seen on changing standards of beauty for women over the decades. I was watching part of some show about the new Superman movie and it showed pictures of 1950's superman. Here he is...



I'm thinking...THAT is superman? He doesn't look too strong or too super to me at all. Yes, I'm straight, so I guess that could be a look women like, or did like in the 1950's. But still, is this what passed for "in great shape" back then? I've seen other movies from the 50's of men with similar looks. John Wayne comes to mind. I've never seen him in a movie where he looked like he was in great shape, but I've only seen a few. How did Hollywood get away with passing off men in so-so shape as heroes?

What happened? Have standards changed or am I assigning too much significance to a few old movies? I'd encourage anyone who was around in the 50's to respond.

[ThomCat]

1. That was considered good shape.

He was big, bulky, and reasonably hard-bodied. That was before the bodybuilding craze, so the idea of a totally toned body was absurd unless you were working class.

Personally, I think Christopher Reeves was too thin, and so is the new guy. Whatshisname from Lois and Clark looked the part except when he grew out his hair. (yes, I know superman briefly grew out his hair in the comic book. It still didn't look good.)

[Radical Activist]

2. The new guy

is a little thin, but at least he looks muscular, not like this guy.

Thanks for your take on it.

[TrogL]

3. That was the ideal male figure in the 50's

This was in the days before the fitness craze where all men had to be musclebound.

[Seabiscuit]

5. I disagree. I grew up in the 50's and thought this guy looked like a

sissy. No one I knew thought he looked anything like the comic book Superman, who definitely *was* musclebound.

Mickey Mantle, Ted Kluszewski, Rocky Marciano, etc. - they were considered masculine looking.

[Radical Activist]

7. aha

I wondered if anyone thought that then.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

15. Eh, Reeves was an actor.

He didn't have much more of a figure than Adam West in a girdle.

But yeah, I wonder what it's like for little boys today when everybody's pumping steroids and their superheroes look like this:

[Seabiscuit]

44. If I were a little boy today

I wouldn't pay any attention to the guys in that comix pic - I'd be ******* *** to the females.

Just the reverse for little girls.

[Radical Activist]

4. I changed the subject line

mostly to make the subject more descriptive of the post and so it sounds slightly less gay, but this is still easily the gayest thread I've ever started on DU. :D

[Hissyspit]

6. Standards of beauty are ALWAYS in flux, always changing - men and women

[jpgray]

8. Well, boxers and gymnasts in the fifties were still ripped

And then there's that discus throwing guy from a couple thou years ago.

[WindRavenX]

9. Hollywood is an effin' joke

It creates images that are impossible to live up to--no matter who you are.
No wonder everyone hates their bodies...

[Radical Activist]

12. True today, but

I think I stand up pretty well to that 1950's Superman and its not like I'm hot shit or anything.

[WindRavenX]

18. I HATE how most men look today

I like trim, but I absolutely do not like muscles-- I like a toned look, but I like my men to be my teddy bears :)

Then again, I'm so small so that's easy :D

[Dangerously Amused]

24. I LIKE how most men look today!

Short or tall, heavy or thin or muscle-y, long hair, short hair or bald, black or white or brown or anything in between. They all look good to me!

I'm more of a heart and brains girl, myself.


:thumbsup:

[WindRavenX]

29. let me add this:

I don't like men my age group. Coz most of them aren't men at all. :cry:

(love men though. Love 'em.)

[Radical Activist]

hmm...

Sounds like you have reasonable standards. I, on the other hand, am only attracted to women I can't have for one reason or another.

[WindRavenX]

32. it really is all about the person

If I love someone, then their entire self, including body, is sexy :thumbsup:

[Spaceman Spiff]

17. I don't hate my body

Hell, I make it a point to love it at least once a day.:patriot:

[flvegan]

10. In the 50's, guys like Steve Reeves were pretty big.

He's on the left in this pic:


Compared to "Superman" doesn't seem like ole Supe had much.

[jpgray]

11. I guess shitty Italian Hercules movies had a higher standard.

[flvegan]

42. Mr. America competitions do

or rather, did.

