Monday, 14 November 2011
"Look at your man, now back at me."
I couldn’t resist posting the Old Spice video. It was the first thing that came to mind when I thought of a man. What is masculinity? In my opinion, masculinity are traits that make up the ‘perfect’ man. What are these perfect traits? Well the perfect men are painted to be strong, brave, heroic, intelligent, protective and powerful beings. (At least, in every action film I’ve ever seen)
In society today, we are told how to be a ‘man’ from various forms of media. The old Spice example is just one extreme form of commercialism describing the ideal man. Through the television screen we are told what we need to look like, what we need to smell like, and what we need to act like. In the commercial, the character implies that men are supposed to be strong and muscular when he asks, “Does your man look like me? No.” We’re supposed to be the “handyman” who can fix any problem and be able to do anything. The commercial takes this to a bit of an extreme when they talk about how women want a man who can build a dream kitchen.
Through literature, authors sometimes depict their version of masculinity. As I draw back to the vague memories I have of heroes in books, they all seem to have similar ideal “manly” traits. Heroes are courageous, fearless and always come to the rescue. In the odd case when the character turns his back on society, the character is viewed as the “bad guy”, the coward, a very “unmanly” person. I recall a scene in Stephen Mitchell’s translated version of Gilgamesh, where Enkidu was viewed as a coward, and an unmanly figure. This was when Gilgamesh wanted to go off and fight Humbaba. Enkidu was scared and told Gilgamesh to go alone. As a result, Gilgamesh seemed to imply that if he had gone off alone and died in battle, society would remember Gilgamesh as a fearless and manly hero. In contrast, Enkidu would be the unmanly coward who stayed behind.
Orwell’s 1984 illustrates masculinity through his description of “BIG BROTHER.” In my opinion the slogan “Big Brother is watching you,” enforces the notion that males are the protectors of society. Males know what’s best, and need to have control and power. The talking screen seems to tell society how to act in a direct sense. This is similar to society today, however the television tells men how to act in a symbolic indirect sense. Even the name itself, “Big Brother,” portrays the stereotypical manly older brother. A superior figure that you can go to when you need help.
Society tells us how to be manly through media and literature. The Old Spice video has 21 million views! Why is this? I would assume it’s because the video is extremely funny, and an extreme exaggeration of stereotypes for men. The fact that 21 million people voluntarily went on the web to watch this is staggering to me. It makes me think that of those 21 million people, at least a couple million loved the commercial and bought the Old spice product. By buying this product, they conform to the notion of what we are told to have and be like. Just like how Winston conformed and gave in, eventually coming to “Love Big Brother.”
In society today, we are told how to be a ‘man’ from various forms of media. The old Spice example is just one extreme form of commercialism describing the ideal man. Through the television screen we are told what we need to look like, what we need to smell like, and what we need to act like. In the commercial, the character implies that men are supposed to be strong and muscular when he asks, “Does your man look like me? No.” We’re supposed to be the “handyman” who can fix any problem and be able to do anything. The commercial takes this to a bit of an extreme when they talk about how women want a man who can build a dream kitchen.
Through literature, authors sometimes depict their version of masculinity. As I draw back to the vague memories I have of heroes in books, they all seem to have similar ideal “manly” traits. Heroes are courageous, fearless and always come to the rescue. In the odd case when the character turns his back on society, the character is viewed as the “bad guy”, the coward, a very “unmanly” person. I recall a scene in Stephen Mitchell’s translated version of Gilgamesh, where Enkidu was viewed as a coward, and an unmanly figure. This was when Gilgamesh wanted to go off and fight Humbaba. Enkidu was scared and told Gilgamesh to go alone. As a result, Gilgamesh seemed to imply that if he had gone off alone and died in battle, society would remember Gilgamesh as a fearless and manly hero. In contrast, Enkidu would be the unmanly coward who stayed behind.
Orwell’s 1984 illustrates masculinity through his description of “BIG BROTHER.” In my opinion the slogan “Big Brother is watching you,” enforces the notion that males are the protectors of society. Males know what’s best, and need to have control and power. The talking screen seems to tell society how to act in a direct sense. This is similar to society today, however the television tells men how to act in a symbolic indirect sense. Even the name itself, “Big Brother,” portrays the stereotypical manly older brother. A superior figure that you can go to when you need help.
Society tells us how to be manly through media and literature. The Old Spice video has 21 million views! Why is this? I would assume it’s because the video is extremely funny, and an extreme exaggeration of stereotypes for men. The fact that 21 million people voluntarily went on the web to watch this is staggering to me. It makes me think that of those 21 million people, at least a couple million loved the commercial and bought the Old spice product. By buying this product, they conform to the notion of what we are told to have and be like. Just like how Winston conformed and gave in, eventually coming to “Love Big Brother.”
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