Shirtless is the New Topless

Okay, I admit that in the past week, I have watched the entire season of "Orange Is the New Black" on Netflix, falling for their evil marketing strategy to make me watch their streaming videos all day long.  I'm going to tell you that ever since I switched to streaming only, I have been disappointed in the selection of movies.  Let's face it, no Ryan Gosling shirtless films are available on streaming.  But with the advent of their Netflix Original series, "Orange Is the New Black," I have been converted back to a happy Netfliz subscriber.  The show challenges all kinds of assumptions we make about people who are convicted of crimes, women in general, racism, sexism, societal power structures, and even the human heart.  I basically binge watched the entire season, mostly on a Saturday night.  It's sad, I know, but honestly the last time I went out on a Saturday night the only single man I met was someone who had already slept with one of my friends.  Why not stay home and watch an interesting show that tells the stories of women and also features the adorable Matt McGorry as one of the few men in the prison?  He even takes his shirt off in one episode, during which I clapped.  His character is sweet, if clueless, and sometimes shirtless; what more could I want on a Saturday night?  I try not to dwell on the fact that the only show on tv about women right now takes place in a prison; I'm just grateful that there are women who are all the colors of the rainbow in this show and that all of their stories get told.  I'm hooked on the series, and I hope that some of you gentle readers will be as well.  Until then, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Mutant Shirtlessness

"The Wolverine" opened last night, and obviously it will be an IMS sanctioned film.  I saw the preview before "Man of Steel" last week, and Hugh Jackman will not disappoint on the shirtlessness front for sure.  Mr. Jackman has been a reliable source of shirtlessness over the years, but what I like even more about him than his shirtlessness is his gentlemanliness.  After all, who was the only person to get out of his seat and try to help Jennifer Lawrence when she stumbled up the steps to make her Oscar acceptance speech?  Hugh Jackman.  Who sells his sweaty towels for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS after every Broadway show that he does?  Hugh Jackman.  Who adopted mixed race children because he felt they were overlooked in the system?  Hugh Jackman.  So while he looks so huge in this movie that I suspect he had to eat chicken breast every two hours for months, my real admiration for Mr. Jackman comes from the fact that he seems always to be trying to help.  Hurrah for him!

I'm sure that I will organize an outing to see the movie, although not until later in the month because I seem to be very busy celebrating love for the next few weeks.  I have found myself in the position of having three weddings to attend in the next month along with all of the accompanying activities, and so trying to make time for shirtlessness will be difficult.  But I'm sure it can be done.  I am nothing if not committed to the cause.  Until Monday, I remain...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Abs of Steel

I finally saw "Man of Steel" this weekend after being bombarded with negative reviews of the film from friends.  I actually had fun, and the above picture will show you why.  Henry Cavill is both shirtless and on fire in the film.  That scene alone was worth the $14.50.  I literally started clapping when it happened.  Now I grew up on the Christopher Reeve movies (I think I even went to "Superman 2" with a group of girls for my birthday party one year), and "Man of Steel" is certainly much more angsty than that series, as it seems are all of the superhero reboots of this millennium.  I do find it interesting how even in this millennium, human-looking alien races always tend to be white.  And there are some clunkers in terms of dialogue, particularly the line poor Amy Adams has to say after their first kiss.  But overall, I was entertained.  The flashback scenes were actually quite touching, especially those with Kevin Costner who was acting like crazy in his five minutes of the film.  And let's face it, Henry Cavill is just so darn pretty to look at.  While his shirtlessness is limited to the early scenes of the movie, his Super suit leaves very little to the imagination.  And aside from his ridiculous body, he also does have one of the best smiles I've seen on the big screen in quite a while.  I liked it, and I don't mind saying so.

