More Male Nudity in Film and Television
I don't watch much media, but my general view is that the US considers male and female genitalia very sexual in nature. Women's naked breasts and men's naked asses are considered titillating. Both sexes' abs and covered crotches are more eye candy. This varies in different parts of the world. I can even imagine that some cultures outside the US might even believe that naked nipples are beneficial for human survival, but that naked aggression and violence won't get us far in the future. In the meantime, give us more non-sexualized nudity in media.
I think male nudity is increasing dramatically in the last few years. It's becoming a think for male actors to go full frontal. Watch the movie "Game over, Man!". It has a lot of full frontal. You see the dudes butt hole pretty much. And he's pretending to be jerking off while choking himself. It's all comedic and over the top, I was laughing my ass off.
The HBO series "High Maintenance" (two seasons) shows male nudity in a few episodes. And even a bisexual threeway between brother. There is also a cool scene with a nudist character who's just naked in a non-sexual or comedic scene... and it wasn't judgmental.
I can think of a few other examples, but just google it... there are blogs on this sort of thing. And there are articles calling this the era of male full frontal. Maybe it's a consequence of the #metoo movement, or I don't know.. but it's a thing.
I don't have HBO and my taste in movies are more those of an older adult than someone who's up on the latest. At least here in the U.S. though, I can't help but attribute it to homophobic attitudes so prevalent in our society. So called "Macho males", purporting to be 100% hetero-all-the-way, want to see nothing but tits and pussy, lest their sensibilities be offended. Unfortunately, such attitudes dictate our viewing habits in many ways.
Full male nudity in film needs to be integral to the plot and. as such, can be a powerful way of pulling a story line forward. In real life men generally let it all hang out more so than do women, yet in film it's always the opposite way around. As an example, in a typical bedroom scene, once the lovemaking has ended the man will just be shown partially, as he wraps a sheet around his waist and heads off screen. The woman, on the other hand, gets out of bed fully nude and remains in full view. I think that, in the real world, women tend to have slightly more body modesty and wrap themselves while the guy is the one who exits the bedroom naked.
When you get right down to it, there are as many opportunities for full male nudity in film as there are female. Showering or bathing, getting dressed (or undressed), sports and locker room scenes, getting naked and comfortable while sunbathing or upon arriving home--male actors could be easily shown nude as well as natural.
I agree.
As a gay man, it is frustrating to see the imbalance of nudity in media generally skewed towards women. I feel it's only fair to show an equal amount of nudity from all sexes. That way, there is something titillating for EVERYONE to enjoy. Not just the straight men.
Hey here is the problem and solution. Much of the core values placed in visual media is centered around Gender Roles and Morality Concepts.
Everyone with money has power over the production because they are the financial backers and if the money walks their is no production. The money voices often the loudest are seeking to continue their version of life. Why you ask? A few reasons however primarily to control the narrative.
As a few of you stated between overly sexualizing nudity, to porn a graphic sex, to domestic violence, to how we depict human sexuality the image of nudity has been tainted. One might say it controlling; men are seen as less than to be desired as physical beings and more as as the role they play in life where as women are see the exact opposite. This potential is predominant in heteronormative visual media. In LGBT+ media the body is seen as shameful or affirming if it dealing with character development of navigating the world.
All of this views are slowly changing because of the voices in power and the social justice causes they support. To quicken the change we need more money voices with our view points working throughout the system ie from script to the censorship panel.