Project Mojave Blog - Latest Comments in The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Jaihiggs — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 06:51:07 -0000

Thanks man! I am at acting school and have been given the assignment of emulating James Dean as closely as possible. This has made my job so much easier! :P

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

deflv — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 08:55:36 -0000

If Jimmy was near an object, you can put your money on him leaning on it sooner or later. This doesn't just apply to the "trunk" of his body, it also applies to his limbs: James often took all of this a step further by propping up one leg (see the middle picture, above) or using an object to support one or both arms (see gun picture, above) . The basic lean can be modified in a number of ways. You can place a hand in your pocket (usually the back pocket), arch your back, or employ the sideways lean. The James Dean Lean – we figured we would let you in on one of the master’s tactics, leaning. Going through James Dean’s films and pictures you will notice he is leaning up against something in a lot of them.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Kiefer — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:34:38 -0000

I have to ask after reading #5 if you going to be a bad*ss, why would you look away ?

Why bother to act like what you clearly can't back up ?

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Mike — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:36:57 -0000

great post

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Chris — Sun, 31 Aug 2008 03:01:25 -0000

Damn Clay, I could've used this back when I was single.

Honestly bro, I bet there's a lot of PUA/Guru's out there who'd wished they'd wrote this thing.

You nailed it Clay. Now I'm going site on something unconventional... damn I wish I'd thought of that one before

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Dot H. | Deeper Issues — Wed, 20 Aug 2008 16:22:17 -0000

Years ago when I read a book on body language, it recommended sitting back in your chair, looking relaxed, and keeping your body open (no crossed arms) if you want to look like a boss. Something about the fact that nervous, insecure people can't relax like that.

I also think Dean was expressing aloofness and detachment from other people. Once I saw some TV footage of Elvis practicing being cool and sexy. It was quite effective. However, I think coolness is overrated.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

koda — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 17:00:49 -0000

sarah... it is just you. girls don't fall for that crap. if guys are too easy, girls don't bite the bait

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Sarah — Tue, 20 May 2008 19:20:40 -0000

hahahaha
clay, it's highly amusing to see this actually written out in blog-form. very funny.

however, i feel it is my womanly duty to say that i sure hope there aren't any guys out there taking this seriously!! i completely disagree with achieving bad-assedness through horizontal posturing.
personally, for me, (and i think other women out there will agree), there's nothing sexier than a man who is just natural, listens, and, ahem, LEANS TOWARD me while i am talking. ;)

but...i dunno, maybe that's just me.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Mikey — Sun, 18 May 2008 07:52:05 -0000

Holy crap

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

kadavy — Thu, 15 May 2008 15:03:49 -0000

I agree with @Hot Quiz. This type of behavior may have been cool and rebellious back in the day, but it's been so copied over the years that having good posture and being polite is rebellious enough to perhaps be considered "bad ass."

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Rich — Thu, 15 May 2008 05:57:53 -0000

Cool

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

brett — Wed, 07 May 2008 02:45:37 -0000

this guy is not badass

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Hot Quiz — Mon, 05 May 2008 10:39:59 -0000

JD was bad to the bone, no doubt, but I believe the horizontal positioning may not be in style as to date

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Alex | Livingwish — Thu, 01 May 2008 12:09:14 -0000

haha, this is an awesome post. Some of those poses made me laugh for like 20 minutes...Sitting horizontal as possible made the whole article in my opinion. hehe

Im back actually. Had a few things to take care of, and will be a loyal reader once again :)

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Gary — Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:14:15 -0000

Beg to differ on the leaning/draping issue. Slouching and not being able to hold yourself upright makes you a lazy*ss. I don't remember ever seeing John Wayne holding up a wall. The same for Sean Connery, Chuck Norris, Jet Li, Steve McQueen, or any Ranger, Marine or SEAL.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

gold digger — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:01:11 -0000

great post! congrats on being editors choice on the first manival!

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Tyler — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 17:31:25 -0000

I feel cooler already! Thanks for a great post and I love all the pictures - good job!

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

tsims — Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:11:03 -0000

Great post!

I also like the move he does with his hat in the top video:

Step 1: wear cowboy hat tilted forward, minding your own business
Step 2: offer acknowledgement of another by pushing the had back and giving them a quick confident gaze

* be sure to perform the above steps while maintaining Rules #1 & 2

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Desika Nadadur | I Am My Own M — Sun, 27 Apr 2008 16:51:56 -0000

Clay,

Did James Dean suffer from Spinal health problems? He had terrible posture.

My opinion is that if we change how "we feel" about "ourselves," that will automatically show up in our body language. But, if we just pretend, only that pretension becomes evident. BTW, I am not saying James Dean is pretending; he probably felt what is expressing.

Well, it is my opinion, anyway.

Thanks,
Desika

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Hunter Nuttall — Fri, 25 Apr 2008 00:24:51 -0000

Wow Clay, this is great! Sorry I was on hiatus when it came out, but I guess a late Digg is better than no Digg.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Sonia Mascaro — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 17:07:51 -0000

Great post! Love it!

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Will — Sat, 19 Apr 2008 16:06:35 -0000

"93% of communication is non-verbal." I don't know who said that, and I'm not sure if it's quite that much... but make no mistake that everybody communicates A LOT non-verbally, and being aware of it is a great skill to have.

As for this particular list, a lot of it is very true, but I don't recommend scowling or staring at people all the time though, because you will get your ass kicked eventually.

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

JEMi | Tips for Life, Love, Yo — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:02:18 -0000

haha I'm smitten just reading the description on what the bad*ss ought to be doing

well done dude lol

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Kelly@SHE-POWER — Thu, 17 Apr 2008 02:58:22 -0000

I loved Giant and I still think Jimmy Dean epitomizes coolness like no other. Although now that I think of it, Steve McQueen also had a lot of these brooding, intense qualities but in a much manlier form.

Fabulous post and congrats on how well it's done on Digg.

:) Kelly

Re: The James Dean Guide to Being a Body Language Bad*ss

Louise Pool — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:58:31 -0000

- Chris. I basically agree that it should arise naturally, but as a very shy teenager I worked at appearing cool, calm and collected by adopting all the postures and mannerisms Clay describes. It didn't feel natural at all at the time, but the more I practiced the more relaxed and confident I actually became. After a while, it wasn't just second nature, but "first nature". It works both ways, I think - by relaxing the body, the mind/soul can become relaxed as well. (Btw, my teenage years are long gone and I'm a cool calm and collected forty-something.)