Which brings us back to Styles. While he’s already cast off his identity as a member of One Direction (thanks to his upcoming turn in Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and impending solo album), it’s important to note that he opted to make his post-band debut through experimental means. We see him cosplaying Mick Jagger. We see him in chokers, embracing the 90s resurgence and offering a nod to the BDSM community. And we also notice that out of every magazine, he’s opted for a niche publication, telegraphing an allegiance to the niche worlds of art and fashion rather than aiming for mainstream notoriety.
Heartthrobs are getting weirder – and that’s exciting. In the 1990s and 2000s, it was rare to see artists outside their teen pop, Tiger Beat realm. They were safely heteronormative (sometimes closeted), keeping a wary distance between the fans and their real lives. Last year, artists were still struggling to redefine what heartthrob meant, peppering our feeds with abs and pecs. And while I’ll support any artist taking their top off whenever they want to, it’s much more interesting when that vibe goes hand in hand with an overt dedication to their art, a celebration of their hustle and creativity, and the feeling that these guys are doing exactly what they want to be doing.
So: all hail the artthrob. Master of his own destiny.
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