Coloring Books: The CityLab Syllabus

There are a lot of problems with Men Coloring Book, a new adult coloring book that’s been making the rounds on Feminist Twitter. For starters, there’s the title, which sounds almost like a Google translation from another language. It’s just too Cro-Magnon: “Big man want man coloring book not girl-girl coloring book! [thumps club on rock]”

But there are things to love about Men Coloring Book, which is the work of Bella Mosley, a prolific adult-coloring-book artist (and a woman). Men Coloring Book is essentially a compilation of mandelas and other geometric patterns done in the style of newly popular adult zen coloring books. The only difference between this book and other Mosley titles like Anti-Stress Coloring Book and Creative Mindfulness Coloring Book is the authoritarian color palette, which suggests Chicago Bulls colors, if we’re being generous.