Chest hair: Kirk v. Spock

[A beaker full of death]

^ I doubt they "made" him do it. Then, as now, many men thought they looked better that way. Personally, I think it's a bit silly.

As for why Spock was rarely shirtless, the yellow makeup would have taken forever.

[emergencyfruit]

Eh, I heard somewhere that the first few times Shatner shaved, he complained because it itched so badly. And to get that perfectly smooth sheen, it had to have been a pretty intensive process.

It's a good point about Spock being rarely shirtless, though. While the makeup issue is probably correct, I think his constantly being clothed also adds to two important traits: his alien-ness/mystique of the unknown, and his discomfort in being himself. By keeping his body literally under wraps, he distances himself from others and shows that he is not at peace in his own skin. It fits perfectly.

[Bry_Sinclair]

I love body hair on a man!

[teacake]

Not me. I like the smooth chest look. But you are what you are, waxing your chest seems pretty ick.

[emergencyfruit]

teacock wrote:

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Not me. I like the smooth chest look. But you are what you are, waxing your chest seems pretty ick.

Smooth chest is pretty attractive. I'm biased; my boyfriend is Chinese, so he's naturally (nearly) hairless, but even if he had a full chest carpet, I would never ask him to get rid of it - too painful and too much work. Waxing opens you up to a lot of infections, too.

[teacake]

Now when the hair covers the back and shoulders..

:: prepares the linen strips ::

[emergencyfruit]

teacock wrote:

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Now when the hair covers the back and shoulders..

:: prepares the linen strips ::

Oh, agreed! That's another story entirely... :P

[A beaker full of death]

I knew I had met the woman of my dreams when she said she thought I would look odd if I waxed my backhair.

I know. TMI. But I tried that once, and getting stabbed hurt less!
Good thing my idol has always been Wolverine.

emergencyfruit wrote:

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I think his constantly being clothed also adds to two important traits: his alien-ness/mystique of the unknown, and his discomfort in being himself. By keeping his body literally under wraps, he distances himself from others and shows that he is not at peace in his own skin. It fits perfectly.

Nice point.

[teacake]

Are we sure they didn't let Nimoy take off his shirt because Shatner wanted to be the only shirtless one?

[Grey]

emergencyfruit wrote:

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It's a good point about Spock being rarely shirtless, though. While the makeup issue is probably correct, I think his constantly being clothed also adds to two important traits: his alien-ness/mystique of the unknown, and his discomfort in being himself. By keeping his body literally under wraps, he distances himself from others and shows that he is not at peace in his own skin. It fits perfectly.

That makes a lot of sense.

teacock wrote:

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Are we sure they didn't let Nimoy take off his shirt because Shatner wanted to be the only shirtless one?

Well, there was Sulu that one time. (Or was it a couple times?)

[teacake]

Once.

But hairless and oiled!

[emergencyfruit]

teacock wrote:

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Once.

But hairless and oiled!

Or rather, Japanese and sweaty. But once he set the standard, maybe Shatner couldn't back down from the challenge! :P

[teacake]

I think they probably oiled him to make him look sweaty

[emergencyfruit]

teacock wrote:

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I think they probably oiled him to make him look sweaty

True, actually - I just looked back through some of the pics, and you're right, there was definitely some extra gloss going on. Well, good to know that whatever your tastes, there's a man on the bridge to meet it - young or mature, slender or muscular, slick-chested or rugged...

[teacake]

Yes, it's a smorgasbord!