Director: Sut Jhally
Year: 1999
SUMMARY:
This documentary examined masculinity in U.S. culture and the media and how it affects people's oppinions and behaviors, especially for males. The mold of 'what makes a real man' is causing males to be violent and emotionally closed off. Men tend to believe that masculinity= invulnerability and this could cause covert depression. Also the fad is taking its toll on women. The combination of sex and violence in movies is starting to normalize this behavior in men. In fact, it is more shocking and outrageous when women commit violent crimes then when men do. Interestingly, men tend to be more violent against other men than women. Masculinity affects minority men in a different way because they feel like it is all they have to survive and seem powerful.
WHAT ARE THE CONCERNS OF THIS AUTHOR?
Writers are concerned that masculinity is inflicting negative traits on society, especially males. He hopes males will be able to see that it is ok to express emotion and to be human.
WHY ARE THESE ISSUES IMPORTANT TO A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF SYSTEMS AND STRUCTURES OF OPPRESSION, POWER, PRIVILEGE, AND RESISTANCE?
It's important to examine masculinity because its something that affects everyone. Males are going through this fad to fit into the status quo and it is having a negative impact on them and society. By looking at this fad and where it is coming from we have a better strategy of trying to defeat it.
HOW DO YOU POSITION TO THIS ARTICLE? ARE THERE THREAD OF THIS PIECE THAT 'SPEAK' IN FAMILIAR WAYS TO ISSUES, EXPERIENCES, MEMORIES IN YOUR OWN LIFE? EXPLAIN.
I feel like masculinity is a problem in our society. Many of the boys I know rarely show emotion when they are sad or hurt. In fact, a lot of the guys I know seem uneasy when they see someone crying.
HOW ARE THERE SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE GROUPS/ INDIVIDUALS UNDER DISCUSSION AND OTHER MINORITIZED/ OPPRESSED Mmasculine men and oppressed groups feel like they will appear weak and looked down upon if they express themselves.
DO YOU AGREE WITH THE MAIN ARGUMENTS MADE? WHY? WHY NOT?
I agree with the main arguments because I see it in everyday life and the media. I have to admit that it seems more rare to see a man cry.
WHAT ARE ASPECTS THAT THE AUTHOR DOESN'T ADDRESS THAT YOU THINK ARE IMPORTANT?
I think the writer should also examine how families and cultures influence masculinity. After all, I believe that consumers have some sort of influence over toys and movies.
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1 comment:
I think you made a good point in your last section of this response. Before we can TACKLE the issue of masculinity in the media, we need to TEACH the issue of masculinity in our homes.
By creating homes with a more equal balance of power, (i.e., stay-at-home father, working mother), people will learn by experiencing in the social construction of their homes at a time in their lives when they are most impressionable that the patriarchal society we've developed is social construct and nothing more.
More awareness built into individuals will affect the output of media images of men. Hollywood will see that there exists a market in allowing a man to be more emotionally open. The ideas of masculinity and femininity of "We the people", which ideally includes both women and men, will influence and shape the definition of a "man" for the future.
I'd like to say that this will be the case in my own home, but I will have to be very careful and constantly cognizant of the images of men that I will one day present to my children. It will require a conscious effort on my part, in my own home, to affect a change in the public perception of masculinity and femininty.
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