While nude women are a staple of commercial and art photography, the photographed male nude is often the target of censorship but seldom the subject of serious critical discussion. This is the first study to examine the unique interrelation between social perceptions of the nude and the medium of photography. Melody Davis focuses on the work of six artists whose photography confronts societal prohibitions. In order to understand the taboo and silence which surrounds this subject, she addresses the many social and cultural fears that inhibit the presentation and discussion of photographed male nudity. Because she deals with distinctions between the nude and the naked, the interrelational and the pornographic, the book has close connections with current debates about the impact of images and the limits of public tolerance of images of "deviance." Through the photographs of Robert Mapplethorpe, Lucas Samaras, John Coplans, George Dureau, Joel-Peter Witkin, and a film by Dusan Makavejev, the author examines how the action ideal for the male body is challenged by an artistic medium in which man becomes the spectacle, not the spectator. By presenting three of photography's genres—self-portraiture, portraits of others, and allegorical nudes—Davis is able to reveal the critical and theoretical issues which shape our understanding of photographed nudity, and, by extension, representations of gender. Author note:Melody D. Davisis an independent writer and photographer who has taught in the Fine Arts Departments of Montclair State College and State University of New York at Stony Brook.

Poets, anthropologists, philosophers, artists, sociologists, and others provide perspectives on the male body.

Bruno Gmðnder celebrates its 25th anniversary this year, a cause for celebration. And to celebrate they have compiled this gorgeous collection filled with highlights of contemporary men's photography. Over 50 photographers present their best works. From tough to tender, elegant to raw, in colour and b/w - with a wide variety of men sure to tickle any fancy. This magnificent work is an absolute must for everybody's coffee table.

As images of men's bodies have proliferated in pop culture and advertising during the past decade, many artists and photographers have taken up the male nude as a primary subject. Recent work has sparked controversy as well as praise for its shocking frankness, and the line between art and pornography has become increasingly difficult to define. New digital technologies have brought about new ways of representing the body, and we are now faced with a multiplicity of eroticisms, previously unexplored channels of desire, and more inclusive and varied body ideals. "Male Nudes Now "offers an essential guide through this new territory with more than 240 fresh and provocative images. Featuring contemporary work, mostly unpublished, this important sourcebook showcases a dynamic mix of visionaries, from established masters to breakthrough newcomers. Feature Artists Include Lyle Ashton Harris Marc Baptiste Clive Barker Cecily Brown Chuck Close John Dugdale Todd Eberle Eric Fischl Nan Goldin Greg Gorman David Hockney Patrick McMullan Duane Michals Pierre et Gilles Jack Pierson Rankin Terry Richardson Michael Roberts Stewart Shining Wolfgang Tillmans George Tooker Ellen von Unwerth

De l'image interdite à l'art : l'ouvrage de référence sur l'histoire de la photographie du nu masculin.

"Bare Men" portrays the male nude as a human and a work of art, not simply a utilitarian device. It celebrates men who are comfortable in their skin, relaxed, powerful, erect, vulnerable. The images share moments of joy, the power of release, physical angst and ease of masculinity. "Bare Men" offers glimpses into their private moments. The viewer is privy to two relationships: the man and the photographer and the man and himself while in some instances is invited to join in.

The nude self-portrait is perhaps the most intimate form of photography. It delves deep into taboo territory and strips away the traditional barriers between artist and viewer. Witnessing such a private act, we may feel the queasy embarrassment of a voyeur, but we are always compelled to look further. The images cut to the core of issues of identity, sexuality, and ego– and as they reveal an essential truth about their creators they also tell us something about ourselves. Self-Exposure features more than 100 works from both established masters and up-and-coming photographers–many never before published. This groundbreaking collection traces the development of the male self-portrait from its earliest beginnings with such greats as Hippolyte Bayard, Herbert Tobias, and André Kertész, to the contemporary efforts of such artists as John Dugdale, Anthony Goicolea, and Yasumasa Morimura. Each artist takes a uniquely individual approach ranging from the shockingly perverse and aggressively erotic to the elusively self-conscious and sublimely beautiful. Complete with brief biographies of each artist, Self-Exposure is a powerful survey of this most seductive subject.