Universal Hunks: A Pictorial History of Muscular Men around the World, 1895-1975

by David L. Chapman, Douglas Brown (Foreword by)

Overview

Over the last one hundred years, the image of the muscular man has known no boundaries; it has been the object of envy and desire, and used to convey optimal health and fitness, product appeal, political power, and military might. Universal Hunks, David L. Chapman's follow-up to American Hunks, is a captivating collection of historical images of muscular men from around the world, beginning in the nineteenth century and continuing up until the 1970s, including photographs, posters, advertisements, magazine and comic book covers, and product packaging. The book considers the eroticized, politicized, and commercialized male image through history, and evaluates its fascinating cultural context by country and continent; culled from the author's personal collections, it includes materials never published before, including images of Asian bodybuilders, European comic-book superheroes, and muscleman posters from the Soviet Union. The book also includes a foreword by cultural and sports historian Douglas Brown.

Full-color throughout, Universal Hunks is a thought-provoking and sexy visual tour of musclemen from all parts of the globe.

David L. Chapman is the author of twelve books on male photography and bodybuilding, including American Hunks, Comin' at Ya!: The Homoerotic 3D Photographs of Denny Denfield, and Adonis: The Male Physique Pin-up, as well as the book Venus with Biceps: A Pictorial History of Muscular Women.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781551525099
Publisher:	Arsenal Pulp Press, Limited
Publication date:	11/19/2013
Pages:	352
Product dimensions:	7.90(w) x 9.90(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David L. Chapman is the author of twelve books on male photography and bodybuilding, including American Hunks (Arsenal, 2009), Comin' at Ya!: The Homoerotic 3D Photographs of Denny Denfield (Arsenal, 2007), and Adonis: The Male Physique Pin-up, as well as co-author of Venus with Biceps: A Pictorial History of Muscular Women (Arsenal, 2010).
Douglas Brown is a cultural historian with a keen interest in early modern sport (19th and 20th centuries). He is an associate professor in the Faculty of Kinesiology at the University of Calgary.

Table of Contents

Foreword by Douglas Brown
Introduction
Europe
Africa
Asia
Pacific Rim
The Americas

Editorial Reviews

"Authors David L. Chapman and Douglas Brown trace the origins of the sculpted, nearly nude, or totally bare male silhouette across the globe." —The Atlantic

"As substantial as it is salacious. . . showing us men with a wide range of skin tones and facial features, but also provokes readers to think about their commonalities." —Passport Magazine

"A fun, attractive book full of musclemen." —The Stranger

"A captivating visual tour." —The Advocate

"Chapman has amassed a vast collection of fascinating, humorous and alluring 'hunk' ephemera from around the globe." —EDGE Publications

From the Publisher