Why the World Beard Moustache Championships can encourage pogonophobia (via kmflett)

As always, Keith Flett (founder of the Beard Liberation Front) has some insightful, though somewhat controversial, thoughts to share.  We at The Center for Beard Related Studies are, of course, always wary of the chin-centric fetishism that does crop up now and then within our halls and we are quick to correct the behavior.  But then again, we must also admit that we do enjoy indulging in the occasional whiskery fireworks display (photo above provided for demonstrative purposes).  Undoubtedly, the potential social perversion to which Flett refers can be avoided with appropriate public education and awareness.  We at The Center for Beard Related Studies are happy to oblige.

Read on at Kmflett’s blog.

Welcome to Beardlandia

Notwithstanding the controversial gender ponderings that wrap up Ekow Eshun’s Welcome to Beardlandia (published Esquire, September 2012), any reader diligent enough to make the hike through his menagerie of socioeconomic and cultural twistings will undoubtedly be rewarded with insightful hirsute morsels such as this:

Rather [facial hair is] about embracing contradiction: eschewing the excesses of consumer society without abandoning modernity; enjoying the rural while delighting in the urban; acknowledging the flaws of 21st century life without insisting things were better in the old days. Much of that attitude springs from a desire to stay relevant and in touch as the years tick by. Every generation faces the dilemma of how to grow older while still staying young in spirit.

Eshun’s is quite an interesting and thoroughly researched article, so much so that it is under consideration by the High Council for required reading in the coming semester.  Get a potential jump on your studies now at Welcome to Beardlandia.

To beard, or not to beard…

Trit at The Aspiring Gentleman shares a wonderfully composed dissertation on the cultural history and present social impacts of the beard, replete with references to Celts, Canadians, and curmudgeons. We have already printed and distributed several hundred copies about The Center for Beard Related Studies campus and the general consensus has been fairly positive.  This passage in particular resonated most strongly with several on the Council: “A beard, in my opinion, is to be well-maintained and act as a demonstration of respect towards one’s self and others.”  

Our one small, humble correction to this scholarly article would be to re-voice certain portions that seem to imply the beard was dead and is now risen again (by the hands of hipsters, no less).  This is certainly not the case.  For although Bearding may have fallen out of favor in some circles, it has not at any time been wanting of disciples.  We at The Center have seen to that.

Please click here to read Trit’s excellent article.

LOW: Liberating Art

LOW: Defining Art

LOW: On The Movie Industry

LOW: The Meme