Oh my, how he looks at the camera… you present a strong agument tho I do not need convincing, I’m already here for it.

Helps that his face isn’t half bad either right but yeah, that gaze is just piercing isn’t it? And the raspy vibrato just gets me too…

(Also, cool song, I like it)

It’s a great band. I’m not even sure The Letter is their best song, it’s just a great video to showcase Finn’s beauty.

Also you gotta be careful saying things like that, you know. I might take it as an opening to send you a more songs I like.

As an admirer of the physical form it’s hard to not go for the classical examples of beauty in a question about overt sexualization (since op mentioned fan service).

(…)

If we get a little more cerebral than that, yeah I guess you can talk about some more dimensional archetypes like “tortured poet” (and the like) and still answer the og question.

You know, it’s my bad actually. I totally ignored the actual topic of the OP to needle you about Halsin and then started talking about my own preferences like a narcissistic asshole. So uhm, whoops?

I do think there is something there for me in the sense that - at least when it comes to men - I am definitely more drawn to archetypes, faces and “presence” (I refuse to call it aura out of principle). So like, I can appreciate some shirtless washboard abs and everything, it’s nice, but it doesn’t necessarily move the needle for me (figuratively and literally).

But again that is only navel gazing my own preferences and not really answering the OPs question at all. Also now that I’m really sitting down and thinking about it I feel like for some reason if we’re talking about the male musculature then sculpted legs are kind of hotter than arms. Like, they go together obviously because if you just have one and not the other then the body will look awkward and disproportionate. But sculpted thighs are kind of hot. Biceps are overrated.

Maybe a more interesting question would be, “how to better sexualize characters in videogames” and drop the gendered part of it. (Tho the female gaze is definitely an interesting topic to discuss, If one thing is true is that we as an audience are more open to variety.)

Yes, this is an interesting topic for sure. I think the agency of the characters in question within the story and their characterization has a huge influence on the way any physical presentation is perceived. Even though sexualisation and objectification are often interlinked, they don’t have to be by nature and I think this is the key. Someone can be an empowered sexual being without being characterised as an object of desire to be claimed by someone else. It’s the difference between Bayonetta and Eve from Stellar Blade.

So hum… You are into the lanky and tortured? Is being a poet also a strong requirement for you?

Hah, I can be flexible. I do like the archetype and all, but as a wise woman in Disco Elysium said: “never trust a poet”.