MuscleBound is a 90-minute multimedia, multidisciplinary one-man show blended with an original film documentary. The presentation delves into the prevalent and rarely discussed topic of male body image issues.

MuscleBound is a candid journey of motivation, determination, sacrifice, and loss as we follow the lives of three men on a downward spiral over the course of one year. Throughout the piece, the question of “why are these men hiding this issue of their bodies?” is constantly posed. Why do they workout? What drives them? How far will they go to get the body they’ve always dreamed of? These questions are presented in the storylines of our three main characters: Josh, a nineteen-year-old gay student making the transition into college, who works in an ice cream store and suffers from binge eating and exercise bulimia; Jim, a male personal trainer who is proud of his muscular physique and yet secretively takes steroids to bolster his size; and Nicolas, a newly married documentary filmmaker who fanatically makes a documentary on male body image by diving into the gym culture.

Interspersed throughout the piece are Nicolas’s filmed interviews with men from a variety of backgrounds and their thoughts on the gym culture and how they see their bodies. The documentary provides a non-sensationalized account from many different male perspectives of what it’s like to be a man and suffer from an eating disorder, workout in a gym, or take supplements and steroids to gain athletic prowess and social acceptance. These interviews, already juxtaposed to the three main characters, are also set beside television clips of news stories, reality shows, and body-focused commercials.

MuscleBound provides a comprehensive portrayal of an obsession’s life cycle; from the first thoughts to the all-consuming depths of compulsion. MuscleBound also looks at the sharp rise of muscle dysmorphia, where muscular men perceive themselves as “too small” and exercise obsessively to gain girth.

Today, more and more young men and even boys are turning to steroids and supplements in an effort to gain not only the edge in a sporting competition, but also to gain the societal standard of the perfect male
body: broad shoulders, ripped chest, big arms, and six-pack abdominals.
MuscleBound attempts to breakdown those barriers and open a meaningful and much needed dialogue about men’s issues with their bodies. By opening the dialogue, more men of any race, religion, or sexuality may find that there are resources available to help them.

The presentation is followed by a talkback with the performer and the director discussing the issues presented in the piece as well as its development.

Typical co-sponsors for this event are the Health Center, Health Education/Promotion, Counseling Center, Office of Residential Life (especially Freshman Orientation), Student Life/Activities, Fraternities (Greek Life), Eating Disorder Groups, LGBT Groups, Jewish/Hillel Groups, Alcohol and Substance Abuse, and the Athletics Department - which is eligible for a $500 grant towards bringing MuscleBound to campus because Michael is now an NCAA-Approved Health & Safety Speaker. Please visit www.ncaa.org/health-safety for more information.