During the summer season, there is an accessory that everyone is dying to see.
A new commercial for Burberry’s “Hero“ fragrance, directed by Jonathan Glazer and photographed by Mario Sorrenti, features actor Adam Driver going viral for the second time in a year. In the ad, Driver can be seen running across a deserted beach at dusk with a mighty, caramel-colored horse in tow. The two beings dive into the ocean together and emerge as a single being—a centaur. This is a continuation of the first frenzy-inducing “centaur” commercial released by the brand exactly a year ago.
The actor’s fan base speculated that the rugged campaign images—which show Driver shirtless in waist-deep, crystal blue water—were a unanimous societal response to the question, “What is the female gaze?” (Originating from feminist critical theory, the term is typically used to describe art that deviates from the objectifying male perspective that dominates modern culture.) The week’s other viral torso belonged to England soccer star Chloe Kelly, who caused a stir at Wembley Stadium with her shirtless goal celebration. Ecstatic to win the tournament for the first time in her country’s history, Kelly raced across the turf and joyfully whipped off her “Lioness” shirt to reveal a Nike sports bra and lean stomach — an image already being dubbed “the feminist image of the decade.”
After the U.S. women’s hockey team won gold in the 2018 Winter Olympics, player Kelly Pannek celebrated by doing cartwheels and backflips on the ice, a move that writer Lucy Ward described as “because she can” rather than for attention.