In the meantime, I noticed a sort of sad trend during the previews in that every single film presented some kind of apocalyptic vision of the not too distant future.  Although I'm not surprised, I did find myself feeling more and more somber as each film preview rolled.  I wondered if this is where we are as a society.  The news seems so terrible from day to day with no relief in sight.  Honestly, I am currently live-streaming the webcam shot of St. Mary's Hospital door in London waiting for news of the royal baby's birth because that seems like the only good news there might be this summer.  I am hopeful that perhaps all these depressing apocalyptic films will make people demand good stories sometime soon.  That's the silver lining that I'm hoping for.  In the meantime, as long as Mr. Cavill continues to take off his shirt for the cause, I am a big fan.  Until Friday, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

A Great Accessory

Since I waxed philosophical last week, I thought I'd just throw down some old-fashioned shirtlessness this week that features some of my favorite accessories to shirtlessness.  First of all, this cover of Next Magazine features three handsome actors from the Off- Broadway show, De La Guarda, making it theatrical shirtlessness, a very important and delightful variety.  My dear friend and IMS member, Adam Lobato, is featured on the left along with two of his very buff castmates.  Adam is Latino, which brings us to another  great accessory, diversity.  And then finally, all three of them appear to be playing in water, a fantastic accessory to shirtlessness if there ever was one.  On this 100+ degree day, this photo is a sight for sore eyes!

And just in case you think I didn't mean what I said last week, I'm mostly happy to post a photo of Adam because he is one of the kindest people I know.  And kindness is the number 1 accessory to shirtlessness.  So may you all weather this oppressive heat with some good male shirtlessness and kindness.  It's really the only way to survive.  Until Monday, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

A Word on Shirtlessness

Today, dear readers, I am not giving you shirtlessness.  Instead, I am giving you a video that has had a slow but profound effect on me over the past week and caused me to look at my dedication to the cause yet again.  This video of Dustin Hoffman sharing what he learned about being a woman through the process of making "Tootsie" has been making the rounds on Facebook.  I've watched it a few times and have been moved to tears myself because most of the time I feel like the "Tootsie" woman, the woman whose value may be disregarded because of the way she looks.  I suspect that most women do.  We feel this way because most of us don't look like Kim Kardashian or Katy Perry or whoever is on the cover of every magazine each week, and the truth is that these women don't even look like themselves when you take away the stylists and the airbrushing.  And most women do have something to offer.  Many of us even have a lot to offer.  But to hear Dustin Hoffman admit that he was not open to it because of the way that they looked, well, that was profound.  That he was determined to make the movie because of his own biases was impressive.  How many of us challenge our own biases if we recognize them at all?

So then I asked myself how I feel upset about being judged for my looks when I actively promote the objectification of men through my blog?  And my answer is that this blog has always been about pushing back against the objectification of women.  Indians for Male Shirtlessness started as a response to the gratuitous nudity that female actors had to offer in order to satisfy the straight male gaze that is the presumed audience for any television show or movie.  In my opinion, we have had to take it off forever, so perhaps the men could show a little skin and look good while doing it, thank you.  Not to mention, that regardless of how any man looks with or without his shirt off, he has a higher chance of being heard than even the most beautiful woman.  Finally, I do take care to mention the accessories to shirtlessness, my favorite one being kindness.  But here's the thing, I hope this blog empowers women to look because so often no one really thinks that we are.  Take the Zesty Guy, for instance - why not use some sex appeal to sell salad dressing?  They've been using it to sell cars forever!

And let's face it, this blog has secretly been my way of talking about racism and sexism, particularly in the media.  I'm pretty sure that no one would read a blog called Feminist Indians for Diversity in the Media.  Or maybe they would just before they fell asleep.  So male shirtlessness has been my vehicle to talk about larger issues.  I hope that is a cause that you can continue to support.  So enjoy the video of Dustin Hoffman.  I welcome your comments.  And just to be fair, here's a little vintage shirtlessness to stay true to the cause.

Until Monday, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Pinoy Shirtlessness

Over the weekend, I was lucky enough to get one of the hottest tickets in New York City right now, "Here Lies Love" at the Public Theater.  This new show with a score by David Byrne and Fatboy Slim and directed by Alex Timbers follows the life story of Imelda Marcos until the fall of her husband's regime in 1986 and features a largely Filipino cast.  Since you have all witnessed my rantings about the lack of diversity in theater and the systematic whitewashing of Asian stories, you can appreciate my happiness to be in the audience of this show.  But beyond the strangely unusual experience of watching Asian people play Asian people, I have to say that the show was incredibly innovative, provocative, and just plain old fun.  The entire cast sings and dances non-stop for 90 minutes on a club-like set in which the audience keeps moving around like people at a rave.  Anyone who isn't singing his or her face off onstage is backstage changing costumes at breakneck pace.  The story is told almost entirely through songs with some help from projections.  And I left the theater genuinely interested in learning more about that period of Filipino history.  I'm a theater artist because I believe in the power of live performance to open the human mind, and last night's show did just that.

