In ProfX’s thread “The Wind” TC responded to CLaw with the following statement:
[quote]TC said:
In 1995, we estimated that there were about 12 million lifters in the hard core market.
Now, we estimate that there are about 5 million lifters in the hard core market.[/quote]
TC’s quote makes me curious as to what events, beliefs, or trends prompted a cultural shift away from hardcore lifting.
Since my age wasn’t even in double digits in 1995, I only have a vague picture of what lifting culture was like at the time. Regarding the significant decrease in hardcore lifting, a few possible ideas are…
-Machines…
-The fitness industry…
-Bowflex…
-Brad Pitt’s abs in Fight Club…
-Metrosexuality…
-The rampant emo-kid disease…
-Getting feelings hurt by ProfX and wanting to engage in binge ice cream eating to forget the emotional pain…
[quote]anthropocentric wrote:
Regarding the significant decrease in hardcore lifting, a few possible ideas are…
-Machines…
-The fitness industry…
-Bowflex…[/quote] Machines are nothing new, ever hear of Nautilus? [quote]-Brad Pitt’s abs in Fight Club… [/quote] This may be a symbol of times, but not a cause.
[quote]-Metrosexuality…
-The rampant emo-kid disease…[/quote] These basically relate to culture changes or trends.
[quote]-Getting feelings hurt by ProfX and wanting to engage in binge ice cream eating to forget the emotional pain…
[/quote]Due to the internet only being a real impact for the last few years this could only account for 1%-2%, 5% tops with the creation of Spike enabling him to put in marathon sessions. Consider this more of a Darwinian factor or a cull of the herd.
North America went through a fitness “craze” in the 70’s and 80’s and people actually trained at gyms! Gym time was a social event.
Pop culture now has us all convinced that we have no time so we need the 20 minute, no wait 10 minute, maybe even a 5 minute solution.
Culture changes over time, where will we go next? Fitness may return to the spotlight or it may not for awhile. But one thing is for sure, we recycle out trends and only the technology is new so at some point it will return.
Because in 95 you had muscle media and weiders stuff on newstands telling everyone a load of bollocks (well not a total load) and selling stuff that made an instant transformation. for all his/its faults, it was in the public eye, more, I think
and now, what do you have? I mean out in mainstream newsagents?
just my thoughts
also I think the pro bodybuilders were looking phenomenal, but possibly attainable, and possibly people could kid themselves it wasn’t drugs.
But now, the pros are way beyond human, the general public can’t possibly kid themselves it isn’t drugs, or attainable, I don’t think it encourages people into the weight room.
Who knows, it may be cyclical in nature and we’re just around the corner from a resurgence! Doubtful I know. I just try to get in there and get to work. Maybe make an impression on others and make a convert out of them yet.
Just a change in the images coming out of hollywood. Back in the eighties everyone wanted to be huge because Hollywood was putting out characters that were always big and muscular. A reflection of the times really. I don’t think it had anything to do with real people taking fitness seriously, this was just the image out there and people tried to mimic it.
think back on Arnold, or carl weathers, or Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude van Damme and all the other action stars of the 80s and compare them to tobey macquire, matt damon and other skinny guys who represent action heroes today.
It’s just a phase. 10 years from now it will be something different and a decade after that it will be something else. Hardcore lifting is a cult lifestyle. Always has been and probably always will be. personally i don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.
[quote]robo1 wrote:
Just a change in the images coming out of hollywood. Back in the eighties everyone wanted to be huge because Hollywood was putting out characters that were always big and muscular. A reflection of the times really. I don’t think it had anything to do with real people taking fitness seriously, this was just the image out there and people tried to mimic it.
think back on Arnold, or carl weathers, or Sylvester Stallone, Jean Claude van Damme and all the other action stars of the 80s and compare them to tobey macquire, matt damon and other skinny guys who represent action heroes today.
It’s just a phase. 10 years from now it will be something different and a decade after that it will be something else. Hardcore lifting is a cult lifestyle. Always has been and probably always will be. personally i don’t think there’s anything wrong with that.[/quote]
But will we ever get Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin, and John Wayne back…will we?..Will we?!!
[quote]Kliplemet wrote:
It’s because manly man activities such as drinking vodka, humping cheap prostitutes and the occasional gang fight are frowned upon.[/quote]
[quote]WolBarret wrote:
But will we ever get Charles Bronson, Clint Eastwood, Lee Marvin, and John Wayne back…will we?..Will we?!!
[/quote]
Lets’ hope so, I have a hard time believing in Orlando Bloom or Shia Lebeof as action heroes, sorry, but I could break both of those metros in half with one hand tied behind my back. Bronson and Eastwood on the other hand were just bad mofos all around.
Jason Statham and Vin Diesel are the biggest dudes playing the action hero role as of late, and I don’t think either look to be near the size of Arnold or Sly in their Commando/Rambo days.
I agree with the statement about bodybuilding too though. The interview with Frank Zane on BB shed a lot of light on that I think, about how judging is favoring freakish size to aesthetics and symmetry, and in turn that is causing the public to turn away from the sport and look more towards the Fitness game.
[quote]Kliplemet wrote:
It’s because manly man activities such as drinking vodka, humping cheap prostitutes and the occasional gang fight are frowned upon.[/quote]
Exactly! We shouldn’t be worrying about having less hardcore lifters, we should be out there humping cheap prostitutes and gang fighting in the name of hardcore lifting.