About this title: David Leddick, the popular and acclaimed author of 2001's Male Nude Now, brings us the latest and most current survey of the male nude form, as seen through the eyes of today's most important and influential artists who recognize the inherent physical and emotional beauty of the subject. This collection showcases such prominent photographers and illustrators as David Hockney, Sam Taylor-Wood, Clive Barker, Mark Beard, Tom Bianchi, Reed Masengill, Nan Goldin, Bruce La Bruce and Duane Michals, presenting images ranging from the erotic, to fantastic, romantic, dangerous, and funny. The Nude Male ...
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Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Universe Pub
Date Published: 2008-09-23
ISBN-13:9780789317568ISBN:0789317567
Description: NEW. Softcover. From an inventory that is 100% brand-new, 100% direct from the publishers' distribution channel. We carry NO pre-owned, NO remaindered. We pack in CARDBOARD to ensure the pristine quality is maintained. (Bubble-wrap alone is NOT sufficient to protect from USPS equipment. ) Guaranteed brand-NEW, protected with CARDBOARD, your satisfaction is guaranteed. BKLUVID: 9780789317568. read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: UNIVERSE PUBLISHING Country = UNITED STATES
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780789317568ISBN:0789317567
Description: BRAND NEW PAPERBACK. 224 pages. The long-awaited sequel to 2001's 'male nude now', this survey of the male nude form as seen through the eyes of today's most important established and emerging artists will be the ultimate book on the topic and appeal to anyone interested in photography, the male nude and contemporary culture. 250 colour and black and white illustrations (Paperback) read more
Binding: Softcover
Publisher: Universe Publishing, New York City, NY
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780789317568ISBN:0789317567
Description: Signed by Author. Softcover. First Edition. First Printing. 260 pages. As New. Collection of male nudes. One of the finest anthologies on the subject ever published. The true First Edition. Precedes and should not be confused with all other subsequent editions. An elegant production by Universe Publishing: Oversize-volume format. Pictorial softcovers with titles on the cover and spine, as issued. Photographs by numerous contributors. Edited with an Introduction and Notes by David Leddick. ... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Random House Inc
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780789317568ISBN:0789317567
Description: New. David Leddick, the popular and acclaimed author of 2001's Male Nude Now, brings us the latest and most current survey of the male nude form, as seen through the eyes of today's most important and influential artists who recognize the inherent physica... read more
Binding: Paperback
Publisher: Universe Publishing
Date Published: 2008
ISBN-13:9780789317568ISBN:0789317567
Description: New. The long-awaited sequel to 2001's 'Male Nude Now', this survey of the male nude form as seen through the eyes of today's most important established and emerging artists will be the ultimate book on the topic and appeal to anyone interested in photogra... read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly imported from the UK using International Priority Airmail. Delivery is typically 5-10 working days. Please do not select expedited shipping. Heavier and more expensive items have tracking number. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). read more
Description: New. PLEASE NOTE: All books are promptly imported from the UK using International Priority Airmail. Delivery is typically 5-10 working days. Please do not select expedited shipping. Heavier and more expensive items have tracking number. Professional and reliable bookseller (est.1987). read more
"I seldom find much "art" in the exploration of the male nude, including those of Mapplethorpe, Ritts, Lynes...etc and now, Leddick. In my opinion, the focus on male nudes tends too much toward gay-related themes; e.g., the male is posed in sweaty, muscular, seductive, sexual or virulent postures that suggests "man-to-man power". The models are above-average, well endowed with semi-to-erect phalluses, or in compromising poses that compete with the best homosexual come-on ads. Were these poses meant for women audiences? I don't think so, and too bad because women appreciate the male physique in as much as the gay male might. This is to say, are these photos really titillating? To some extent, of course! Seriously, in-your-face male prowess doesn't necessarily translate to wet dreams. The Greeks might have had it right, but so much of Greek art was dedicated to myth, it's difficult to imagine a skinny, wizened man like Plato would have been immortalized in a marble sculpture with his back arched, mouth half opened and flexing his you know what. No, much of the stockpile of marble was savored for the warriors, the athletes, gods and goddesses.
