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Susan Bordo's Piece “Beauty (Re) Discovers the Male Body”

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Susan Bordo's Piece “Beauty (Re) Discovers the Male Body”
Dear Student of 2011, One essay you will read this year is Susan Bordo’s piece “Beauty (Re) discovers the Male Body”. At first glance, this essay seemed to contain many images and text that some students found offensive. Do not let this put you off from this essay, as it is well constructed. This essay by Bordo is indeed a long essay. It consists of forty five pages of detailed analysis of men in advertising. However, Bordo’s writing style is unique and fun making it an enjoyable read. I feel that by breaking the reading into sections, makes the essay easier to understand. Also what make this essay unique, Bordo included many personal stories and in depth opinions and analysis. Some of which may seem long winded but of which channels well towards her position. To me she is showing that something new and important is happening in relation to men and fashion.
Straight away in the second paragraph Bordo begins, “It was the spring of 1995, and I was sipping my first cup of morning coffee” (168) this description and numerous others throughout the essay, allows the reader to place oneself in the situation and to form their own personal feelings and opinions about the topic; Which it will not take long for you to formulate your own. The loaded text used, just pushes for attention and depending on your background may be a bit of an eye opener. I feel it is written expressively and in a style which makes it enjoyable to read.
In the essay, Bordo shows how one is located as subject or object and in the moment of vision. The section, “Rocks and Leaners”, Bordo shows an argument that gaze and position of men in advertizing give off a message of masculinity (Or feminine, submissive). As described in her essay the gaze or stance of a man in a particular ad can show dominance. The male models are the objects in the advertisement and are meant to create a certain reaction depending upon their position. In Bordos case these reactions vary, anything from sexual seductiveness
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