Abstract Beefcake - First Serving

Abstract Beefcake

First Serving

Leandro Okabe

In response to the previous post "The Naked and the Nude", I am pursuing the discussion in further detail in appreciating the Asian male physique.  Previously, we have discussed the difference between the naked and the naked and its forms.  With this, let us explore the abstract beefcake.

To define the term, it is indeed worth lifting a quote from the Cambridge Dictionary Online (2010) , wherein beefcake is defined as an attractive man with big muscles, or men with such bodies as shown in pictures or in shows. 

Art and Popular Culture (2009) published a post about Beefcake magazines, on which have been in existence since the 1930s to 1960s. These magazines featured muscular men in athletic poses. Initially, the market were generally men since the magazines promoted fitness and health (Ibid.).

From the definition of beefcake, to define abstract beefcake, we can define it from the perspective in Photography, wherein these are photos of men with good physique, big muscles on which the face is not the focus (often neglected) so that the body or the physique is the center of attention.

So here are some of the Asian hunks, all in duotone photos, to illustrate abstract nude or abstract beefcake. As you may notice, if you have read the previous post on The Naked and the Nude, we have featured  here some of the hunks previously included.

See the gallery of pictures here.

The Naked and the Nude

The Naked and the Nude

Victor Basa

In appreciating the beauty of Asian Men, sometimes, I can not stop myself from being analytic and too academic.  For some time, I tend to interchange the terms naked and nude when referring to an unclothed god (or hunk) until i stumbled upon this author Louis Giannetti of the book Understanding Hollywood.

Giannetti (2008) gives an interesting differentiation of the naked and the nude:

For Giannetti (2008), the term nude or seminude is for a picture meant to be looked at, meant to be admired....We're drawn to the sensual beauty of the sculpted bodies, and we want to touch, perhaps possess. Wherein, naked is usually embarrassed to be seen publicly without clothes on (Ibid.).

Moreover, Francisco(2000)  in the foreword of the Brief Encounters (2000) defines the following terms:

• Fashion - showing the garment (in this case, product) being worn  (or use as a cover) by the model who exudes style and mood
• Advertising - promoting visible products
• Abstract nude - depersonalizes the model by eliminating the face
• Beefcake - brings out the texture and tone of the model;s body while his eyes are suggesting frankness and intimacy
• Erotic - having an air of mystery, soft focus, and low-lighting that creates shadowy effects

The following photos illustrate the use of high contrast lighting that emphasizes the texture and angles of the body.

Click here for the pics

Hot and Sexy Music

Hot and Sexy Music


I love house music, i always listen to Hed Kandi albums. But each time I listen to it, i always end up looking at album covers with sexy girls on it. Perhaps the reason why they selected sexy women to be the image carrier of Hed Kandi albums is because they represent the modern lifestyle of a typical city slicker, sexy and slim with long legs- somewhat like an epitome of a modern woman. Because they are targeting the lifestyle of a city slicker. Another possible reason is for marketing strategy, since majority of the DJs are males, thus to get their attention, the Ministry of Sound (owner of the label Hed Kandi) chose women to be their image carrier - however odd it may sound putting down their balls and raising the flag of women.  Well it works for DJs, but not for me.






For a person who loves men, sexy women does not attract my eyes, that's why i'd love the idea of putting these men as album covers. Click on the thumbnail image for a larger pic

For example:

If these are the album cover, it will be great since we have the eye candies, while giving music to my ears, literally.