I'm doing a close study of the social and political commentary offered by a body of British films between 1990 and 2002, and i'm looking at the idea of how masculinity is in crisis. I'm also referencing the films 'The Full Monty' and 'Brassed Off'....what are your views on this topic?
shareI have to go to work right now, so I only have a little time to think, I'll post more later.
Not only is this a period will many gay male themed movies ("Beautiful Thing" "Priest" "Get Real"), but also unconventional female characters who find new strength ("Muriel's Wedding" "Secrets & Lies" "Legally Blond".. not all British, but we all see each other's movies).
Coincidence? Maybe with str8 men's dominance eroding, non-traditional stories get told.
Also
True Confessions
More later.
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It might help if you define what you understand by the term `masculinity'. Is it indeed in crisis? And if the cultural representation of the idea is `under threat' is that important? Is it any great loss?
share> Is it any great loss? <
Well with change there would be a period of uncertainty with redefining.
I agree things have changed. When I was a young movie goer in the 70's and 80's, an R rating meant you were going to see some tits and ass (on a woman that is). Nowadays it's just the opposite. While watching Billy Elliot, I got up for a moment, and when I came back, my wife said the librarian got mooned. I then said I knew the R rating would be for a man's ass. I guess we red-blooded straight men are being paid back for all those years of female exploitation. The damn liberals have taken over and are shoving there asses in our face - in the name of free speech. They only believe in free speech when they have someting stupid to say - never mind what someone else thinks. A few years ago, we got a new network called Spike TV, billed as "the first network for men." I said "Great" lets have some of those good ole Bikini Car Wash movies and Sports Illustrated Swimsuit shows... But no - they showed James Bond movies and Wrestling. So it wasn't a network "for" men but rather "about" men. AAUGH...
shareMasculinity is fiction. It's a socail construct
The idea is constantly shoved on boys in society what they should be like; alpha males, tough, consistent, holding their emotions.
They should do what they like, be who they really are, a real man would be a man who is not a coward, not afraid of being called a sissy by a brainwashed society who thinks ballet is for girls, pink is for girls and crying isn't for boys.
There's this constant pressure on proving ones 'masculinity'.
Great response and isn't that the point of the film? His mum's letter said "be yourself" and he did.
shareI really hope that study shows something interesting. Personally I think that the way the researcher put it was wrong scientifically due to the unsteady foundation it used. Moreover it shows a lack of knowledge about cinema's history and somewhat about British theater culture as well. Not to mention the definition of crisis is a fragile one and everyone in academia knows not to write it lightly or puting it in the title or summary of their written work.
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