The world is just jam-packed with images of “girl on girl” sexuality, almost all of which is arranged for my (as a man) benefit. Amanda Marcotte of Pandagon offers “a small taste for those of us who like men of what it’s like to be a straight man with the non-stop eye candy.”
From Lauren, this ad selling Paris to British tourists is just, wow. Someone figured out 3 out of top 4 straight female fantasies.
And, of course, for those of us who like women it gives us a small taste of what it’s like to be surrounded by that kind of eye candy. As with a lot of for-men eye candy the image is “just” an eroticization of an common-for-that-gender activity, on the one hand inescapably sexual and on the other so nearly-routine to be almost covertly so. But! As Pandagon commenter Andrea puts it
One thing that I have to point out, however, is that these ultrasexy men are actually DOING something. Same with the Polish plumber. [Note: she means this plumber. —fl] I mean, when women are all over each other in advertising, they’re usually just laying around in bikinis or having fake pillow fights or whatever, instead of actually using their physiques for some sort of work.
Oh yeah, Andrea also says
There is no way I will ever be able to express enough gratitude to the great city of Paris. I really hope other media outlets pick up on the fact that guy-on-guy is HOT and will attract just as much attention as girl-on-girl.
Incidentally Marcotte found it from Lauren of Unsprung who got it from someone at Shakesville. (I’d follow the link further but Shakesville is down at the moment.) And where exactly did people get the impression that being a feminist means you can neither like nor enjoy men?
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Oh yeah, one last little turn of the tables. Y’know how guys will sometimes ask of women “how couldn’t you notice...” this that or other thing that’s roaringly sexy to men? Well, I was maybe five minutes into composing this before I noticed more than two guys kissing. And even longer to notice they’re all kissing, stroking, or being kissed or stroked. Doh! Anyway, now I can’t ask “yow couldn’t you notice“ type questions anymore.
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Final note: Amanda says the photo hits three of four straight female fantasies. How does it work for you?
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Tue, 2007-07-24 11:57.
See, now I wouldn't have thought the canalblog images would have worked.
You've made me think now. Because they appeal only in a certain way. I like to look at them in almost the same way as I would like to look at any fine physical example, of anything really. I say almost, because there is some sexual overtone, but there's no agency there at all. And I've seen them all play rugby, so the image gets a bit mixed up with the reality too.
Indeed I've just had to make myself look through them again to see what appeals, whereas I'd look through your flickr photos at the drop of a hat, because I *know* what appeals there :)
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 14:33.
Didn't work for me, it looked contrived and unnatural, actually no sensuality. Guys don't fit the body type I like, either.
[Very interesting. And again, good to know. Thanks Five. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 14:37.
Les Dieux du Stade! Some of them are pretty hot. Gonzalo Quesada, mmm. But you can see that groping in a scrum at any rugby match, not so much of the kissing though...
[See, now I wouldn't have thought the canalblog images would have worked. I think I'm just not as good at this as I wish I was. Thanks, A. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Sat, 2007-07-21 11:02.
I find that my fantasies don't match up with imagery that I find arousing. So while this photo has elements I find sexy it would not be something that would go through my mind during masturbation or partnered sex.
Heather's comment got me to thinking of some imagery that goes beyond this image but has a similar theme. Men in locker rooms showering together. I like the idea of them being straight yet desirous of sex with each other. A mix of the hetero with homosexual.
[Cool! That's a lot like what we sort of imagine might happen in women's locker rooms. Thanks, Seska. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Sat, 2007-07-21 07:48.
Honestly, from everything I know and have heard in work over the years per hetero female fantasy, I think something like this is likely a more common hetero MALE fantasy (one squelched by homophobia) more often than a hetero female fantasy. :P
[Hmm. Possibly. It certainly fits with the hetero-discomfort with ball players smacking each other's butts. What puzzles me is the enthusiastic reception over at Amanda's place compared to the strikingly cool one here. How did that happen anyway? Thanks, Heather. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Fri, 2007-07-20 01:14.
I'm not big into rugby and it just looks unnatural because if you'd just run into each other with force you'd break your neck trying to kiss each other. The positioning is just not natural.
But it's still kind of hot because they look pretty enthused, and because it's so unusual to see man love (lol) in pop media
[Interesting, Dana. Yeah, a couple of commenters on Marcotte's post said jus the novelty made the photo exciting. Thanks! --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 18:57.
What are these so-called "top 4 straight female fantasies" and how does that photo show them?
As a bona fide straight female who fantasizes, I'd say that pic doesn't touch any of mine. I mean, guy-on-guy is hot, but a top fantasy? Not unless I'm part of the fun too :P
[I'm still unsure what the top four fantasies Amanda alluded to would be, let alone which three were represented in the photo. Thanks, IS. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 21:35.
I think this picture is hot. It's great to see people enjoying each other. It makes me want to do it too, no matter who they are. I'm a straight woman who enjoys gay porn. I love to hear my male partner talk about the homosexual experimentation of his youth, and the fact that he's open to more is very exciting. I find homophobia in a man to be a potential deal breaker.
I just discovered this blog a few days ago, and it's great! LOVE the pictures and videos. It's so rare to find such wonderfully erotic male photos. The fact that you are taking them yourself yourself makes them even better. May I please have an invitation to see the hidden ones?
[I've sent your invitation. Thanks, Totem. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 13:43.
doesn't work for me at all (but i've been told am picky about erotic photography). instead of drifting off and pretending i'm in the middle of all that, i'm thinking that the lighting is off and that the composition is just all over the place. maybe if there were fewer of them so that the eye could have just a few spots to focus on, i dunno.
[Interesting. Good to know, Kermit. Thanks. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 16:17.
This doesn't work for me either. It might be the setting, the group, the lack of intimacy. My first thought was ick! The photo doesn't make sense to me.
[The trend is pretty clear here. Thanks, Cathy. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 15:34.
I noticed them all fondling each other madly right off. Then I noticed the guys kissing. Then I realized 'This isn't US football'. Then I looked at the guys and thought... "Meh". Guy-on-guy is hot. THESE guys on each other? "Meh"....
[Thank you, Darkneuro. --fl]
Submitted by 1494 (not verified) on Thu, 2007-07-19 15:42.
Strangely my fantasies tend to involve a bunch of hot looking guys like that all wanting ME, not each other.. But to each their own, I guess.
[That would be my fantasy too, which is part of why "girl on girl" imagery doesn't fire me up the way it seems to arouse other people. Thank you Lushlyme. --fl]