quiet paws.

We have previously examined Jack Bauer as the prime example of an evolutionary return to the ‘Real Man’ in this the Retrospective Age of Men. But what does this mean for men in a practical sense? After studying Jack’s motives, actions and appearance for many years, it has been possible to develop some high level guidelines which may assist other men as they try to navigate their way on life’s path. After all there are 24 action packed hours in every day…

Emotion: Showing your innermost feelings to the world is fine so long as it is warranted. In other words, a point well worth remembering is that everything has a time and a place. The decision on when crying is acceptable can be a difficult one to make, but it certainly should not be made lightly. There is no hard and fast rule to apply in this case, but there are some helpful hints.

Crying is an appropriate emotional response so long as it is for a valid reason and not because you’ve broken a fingernail or scratched your face. Perhaps you’ve experienced a family tragedy and you are overcome with grief, or perhaps you’ve had to take definitive action which has resulted in a tragic outcome. In such cases crying may be appropriate, but it is still best to curtail certain emotions until the task at hand is complete.

Grooming: Clean and simple is the best approach when it comes to personal appearance. Regular showering is important for reasons of hygiene and body odour, but beyond that there is no need to be particularly fussy in your approach. A sensible and functional hairstyle is practical and will not attract unnecessary attention or detract from more important matters. Hair has the most simple and useful task of keeping your head warm, so there is no need to go overboard with product and no need to be overly showy with your styling.

Shaving is not always going to be a possibility depending on circumstances and to be honest it is not always required. As for chest hair, being a man it is perfectly acceptable to have chest hair, there is no need to shave or wax unless there is an excessive spillage beyond the chest region. But a critical factor to remember is that it is not attractive to reveal unnecessarily large portions of your chest, or show it off in a body-hugging skin tight shirt unbuttoned to the waist. With regard to eyebrows, by all means have two and get rid of that monobrow but never ever leave your eyebrows looking too clean and feminine, that is a goal that only women should aim for.

Tattoos are no cause for concern and they can in fact be thought of as an asset. However be sure to avoid unnecessary colour, or ornately patterned designs. Tattoos that have some significant meaning will be held in particularly high regard. Whether you were branded during your time spent in one of the armed forces, or whether you wanted a permanent reminder of a hardship overcome, these are perfect examples of respectable tattoo reasonings.

Accessories: Jewellery should be kept only to what is essential. Here we’re speaking of accessories such as a wedding ring (if relevant) and a watch reflective of your functional needs. If possible find a watch size which suits your wrist, one that is too small or too large will just be noticeable for all the wrong reasons. Don’t forget that you can also accessorise with some cool gadgets such as a PDA and mobile phone. However this guideline should be applied with caution, gadgets are great provided you know how to use them and their usefulness outweighs their burden.

Sunglasses serve a purpose in protecting your eyes from UV rays, but be sure to choose a pair that also make you look good while you’re doing it. Here once again don’t try to be too clever or too stylish, the classics are always going to be the best, think aviators or traditionally masculine frames and you won’t be too far wrong. To carry all this gear a backpack or satchel are acceptable, however nothing should come close to resembling a handbag and your chosen item should always retain a masculine edge. To help achieve this end, you can’t really go wrong with bags made of durable fabrics like Kevlar, hemp, calico or canvas. There is no need to go for anything too shiny, too slick or too high maintenance, cut and colour of your satchel should be kept simple and practical.

Clothing: Uncluttered, unfussy presentation is best and where possible try to match your attire with the needs of the occasion. Functionality is therefore vital. For instance, there is no sense wearing a suit if you’ll be running around in the field chasing down terrorists, likewise it would not be appropriate to wear more casual freeform gear if you’re based in the office. Regardless of what items of clothing have been selected, quality and coordination are paramount considerations. Rather than invest in several items of clothing that are lower in cost, focus on a few key quality pieces and choose quality over quantity. The investment you make in your clothes is important and the quality of the selection that you make will always be noticed.

Style is something which stems from within, but there is no reason why it can’t be given a helping hand. The use of colours can be a difficult challenge to successfully overcome, so if this is at all a concern stick to solid basics like black, white, grey, khaki, brown and deep blue. When putting the colours together try to ensure they all blend together or complement rather than clash.

As for cut and fabric these are also significant factors to consider carefully. Regular cut is fine in all things, slim fit is generally safe so long as you can pull it off and so long as we aren’t talking about tight-fitting items, they are a definite no-go zone for men. Fabric should be hard-wearing, designed for comfort and have the ability to withstand long periods of sustained action without letting you down.

Decision making: No one likes indecisiveness. Quick and careful action should always be the intended goal. Even if the result of your decision doesn’t end the way you had hoped, just take responsibility for the mistake and move on. People will always respect a considered leader who embraces rather than avoids making decisions or taking decisive action.

