Out Takes

7 Mar 2016

The Queer Beauty Myth & Body Obsession

Arts, TV & Film

Before he shed 60 pounds to play Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy, Chris Pratt was a chubby larakin in Parks and Recreation. Paul Rudd beefed up for his role in Ant Man. It’s clear that society likes its leading men to look a certain way. One need only look at queer dating apps and gay men’s porn sites to note that Hollywood’s obsession with beautiful men has penetrated queer cinema.

This week we ask how healthy Hollywood’s obsession with beauty is, and look at some of the issues that the bodies we view on screen engender. To aid us in our discussion we chat with Dr Duane Duncan, honorary research fellow at La Trobe University, and Dr Warwick Hosking, senior lecturer in psychology at Victoria University.  We also look at key queer films like Beauty that have confronted body anxieties and beauty in gay culture.

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 49:22 — 22.6MB)

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22 Dec 2025

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TV & Film

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TV & Film

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