3 ms·

I know that it's inaccurate to project back modern conceptions of sexuality, but it's a useful lens; being a queer woman, and knowing queer men, Michelangelo so

I know that it's inaccurate to project back modern conceptions of sexuality, but it's a useful lens; being a queer woman, and knowing queer men, Michelangelo sounds queer. It's hard to put my finger on anything specific, but there's definitely a difference between the way straight women describe men's bodies and the way queer men do, and vice versa. Michelangelo's description of the male form sounds like a gay guy. Why did Michelangelo prefer male models? Because he thought they were hot. (I'm far from an expert in art history, and from a quick google this seems to be a common theory)

gowld 3y ago
What description are you referring to? He didn't speak English, and we have no voice recordings.
- polynomial 3y ago
  Also why is the comparison to a woman, and not a hetero male? That seems confusing. Clearly, he was not a woman, I think we can all agree on that.
- delecti 3y ago
  It seems I misinterpreted some of the quotes in the article as being translations of things he said. Definitely a miss on my part. Mistake aside, his art also has that same feel I described above. His women are posed more like a man poses for men, and their breasts look like someone unfamiliar with them (and/or unappreciative of them). The article mentions that and links to this other article about that in particular: https://renresearch.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/men-with-breasts-or-why-are-michelangelos-women-so-muscular-part-1/ https://renresearch.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/men-with-breast...
Retric 3y ago
I don’t think it’s a question of sexuality. Seeing the fully engaged arms and shoulders of a top female or male athlete doing a world class bouldering problem is just striking. (EX: https://www.blurmediaphotography.com/top-photos-ifsc-climbing-world-cup-toronto-2014-boulder-competition https://www.blurmediaphotography.com/top-photos-ifsc-climbin...) If you look at the tendons etc in Michelangelo’s drawings these aren’t people simply normal people holding a pose but look more like bodybuilders flexing. Renaissance Italy would have been filled with people who did significant physical labor constantly and had reasonably healthy diets. That’s not going to make everyone look like top athletes, but it’s just a very different starting point for someone to consider the human form and it’s ideal state. Not that everyone would come to the same conclusions, just that such context is relevant beyond direct cultural norms.

gowld 3y ago

What description are you referring to? He didn't speak English, and we have no voice recordings.

polynomial 3y ago
Also why is the comparison to a woman, and not a hetero male? That seems confusing. Clearly, he was not a woman, I think we can all agree on that.
delecti 3y ago
It seems I misinterpreted some of the quotes in the article as being translations of things he said. Definitely a miss on my part. Mistake aside, his art also has that same feel I described above. His women are posed more like a man poses for men, and their breasts look like someone unfamiliar with them (and/or unappreciative of them). The article mentions that and links to this other article about that in particular: https://renresearch.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/men-with-breasts-or-why-are-michelangelos-women-so-muscular-part-1/ https://renresearch.wordpress.com/2011/02/11/men-with-breast...

Retric 3y ago

I don’t think it’s a question of sexuality. Seeing the fully engaged arms and shoulders of a top female or male athlete doing a world class bouldering problem is just striking. (EX: https://www.blurmediaphotography.com/top-photos-ifsc-climbing-world-cup-toronto-2014-boulder-competition https://www.blurmediaphotography.com/top-photos-ifsc-climbin...) If you look at the tendons etc in Michelangelo’s drawings these aren’t people simply normal people holding a pose but look more like bodybuilders flexing. Renaissance Italy would have been filled with people who did significant physical labor constantly and had reasonably healthy diets. That’s not going to make everyone look like top athletes, but it’s just a very different starting point for someone to consider the human form and it’s ideal state. Not that everyone would come to the same conclusions, just that such context is relevant beyond direct cultural norms.