Beyond barks and bodies: Pup play and body image in gay, bi, trans, and queer men through a Deleuzian lens.

This article examines how identifying as a pup—a role-playing practice within BDSM pup play—shapes body image among gay, bisexual, queer, and trans (GBTQ) men, using a Deleuzian theoretical framework. Through workshops and the creation of participant-produced short films ("cellphilms"), the study found that while dominant body ideals for GBTQ men (young, white, lean, muscular) persist within pup communities, pup play also offers a transformative "headspace" that can lessen body image pressures and foster self-acceptance. The research highlights pup play as a complex assemblage of social, cultural, and personal factors that both reinforce and challenge hegemonic body standards, providing participants with potential "lines of flight"—opportunities to reconfigure and resist restrictive norms. The study underscores the importance of community and identity in navigating body image tensions and calls for further exploration of intersecting factors such as ethnicity and racism within queer subcultures.