Media 10
April 25, 2016
Masculinity in the Media
MEN ON PAUSE
o Return all remaining quiz 2
o Tell Me Something I Do Not Know
o Finish Miss Representation and discuss afterwards
o Discuss Masculinity in the media and how do you think masculinity is portrayed in the media?
o What is masculine to you?
· Masculinity is made,not given – as opposed to one’s biological sex; Media images of manhood therefore play a pivotal role in making, shaping and privileging certain cultural and personal attitudes about manhood; two models of manhood derived by the late 18th and early 19th century. The Genteel Patriarch and the Heroic Artisan.
· Genteel Patriarch—An upper classman. He was a devoted husband and father, spent time supervising his massive estate, he was refined, and elegant. Believed that farming was the only way for true independence, however, didn’t farm the land himself. He had slaves to work the fields or migrant workers while he studied life, art, and literature. Truly believed if you didn’t own land, you weren’t a man. This characteristic didn’t last when slavery ended and America became more “big city” with the industrial revolution.
· Heroic Artisan—embodied the physical strength a man “should” have. Get down and dirty like a man should and not be as clean and refined like the Genteel Patriarch. Believed that to become a man, you must work hard and you achieve your manliness through hard labor. He always took a physical job and believed only men could do physical work. In an interesting way, they complimented one another because both believed in their independence.
Men in American culture
o Men are conditioned by ideology just as women are and automatically fit into socially learned roles. Our society teaches boys and men certain behaviors, ones commonly thought of as masculine (aggression, strength, leadership, lack of emotion) in order to maintain patriarchal privilege.
o Society tells little boys (boys don’t cry) and those little boys grow up with this ideology. And men (take it like a man) and this greatly hurt men having the ability to express themselves in certain ways. Or to view themselves as weak. This has a profound effect on men. Men tend to not seek medical care regularly unlike women which is one reason why women out live men. Men believe they can handle it and suffer in silence when they’re sick.
o Boys and men are encouraged to learn masculine behavior through belonging and participating in HOMOSOCIAL GROUPS as discussed during homosexual representations in the media.
1. Homosocial groups are all male spaces or activities such as athletic teams, fraternities, clubs, lodges, and so forth. Men learn to how to be men and masculine either unconsciously or consciously.
New Age Man
Metrosexual-generally speaking is a man who is overly consumed with his grooming and appearance. He spends a lot of money on his clothing and fashion and usually lives in an urban section of the city.
o Young
o Urban
o Fashion conscious
o Body conscious
o Heterosexual
Mass Media and Men
o Families, friends, teachers, and community leaders all play a role in helping boys define what it means to be a man. Mainstream media representations also play a role in reinforcing ideas about what it means to be a “real” man in our society. In most media portrayals, male characters are rewarded for self-control and the control of others, aggression and violence, financial independence, and physical desirability.
o In advertising certain images of masculinity is consistently presented and men are told that certain products will improve or affirm their masculine. For instance, drinking beer, driving a truck, cologne, razors, all affirm certain traits among men.
o Men are consistently represented as powerful active individuals who are sexually desired by women without any traits of femininity anything less is a challenge to a man’s “perceived” masculinity.
o American society tells us men are to be financially staple, have aggressive behaviors, and again is desired by women thus suggesting that only “straight” men are masculine.
Common Contemporary Male Stereotypes in the Media
o The Action Hero—strong, often angry and uses physical violence to get what he wants. Ex: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Vin Diesel, The Rock, etc.
o The Buffoon—A bungling father figure in many sit-coms and television ads. Though is masculinity is never question, his intelligence is often challenged. Kevin James (King of Queens), Jackie Gleason (The Honeymooners), Ray Romano (Everybody Loves Raymond), etc.
o The Big Shot—Often defined by his professional achievements suggesting that he must be financially powerful to be successful. Charlie Sheen (Two and a Half Men)
Sex Roles and Gender Socialization
o A sex role includes a number of normative expectations about how one should behave as male or female.
o Masculinity is institutionalized in social structures such as the family, schooling, mass media and religion, where boys are socialized to become masculine.
o Hegemonic Masculinity- coined by Australian sociologist R. W. Connell. Ms. Connell was born Robert William Connell. Reinforces the dominant social position of men, and the subordinate social position of women. Connell goes on to explain how and why men maintain dominant social roles over women, and other gender identities, which are perceived as “feminine” in a given society.
In-Class Group Discussion
(Take 10 minutes and discuss the below questions then present to the class as a group)
o How are boys and men understood to become ‘masculine’ or have ‘masculinity’ in your community? Is it the result of biology (born ‘male’) or culture (learning masculinity)?
o Are all men equally masculine in your community? How are differences in masculine behavior or self-presentation explained?
o Is there a discussion about male sexuality in your community? Which men and what practices are under scrutiny?
Men’s Bodies As Objects (Marketing)
Clearly this happens to women but does it happen to men too?
Homophobia and Masculinity
o Homophobia is more than the irrational fear of gay men by straight men but it’s more like straight men having a fear of being perceived as gay.
· For instance, the word faggot has less to do with a homosexual experience or even being afraid of homosexuals, it’s the labeling of any man who seems “weak”, “un-tough”, un-cool” by straight men. Remember society doesn’t generally perceive homosexual males as strong or tough beings. We rarely see an openly gay male in film or television who looks like “Rocky”, Vin Diesel, Denzel Washington, etc. We will discuss homosexuality in the media soon.
Tough Guise:It is narrated by Jackson Katz (take notes). The central argument of Tough Guise is that violence in America is overwhelmingly a gendered phenomenon, and that any attempt to understand violence therefore requires that we understand its relationship to cultural codes and ideals of masculinity and manhood in the media. Central to the video’s argument are the following:
Tough Guise Part 1 Group Focus Questions Due May 9th
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PS_0qCEsapI(watch on your own)
Screen Tough Guise Part 2 In Class Today
Screen Hip Hop Beyond the Beats and Rhymes on Monday May 2, 2016
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