The Background Of Modern Body Moulding

Moulding bodies according to the ideals of Classical Antiquity began in the late nineteenth century. Behind it was a new idea, neoclassicism, which had become common in many European countries. Its supporters were aiming for the rebirth of a flourishing Classicism and Humanism, in their own time. The ideas of Neoclassicism were based on an interpretation of the culture, myths and the texts philosophy of Ancient Greek. Using these interpretations, it was possible to identify the nation state with Ancient Greece and to hold up the Ancient Greeks as a model for the citizens of the future. Statues of athletes found in archaeological excavations became the ideal for the human physique of the future and the goal for developing the body. Throughout Europe, nationalists took advantage of the trend to create their own idealistic visions. It was a political deed to mould one’s body. However, in the neoclassical practice, the spirit of humanism died, only the form lived. There were two schools of thought. One of them, J. P. Müller, swore in the name psycho-physicality and gymnastics, while the other, Eugen Sandow, believed in the physical culture of the body and weight-training. Both of them developed business of ’body-building’. They published several manuals and sold them round the world. In addition, they institutes of ’body-building’ The paper, deals with two subthemes of the congress, ‘Sport in changing social and cultural context’ and ‘Sport in changing economic and political context’.