[Seabiscuit]

16. True. Venice's muscle beach, Joe Atlas, Joe Wieder were big then.

[Dangerously Amused]

19. Right. But could they act?

I think back then, musclemen were musclemen and actors were actors.


Now we have Ahh-nuld. :eyes:

[Seabiscuit]

26. Yup. And before him we had "musclehead" Ronny.

:puke:

[Dangerously Amused]

22. You know what's funny/sad?

The girl in the middle would be considered too heavy, too old, too short, and not toned or tanned enough to be "Miss" anything these days.


:eyes:

[Seabiscuit]

31. It's pathetic that Paris Hilton is now idolized and papparazied.

She would have been totally ignored in the 50's.

[Seabiscuit]

28. Buck Rogers was big back then too.

[Dangerously Amused]

13. I'm guessing that was before steroids became widely available

...and not too many men have natural "Superman" genetics.

[Radical Activist]

14. True

I can do all the working out in the world and I'm only going to look so big, unless I use steroids. Its not how my body is built.

[flvegan]

41. Actually, the 50's were the dawn of the 'roid era.

It's when steroids made their big entrance into the self-enhancement world of bodybuilding/Hollywood.

[StellaBlue]

20. I prefer that Superman to Dean Cain, for sure

I don't like the muscled-up look. Liberal men everywhere take heart.

I also like watching football while eating fried chicken.

I'll sit back and wait for the offers.

;)

[Radical Activist]

21. lol awesome

But...how do you feel about the Dukes of Hazard?

Great myspace page. You may get a friend invite soon that may or may not be my alter ego.

[StellaBlue]

23. tee hee hee

It's *sort of* my alterego, too.

:hi:

[Radical Activist]

25. ummm...

I have some questions about items on your page.

under general: eating Belgian children...interesting.

But even worse, I hope your musical listings of "Ace of Base, Clay Aiken, Slayer" is a joke.

Hilarious page. I visit by brother in Texas now and then but I've never made it to Austin. Everyone tells me I should go, that its the hip, young, liberal oasis of Texas, and I do like a lot of music I hear coming from there.

[StellaBlue]

30. Austin ROCKS

literally (in the usual metaphorical sense, but, yes, involving real music)

For instance, I saw the Derailers for $10 at the Broken Spoke Saturday night, and got to two-step to "I Saw Her Standing There". Now you just can't beat that.

Yeah, that stuff... all hilarity. I can't list my musical interests... it was a mind-boggling exercise, as was the "Books" section. Plus I'm real funny. hahahahahaha

[Radical Activist]

33. Last week I was in an Illinois bar and the band played a great version of

Rocky Top!!!

GO VOLS!!!

[StellaBlue]

35. .

[Radical Activist]

37. What, no trash talk?

I thought it was a reflex for Texas football fans.

[StellaBlue]

39. It's not necessary.

[Wetzelbill]

43. hey I like your myspace page

I just added you as a friend. I'm "The Wrestling Machine" and I have a bullriding profile pic if so you know who I am. :)

Oh yeah, you could have me anyday, btw. :)

[Dr Fate]

27. George Reeves wore padding - plus, the show was geared at young boys...

...not women.

Check out Cary Grant, Tyrone Powers or Erol Flynn- would they not be considered healthy looking or in shape now-a-days?

[u4ic]

34. I'd call that chap 'strapping'

Curious if the costume has changed...IRL the belt up to the chest is thankfully a bygone standard...

Haven't known any bodybuilders, but I don't know if they'd give the impression of agility, rather than just pure strength. I would expect Superman to be both.

Muscle weighs alot, can bodybuilders fly? ;-)

[Mojambo]

36. It was less about the body type and more about the facial profile

It was all about the strong chin

[PassingFair]

38. Ahem, Mature,

Victor.



Taking on the chin.

[Dukkha]

40. Superman doesn't need to be "buffed"

case in point the current actor. Because he is an alien from Krypton. His strength doesn't not come solely from muscles like humans.

Christopher Reeve underwent a bodybuilding regime supervised by David Prowse, the man who played Darth Vader in the original "Star Wars" trilogy. He got so big so fast they had to reshoot scenes to match his physique.