Origins and Transformation of the Masculine Figure: An Interdisciplinary Analysis – From Historico-Social Construct to Literary Character

Abstract

The article presents an interdisciplinary analysis of the genesis and transformation of the male visual image in the context of cultural, social, and literary shifts. The study is based on a synthesis of historical, ethnological, sociological, and literary approaches, allowing the tracking of the male appearance's evolution from a class marker to a fluid social construct of the postmodern era. The author consistently examines the key stages and determinants of this process. In the historical context, the transition from a decorative representation of status to the unification known as «The Great Male Renunciation» is analyzed. At the ethnological level, the revitalization of archaic masculinity codes is identified within elements of contemporary style–specifically through the phenomenon of the beard, tattoos, and the «military» aesthetic. The sociological section explores the image as an arena for identity struggles, tracing the dynamics from metrosexuality to lumbersexuality, as well as the phenomenon of «quiet luxury.» Special attention is paid to the concept of conspicuous minimalism and the «Red Sneakers Effect» formulated by Harvard Business School, which demonstrates how the deliberate violation of a dress code becomes a new symbol of high autonomy, competence, and power. The final section of the article is dedicated to the deconstruction of the male image in postmodern literature. By comparing the archetypes of the «superfluous man,» the Hemingwayesque «macho,» and contemporary literary simulacra, the author demonstrates how the artistic text captures the crisis of traditional masculinity and the transition to gender fluidity. The study concludes that the modern male image has lost its monolithic nature, transforming into a polysemantic code. This code allows for the flexible construction of identity within the framework of a new social contract. The article is aimed at specialists in the fields of gender studies, cultural anthropology, the sociology of fashion, and comparative literature.