Good leadership and expert decision making are skills which can be learned, but first and foremost you must have confidence in your abilities and trust in your inner compass of what is right and what is wrong. You will need to perfect the art of considering all options quickly, examining the consequences of each alternative and keeping an overarching goal in mind at all times. Furthering your decision making abilities will put you in good stead when it comes to leading others and directing tasks to a successful outcome.

When confronted with a particularly perplexing problem or faced with almost certain failure, ask yourself one simple question, ‘What would Jack do?’

History has seen many different types of men come and go, some of which have raised serious questions about what it means to be a man. Probably the most disturbing trends have been those which have come close to annihilating the masculine from the male of the species.

Each age of man has had its positive and negative elements, but until now these ages have been incomplete evolutionary cycles. It is during this, the fourth age of man, that we finally draw towards a more complete picture of man.

The Chivalrous age of men:
Enter Exhibit A, the Gentlemen. Best demonstrated by Cary Grant.

Debonair, refined and decidedly charming are just some of the qualities which define this man. He was intelligent, displayed impeccable manners, possessed a most excellent wit and always dressed appropriately. The gentleman was constantly aware of this place in the world and was often considered to be the provider for his family.

The Introspective age of men:
Enter Exhibit B, the Sensitive New Age Guy. Best demonstrated by Ross Geller from Friends.

SNAGs were all about feelings, being attuned to their emotions and staying in touch with their feminine sides. Men were encouraged to share their innermost thoughts, fears, hopes and dreams with those of the opposite sex. The idea was that in becoming more aware of and developing a greater understanding of their emotions, they would garner more favour from women and connect on a deeper level. Often unthreatening and unintimidating both in personality and physical presence, they were known for their sensitive dispositions.

The Extrospective age of men:
Enter Exhibit C, the Metrosexual. Best demonstrated by David Beckham.

Sometime after the initial craze of SNAGS had all but disappeared from most social circles, a new ‘ideal’ man appeared. Entitled the metrosexual, these men were encouraged to look after their skin, pluck their eyebrows, wear jewellery, style their hair, dress in the latest fashions such as form fitting coloured jeans and slimfit shirts, wax away chest hair and maintain an almost boyish physique. It is during this age that the sexes became truly difficult to separate.

The Retrospective age of men:
Enter Exhibit D, a return to the Real Man. Best demonstrated by Jack Bauer (as portrayed by Kiefer Sutherland) from 24.

Real men no longer have to be ashamed to exist. While they have always existed in the shadows, they are being encouraged to step forward. Thank you Mr Jack Bauer.

Jack is unashamedly masculine. He serves his workplace loyally but first and foremost he serves his country and ultimately his President (unless the President is a dirty rotten turncoat). As for personal relationships – when Jack loves, he loves completely and passionately. However he is also well versed in the ways of loss. This well-rounded experience of life and its opposing emotions means that Jack has an innate ability to understand people and their motivations. He would do anything possible to help those he cares about without expecting the same in return. This loyalty is built from his strong ethical code which he would rather die than betray.

He is fit, healthy and generally aware of his strengths and weaknesses without feeling the need to talk incessantly about either. He is tirelessly resourceful and always ready for action, but always finds time to treat people with an appropriate amount of respect. Dressing appropriately for any given situation whether that be in jeans, cargos or a suit, nothing is overly fussy or too complicated. For Jack clothing is simply functional.

While he is always as neat and clean as circumstances allow, Jack doesn’t get too caught up in grooming and personal appearance. His hair is simple and recognising that is isn’t always possible to shave in every 24 hour period he has even been known to let his facial hair grow from time to time.

The composite picture created by Jack Bauer represents the perfect blend of all the positive elements from the ages of men which have come before. This man’s time is now.

The future of man…
Now there is nothing wrong with good hygiene, dressing well and taking care of one’s skin, but somewhere along the way the true essence of what it means to be a man has been eroded away and the line between the sexes has become increasingly blurred. While the previous ages of man will always appeal and continue to be desired by some women, the vast majority of women would not want to see the extinction of all things masculine.

The cycle of these evolutionary ages may not have touched all men, but those that have been swept up or passed by must be left feeling somewhat confused by all the mixed messages. Be a man and yet don’t be a man, care about your appearance but don’t care too much, be stylish but not too trendy. Men are obviously free to choose and follow many different paths but perhaps more attention should be given to the fundamental question of what it means to be a man.

As with so many dilemmas, simplicity is often the best answer. So ignore the trends, be true to yourself, and never neglect your masculinity. If that has you being even a little like Jack Bauer than that can’t be half bad.