- Source: Tall, dark and handsome
- Source: Tall, Dark and Handsome
"Tall, dark, and handsome" is a phrase that refers to an appealing man. It originates from cheap romantic fiction produced in the early 1900s.
History and interpretation
According to British lexicographer Eric Partridge, the phrase "tall, dark and handsome" originates from cheap fiction novels produced in the early 20th century. The term was commonly used in Hollywood during the 1920s to describe Rudolph Valentino. As an idiom it is both lexically and sequentially fixed. Alan Axelrod writes that "tall, dark and handsome" is often assumed as a compliment, but notes that Eric Partridge wrote that it is actually a mild insult, given the term originates from cheap and cheesy novels from the 1910s; making it an ironic phrase.
Studies
David Puts is an associate professor of anthropology at Pennsylvania State University who has studied the evolutionary bases of human sexuality. In 2017 he was asked if "tall, dark and handsome" is universally attractive in the human experience and he stated that not enough cross-cultural work had been conducted to be very confident in the concept's scientific validity.
In 2023, Doxsie wrote that "tall dark and handsome" is essentially a myth, and that the only attribute that is consistently desired is handsomeness. In India, 'darkness' is essentially erased from the phase, as only tall, light and handsome men are considered attractive. According to Fluehr-Lobban, the phrase really emphasizes height, because a "short, dark and handsome" man would not be considered appealing.
Examples
In the 2010s, Bollywood actors Ranveer Singh, Randeep Hooda, and Arjun Kapoor were described by the phrase in the Indian media.
Model David Gandy has often been called tall, dark and handsome in the media. The New Zealand Herald described further that "At 191cm, he's taller than most models and up close - with his dark, almost black hair and bronzed olive complexion - he's like a live version of Michelangelo's Statue of David."
See also
Average height around the world
Bad boy archetype
Latin lover
Physical attractiveness
References
Further reading
C. Brian Smith (2018). "The Not-So-Attractive Origins Of 'Tall, Dark And Handsome'". Mel Magazine. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Staff (December 15, 2018). "Reasons Why Kenyan Women Prefer Tall, Dark and Slim Men". KenyaSASA. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Omondi, Rodgers (May 14, 2018). "Five secret reasons why ladies are ditching tall, dark and handsome men for short ones". The Standard. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Adetayo, Ayoola (December 19, 2018). "Do you really like tall dark and handsome guys or you just think that you do?". Pulse Nigeria. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Kamencu, Kingwa (April 16, 2017). "Are the tall dark and handsome ones more likely to have it easy and succeed?". The Standard. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Lasco, Gideon (November 25, 2016). "No More Tall, Dark and Handsome: Why Asian Men Desire Fairness". The Quint. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Mwololo, Millicent (August 24, 2017). "I'd rather have a tall, dark, hardworking man than a handsome one". Daily Nation. Retrieved June 30, 2019.
Tall, Dark and Handsome may refer to:
Tall, dark and handsome, a phrase that refers to an appealing man
Tall, Dark and Handsome (film), a 1941 American comedy crime film
Tall, Dark, and Handsome (album), a 2019 album by Delbert McClinton
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Arthur Thalasso
- Leon Belasco
- George Melford
- Stanley Blystone
- Academy Award untuk Skenario Asli Terbaik
- Russell Hopton
- Mashle
- Sonam Kapoor
- Daftar episode Naruto
- Aktor Pendukung Terbaik (Chicago Film Critics Association Award)
- Tall, dark and handsome
- Tall, Dark and Handsome
- Tall, Dark and Handsome (film)
- Tall, Dark, and Handsome (album)
- Dixie Browning
- Bad boy archetype
- Brigade (album)
- Masculine beauty ideal
- Gwilym Lee
- James Bond (reboot series character)