The Bear Book: Readings in the History and Evolution of a Gay Male Subculture (Haworth Gay & Lesbian Studies)

From Michelangelo's David to Calvin Klein's hunks in briefs, the cult of the beautiful male body has been at the heart of much of gay culture. But there is more to gay life than buffed pecs and rippled abs. Les Wright's The Bear Book is a surprising collection of sociological and literary essays about gay bears: hefty, bearded men who look for the same attributes in their partners. The gay bear phenomenon started more than a decade ago--in response to AIDS, some commentators note here--and has become a defining identity for many gay men. The Bear Book examines the range of bear culture--bear magazines, bear clubs, bear Web sites--and in doing so explores how gay male culture evolves in response to the needs of its members and to the broader culture.