ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the cultural significance of the male body to examine what it means to people, across different times and places. It then focuses on a range of different themes, including fashion, sport and the experiences of growing old. The ancient Greeks viewed the male body as a symbol of moral and aesthetic virtue. Goldhill argues that in ancient Greece, it was seen as a man's duty as a citizen to keep himself fit and strong, for a man's body was viewed as the property of the state. The modern male appears as lean and muscular, with clearly defined pectorals and a 'washboard' or 'six-pack' stomach. The idealisation of the mesomorphic male is common across the domains of sport, pop music, film and fashion. Over the years, a number of theorists have claimed that gay culture places a greater emphasis on the aesthetics of the body compared to the heterosexual realm.
