He was sensitive not only to the architectonics of the spider, the blandishment of the rainbow and the shape of flowers, but even to the beauty of a man’s body (the mores did not permit him to comment on the beauty of a woman’s body).
– Max Baym. “Early Intimations of Aesthetic Sensibility.” A History of Literary Aesthetics in America. 3
Oh, how the times have changed. Today social convention and practice almost demand to constantly comment on a woman’s body, yet it is frowned upon if a (heterosexual) man comments on another man’s beauty.
(Yet I obviously don’t want the Puritan mores back. Only thought the quote was interesting.)
Thoughts?