So why is there a picture of Bruno Mars on my blog?  Well, I'll tell you.  In addition to all of its above mentioned attributes, the show also featured some very good shirtlessness.  Since it is a surprise in the show, I won't say who, and I won't say when.  But it is there, and it is good  There are no publicity photos of it to post, and so I had to go with another Pinoy, Bruno Mars, to represent.  So I'm just saying.  If checking out the future of theater is not enough to lure you to the Public by July 28th, then let the promise of good shirtlessness do it.  You won't regret it.

Until Friday, I am...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

New Shirtlessness

Last week, I went to a bar to wish an IMS member and her IMS poster boy husband adieu before they moved to Lalaland (Oh LA, why are you taking all my Asian actor friends away from me?), and I learned about Daniel Henney.  We were having a conversation about two of my favorite topics, shirtlessness and diversity, when his name came up.  I'm very excited to post a sexy Asian man because I don't think Asian men get their due respect in the sexiness category.  So go on with your bad self, Mr. Henney.  I'm impressed that he was able to forge a career in Korea in spite of not speaking Korean and then come back to the US to do little movies like "X-Men."

In other news, I'm going through the blue period that usually accompanies the end of a show.  The extreme heat in New York has yet to make shirts optional for men on the street, but here's to hoping.  I suspect that there will be some air-conditioned movie going in order to cool me off and cheer me up.  Stay tuned for news on the next IMS outing for Man of Steel.  Until then, I remain...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS

Birthday Shirtlessness

Gentle readers, you may have been asking yourselves "Where is the President of IMS, and why hasn't she been posting anything lately?"  My answer to you is that for the last week of my stay in Philadelphia, I was without internet service in my housing.  But I left Philadelphia last Monday to do a short gig in San Francisco, and the odyssey that I embarked upon was so epic that it is only now that I am in any condition to post.  Sometimes sheer exhaustion does stand in the way of the cause, and for this I deeply apologize.  Even the President of IMS can get worn down once in a while.

So last Monday was my birthday.  Since I spent my previous birthday sipping prosecco in a palazzo in Italy, I knew not to expect too much from this one.  But since I was traveling to a spa in Sonoma for a quick gig, I thought this birthday could hold its own delights.  Little did I know that I would spend almost the entirety of it in airports and airplanes across the country.  I won't go into the entire sad tale of what happened to me - suffice it to say that thanks to US Airways, it took me 22 hours to reach my destination.  During that time, my carry on bag with my phone charger was checked against my will, an airline stewardess promised to buy me a drink which never materialized, I listened to a baby cry for 2 hours, and I wound up on a different airline than my baggage which meant that when I finally landed at 1:16am, I had to go to a different terminal to retrieve my luggage.  On the positive side, I did get to eat a Rick Bayless torta in O'Hare which was very tasty.  The best thing that happened, however, was that one of my amazing friends, seeing my plight as I chronicled it on Facebook, put out a call for people to post shirtless birthday greetings on my wall to cheer me up.  And cheer me up they did!

While there were many excellent photos of Hugh Jackman, Orlando Bloom, and others along with great selfies and vacation pics posted to my wall, all of which I enjoyed quite thoroughly, the above photo takes the cake.  One of my writer friends happened to have a play performing that night, and he very considerately asked some of the actors in his show (two of whom I know personally and one whom I have never met but apparently was nice enough to play along) to pose for this picture.  I love it for so many reasons.  Everyone has such hilarious expressions, they've caught the sexiest moment of shirtlessness which is indeed the moment just before the shirt comes off, and the direct eye contact with the camera seems to be saying "Happy Birthday, Nandita" each in his own specific way.  I thank each of these men for contributing to the cause and to my birthday in such a profound and personal way.  I am forever changed.

So for those of you naysayers who think that male shirtlessness is a ridiculous cause, let me just say that it made all the difference to one forlorn little Indian girl traveling across the country at the pace of 1975 Dodge Dart.  In fact, at one point, the shirtless pictures were all that kept me from throwing myself off of the immobile plane.  As I believe in the strength of the cause, I continue to be...

Yours in shirtlessness,
Nandita
President
IMS