What’s WITH this almost obligatory “spitty beard” look, seen both in Hollywood stars, and in average young men, or actually, not always that young or average? Before analyzing this rampant phenomenon, let me discuss the virtues of shaving (in terms of men again).
During the late ‘70s I read a New Yorker piece on depression, and two recommendations there, i.e., to beat it, stuck with me all these years: one being that it’s always salutary to get off the couch, and outside. A second (this again for the male species): to shower and shave.
And I myself can attest to the utility of this advice. Problem is: the older you get, the more of a chore it becomes to do so, especially the shaving part. Not myself into the “spitty beard” look, I nonetheless can go four or five days without picking up a razor, and for no other reason than pure laziness. In my case, finally doing so really does help me overcome the lure of self-pity and dither, and get back in the game.
I concede that even “spitty beard” types must have a kind of routine in their trims known best to them, and which also helps make them feel more “right.” Woo, woo…
Why my hint (or more than a hint) of cynicism here? Because flatly put, I see little attractive in this pervasive facial style. In my view, a real beard or none at all would be preferable.
I also see little here that’s potentially romantic, either. I may be off base, but I don’t get how a good woman could find a “spitty beard” appealing.
Now then, why, why, why so popular? Let me try to answer the question, or let’s say, in my own doubtless paltry estimation.
One key reason: this “look” seems to honor the American past of recent decades, or let’s say “demi-honors.” Yes, there was once a clean-cut America to circa 1966; and some of today’s men do want seem to want some of that back, having seen the depredations of widespread dope and the rest, valuing their grandparents, etc.
But yes, there was also from the later ‘60s a hirsute hippy and post-hippy vogue, where more hair, including on faces, became (after being part of a counter-culture) mainstream. The present generation, or series of generations under 60 or so?
Their spitty-beard style seems to embody a kind of “split” confusion on this score. I.e., they don’t know which way to fly?
But hey: why is any of this problematic? So you might legitimately ask your faithful scribe, going out on a ledge with all this perhaps wrong-headed deconstruction of something that maybe ain’t that significant?
Well it’s important enough for the present column! Because despite some jocularity here, I’m also trying to be serious about this subject. Serious for one thing, re the comparative decline of romance in America? That for sure, and I think this “look” relates to this development.
Because love remains important, doesn’t it? So said so many of our popular songs going back to the ‘20s and right up to the ‘80s or so; and then … diminishing?
Yes, diminishing. The wan, rather unattractive spitty-beard look reflecting that? Up to many of you, including those in a relationship with these scratchy types, to proffer your own views on the subject.
As for me: do I actually like this mode? I’ve already tipped my hand there, so you’ll get no Fauci on this one. No, I don’t really “get” this look. As noted above, it seems to be neither here nor there, falling in the drink between two possible shoals, two ways of going: Trump clean-shaven, bearded Mamdani? That would be one way of putting it.
And maybe showing again that a lot of these young or not so young guys want to be neither of THOSE physically. Fine: but what they do purvey via these paltry “beards” is to repeat, rather blah, saith the present observer.
Case closed? No way! In fact, I may well have opened a Pandora’s box here that will stay open, as the debate crescendoes (at least for those who find this topic worth pursuing). So start scratching your head, or in some cases, that scratchy excuse for … a beard!