Considering that it is male photographers who shot most of the aforementioned books of male models, I guess I shouldn't be surprised. I'm not surprised nor disappointed. What I'm getting at is that men have always dominated and defined beauty for much of human history, be it the male or female form. Women have been regulated to taking photos of babies, (Ann Geddes), journalistic events, history (Dorothea Lange). Perhaps, Diana Arbuckle broke that conventional prudish mode most, finding the art in the garish and the ghoulish.
I thought having women photographers, editors taking part in the male anatomy might change the dynamics. But alas, no. Playgirl folded recently, or was taken over by all male editors (don't quote me on this). It's no wonder Playgirl didn't do well - the male models tended to be "well endowed" again, but the poses were unnatural, on the lighter side of porn and basically filled with anemic, vacuous looking men with more makeup than is healthy for most to wear (it causes shiny spots). The pages lacked passion, and the poses were in no danger of competing with reality. One got the impression that the editors were stuck forever in Harlequin romance novels. My objection with most male (and female) nudes in photography and in art is that there is no real true representation of beauty for either gender. For instance, I'm convinced the male body can be very sexy with a beer gut, aging body, receding hairline and not just when they're holding a baby in their hands. The questions that is foremost on my mind, what makes men sexy to women? I'm not looking for pat answers here: "Sensitive, loves to walk on the beach, considerate..." And I'm not just referring to other credentials like financial statements, ivy league alumni associations, country club memberships, the size of their woods or irons. I'm thinking of something more basic, more primal: The lines and contrasts and fluid of motion captured in the physique, in a sad expression, a contemplative fleeting thought captured on their face in shadows (think of James Dean). Beauty is not in just strength, but in its ultimate vulnerability and tenderness. The ability of the photographer to capture a emotions outside of coitus...is the one I'm waiting for. Leddick's other book, "Naked Men : Pioneering Male Nudes 1935-1955" is a better study in male nudity for the pruriently curious. We're getting there, albeit slowly. For certain, there's no shortage of male nude rags, books, shows, plays, online sites these days, so if one book doesn't do it for you, keep looking. Leddick is only mildly interesting and falls too readily to commercial demand."
"David Leddick Continues His Important Art Survey of the Male Nude
Few writers have so consistently illuminated the history of the controversy of the male nude in art as David Leddick. For more than ten years Leddick has not only written excellent novels and biographies and monographs of fascinating individual artists, but he has also educated the public with his very fine art books combining photography with all forms of visual art dealing with the changing appreciation and acceptance of the male nude. In 1997 he introduced NAKED MEN: PIONEERING MALE NUDES 1935 - 1955, in 2000 he published NAKED MEN TOO: LIBERATING THE MALE NUDE 1950 - 2000, in 2001 he released MALE NUDE NOW: NEW VISIONS FOR THE 21st CENTURY, and now in 2008 he culminates his work with this excellent book THE NUDE MALE: 21st CENTURY VISIONS.
After an apt and brief introduction in which he suggests that both the rise of photography as an art form and the rise of Feminism allowed the male nude to gain popularity and acceptance in art, Leddick presents 140 established and emerging artists, in alphabetical order, with ample examples of each artist's contribution to the theme of the book. His panorama of artists is global and includes such luminaries as Duane Michaels, Don Bachardy, Chuck Close, David Hockney, John Currin, Reed Massengill, Kobi Israel, Wes Hempel, Jack Balas, Lucian Freud, Dimitris Yeros, Nan Golden, Arthur Tress, Wolfgan Tillmans, Alexis Rodriguez-Duarte, Joe Oppedisano, Michael Leonard, Matthias Herrmann, and Greg Gorman - to name but a few. The images are accompanied by a brief but informative biographical statement about the artist displayed, and the design of the book by Jennifer Laino is a work of art in itself.
Viewing this book is informative to both the art student and the art public in general, entertaining for the amount of humor it contains, and provocative. It is certainly well within the high standard of Leddick's previous books - a handsome volume of artistic significance. Grady Harp"
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