RATTUS NORWEGICUS: Makta actor Sjur Vatne Brean believes that his rat-like appearance helps him in his acting career. Photo: Motlys A new trend on the internet says it’s trendy for men to look like rodents. “Hot Rodent Boyfriend”, as the phenomenon is called, is taken seriously in major newspapers such as the New York Times, the Guardian and the Independent. A “hot rodent” has angular facial features, beady eyes and often unkempt hair. Or to put it more simply: he looks a bit like a rat. Jeremy Allen White (The Bear), Josh O’Connor (The Crown), Timothée Chalamet (Dune) and Kieran Culkin (Succession) are examples of rat-like handsome men. The description is not limited to physical appearance. “Just like little rabbits, rodents are much more intelligent, witty and self-aware. They certainly have more between their ears and are not mindlessly obedient,” writes Dazed magazine. Sjur Vatne Brean: – A compliment – This is a lot of fun. I take it as the greatest compliment, says Sjur Vatne Brean to news’s journalist, who with a trembling voice asked the Makta actor if he would like to act as “Hot rodent”. The actor, who will portray Gunnar Sønsteby in a new Norwegian blockbuster, is spoken of as a Norwegian “Hot rodent”. – I think it’s pretty great that you don’t have to be a handsome handsome to be handsome, says Brean. The 24-year-old says that his slightly special appearance comes in handy in acting. – I can play love roles and I can play weird. It is quite practical, says Vatne Brean. Rat is masculine But how can being called a rat be a compliment? Gender researcher Marianne Inez Lien believes it is completely unproblematic. – After all, rats are perceived as smart, fast, independent and rude animals. They are survivors. These are culturally masculine characteristics, says Lien. She draws parallels to the punks of the 70s, where she believes she finds the first “hot rodent”. – I think of Johnny Rotten in the Sex Pistols. The new “hot rodent” man is a kind of likeable Hollywood version of the old male punk. POPULAR RATS: Challengers actors James O’Connor, Zendaya and Mike Faist. Photo: AP/NTB Scanpix Could you call women “hot rodents”? The question many people discuss in the comments section is: could this be said about women? No, says the gender researcher. – “Hot rat woman” does not swing as well. Such a characteristic would probably also be perceived as gender discriminatory, says Marianne Inez Lien. She says white men are still not as vulnerable about appearance as other demographics. – This is an example of men getting away cheaper with appearance characteristics. They can be compared to rats, but it is still perceived as cool and attractive. That in itself is quite symptomatic of where we stand in the gender struggle today, says the gender researcher. Women must be perfect HOT RODENT: Sjur Vatne Brean believes Herbert Nordrum is a “hot rodent”. Photo: NTB Scanpix Actor Sjur Vatne Brean agrees that it would have been wrong to say the same about women. – The thing about boys being wrong, it seems very “in” now. I think that’s a good thing. But people still think that women should be somewhat perfect. Maybe that’s why it’s so easy to say this about boys. Because to be wrong, to be different, we men are praised for that, says Brean. He nevertheless hesitates a little when news asks if he wants to pass the baton on to another hot rod in the Norwegian acting community. – Um, no. I don’t know if I dare to stand. A little later in the evening, news’s journalist receives a text message from the Makta actor: “Herbert Nordrum!” news.no has been in contact with Herbert Nordrum. He gave his approval to the title, but wishes to comment on the matter further. Published 14.06.2024, at 21.33
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Now men will look like rats – news Culture and entertainment
