The Fighter is a
true story about boxing brothers Mickey Ward (played by Mark Wahlberg) and
Dicky Eklund (Oscar-winning performance by Christian Bale) in the 1990s. At the
beginning of the film both are going in opposite directions. Mickey is an
up-and-comer training to become the next champion, while Dickey is addicted to
crack and living off of his past fights. Both men pride themselves on their
masculinity due to the physically demanding nature of their sport. Boxing takes
a backseat, however, throughout much of the story as most of the actual conflict in the
movie deals with Mickey and his family problems.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Hegemony is the "the social, cultural, ideological, or economic influence exerted by a dominant group." The social group that will be discussed in this blog is the social media, specifically entertainment. Movies, television, and music all have a distinct influence in asserting what masculinity is and what its function should be. Men who watch and listen to media are all influenced by it, both subtly and explicitly.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
The Bechdel Test: "Women In Movies"
Spike TV: "Get More Action"
Tyler, The Creator: "I Hope You Answer"
Tyler, The Creator is a rapper with a devoted cult following.
His third album, Wolf, was released
in early 2013 and was well-received by critics. Although he has long been known
for shocking lyrics, Tyler actually makes a departure from graphic songs
and touches on more emotional topics in Wolf.
He has been criticized in the past for using homophobic slurs and for making sexist
comments, but fans know that it’s all an act intended to mess with society. As
mentioned in a previous post, introspective rap is not new; it has been
popularized in recent years. Two examples Tyler’s loneliness and the impact
it had on his masculinity are the songs “Answer” and “Lone”.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Axe: "Even Angels Will Fall"
Sunday, April 21, 2013
The Wrestler: "I'm An Old Broken Down Piece Of Meat"
Saturday, April 20, 2013
Parks and Recreation: "If It Doesn't Have Meat, It's A Snack"
Friday, April 19, 2013
Fight Club: "Things You Own End Up Owning You"
1999’s Fight Club is
considered one of the greatest movies of all time. Its style, story, and
characters are all incredibly memorable. Its protagonist, Tyler Durden, is one
of the most popular characters in film history. The film is about how Tyler and
the film’s unnamed narrator create a fighting club that grows into something
neither of them had anticipated. The movie is filled with ideas that are open
to interpretation, but the one that is most important is the theme of the deterioration
of man in society.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Dr. Pepper 10: "It's Not For Women"
How does a soft drink company create a “diet” soda for its
customers? By alienating half of them, that’s how! In 2011, Dr. Pepper released
a new version of their drink named Dr. Pepper 10. The ten stands for the number
of calories the drink has. Because the brand already makes Diet Dr. Pepper, the
new soda was aimed specifically at men. However, the company’s research found
that "men shy away from diet drinks that aren’t perceived as ‘manly’ enough.” To
combat their customers’ prejudices, the company released commercials that proclaimed
that Dr. Pepper 10 was “Not For Women.”
300: "Tonight, We Dine In Hell"
300 is a film
about the story of the 300 Spartan soldiers who fought against the massive
Persian army in ancient Greece. The film is extremely stylized and views
history through the lenses of a comic book. It is by no means an accurate
account but that was probably not the filmmakers’ intentions. The movie
presents the Spartan warriors as brave embodiments of pure manliness. It is
also a shrine to the male body. Every single Spartan is extremely muscular,
toned, and oiled. The camera frames their bodies to take up as much of the
screen as possible. 300 is filled to
the brim with masculine images and themes, but displays instants of
homoeroticism.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Jersey Shore: "Gym, Tan, Laundry"
The MTV reality television show Jersey Shore is about a group of young Italian Americans living in a house on the beach where the show gets its name from. The women wear provocative clothing and party every night and the men are tanned “guidos” with massive muscles. The show has been controversial since its inception due to claims that it is propagating negative stereotypes. The show managed to overcome those claims and became one of MTV’s biggest hits. Even though it has ended, the show still remains an interesting depiction of masculinity that has been infused with feminine features.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
The Departed: "What Do You Got Your Period?"
Monday, April 15, 2013
The Social Network: "I Believe I Deserve Some Recognition"
Sunday, April 14, 2013
Kendrick Lamar: "I'm A Sober Soul But I'm With The Homies Right Now"
West Coast Hip Hop artist Kendrick Lamar has come to the
forefront of rap and hip hop at an introspective phase in the history of the
genre. Rap is no longer about being a gangster, killing people, or being a “P.I.M.P.”
Rap, which has always been an extremely masculine medium, has been transformed in
mainstream culture artists like Drake and Kanye West. Today, hip
hop music is a vessel for emotions, disappointments, dreams instead of
ultra-macho posturing. It is only natural that Kendrick Lamar’s album good kid, m.A.A.d city was released
during this kind of emotional renaissance for the genre.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Breaking Bad: "A Man Provides"
“And a man, a man provides. And he does it even when he's
not appreciated, or respected, or even loved. He simply bears up and he does
it. Because he’s a man”
With those words crystal meth kingpin Gus Fring convinces protagonist Walter White to continue cooking meth for him in the critically acclaimed AMC series Breaking Bad. After realizing his bad decisions have caused his family to leave him, Walter decides to leave the meth business he so eagerly entered just a few seasons before. Fring’s stinging words to Walter play on his masculine insecurities. As Jezebel.com details, “Early on in the series Walt is portrayed as a weak, emasculated schoolteacher, whose sole source of power, his scientific genius, buys him nothing in a hyper-masculine capitalist world.”
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