In August, there is one big summer accessory that is thrilling the public: a sculpted set of abs.
On Monday, actor Adam Driver starred in another Burberry fragrance campaign. The advertisement for the brand’s new fragrance “Burberry Hero” was directed by Jonathan Glazer, who is known for the 2014 music video for the song “Big Jet Plane” by Angus & Julia Stone. The commercial features Driver running across a deserted beach at dusk with a mighty, caramel-colored horse in tow. The two beings dive into the ocean together and emerge as a single animorph, fusing the romantic hero-on-horseback trope with a healthy dose of Greek mythology.
Fans of the actor and members of the press were quick to posit that the campaign images, which show Driver shirtless in waist-deep water, are a response to feminist critical theory. The term typically refers to art that deviates from the objectifying male perspective that dominates modern culture; however, Driver’s ad was by no means the week’s only high-profile torso on display. On Sunday, during the Women’s Euro 2022 soccer final at London’s Wembley Stadium, England’s Chloe Kelly caused a stir with her goal celebration during which she whipped off her “Lioness” shirt to reveal a Nike sports bra and lean stomach — a moment that is already being dubbed “the feminist image of the decade.”
When U.S. gymnast Kelly Clark won a gold medal for her performance in the team competition at the 2016 Summer Olympics, journalist Lucy Ward tweeted that her celebration was “for the sheer joy of what she can do and the power and skill she has.”