Masculinity in Crisis

Masculinity as a theme in cinema is constantly changing. Filmmakers past and present have utilised film as a tool to represent the crisis in masculinity due to its wide reach and impact to society. In 1970’s America, Morale was at a low. The loss in Vietnam, followed by a series of weak presidents created a society of weak sensitive men. Enter: Ronald Reagan.

Reagan’s [1]presidential style according to historian John Orman had 7 characteristics

1.       Competitive in politics & life

2.       Sports Minded and Athletic

3.       Decisive

4.       Unemotional

5.       Strong & Aggressive

6.       Powerful

7.       A ‘real’ man

With Reagan as president, his aim was to return pride to the domestic male. To achieve this, he turned to an industry he knew well; Hollywood film.

Reagan used the ‘Hard Bodied hero’ to convey his masculine message to American men. 

Arguably the most influential film of the Reagan period must be First Blood (1982). The first of the series surrounding war veteran John Rambo played by physically impeccable Sylvester Stallone. Following his journey against a corrupt sheriff and several deputies who were out to kill him. He had to  fight back in the only way he knew, through Physical strength and agility.

Susan Jeffords talks about Rambo’s impacts to the audience “The audience, like the deputies, is not used to seeing bodies like Rambo’s and the more they see them, the more they will desire them, not only individually but on a national level.”

1990’s America, signalled the end of Reagan and coincidentally another crisis of masculinity. This decade entered a time of sensitivity whilst, retaining a sense of physical presence in male characters. Whereby Arnold Schwarzenegger as the Kindergarten Cop ( [2]“Calms down and becomes a loving kindergarten teacher, though his ability to get the bad guy makes clear that he can still kick ass if needs to.”

The contemporary age of film has also taken a different outlook towards masculinity. Moonlight (2016) offers a complex view of black masculinity for a young black male who knows that he is different. In three acts, the film conveys the struggles that a black gay male (Chiron) experiences growing up. Society's expectations of black masculinity refuse to let Chiron express himself and eventually send him into repression. “Moonlight feels like more of an examination into the fragility of black masculinity.”

Here a Clip from the final scene of Moonlight, identifies the character ‘Black’ (played by Trevante Rhodes) showing a vulnerability where he is voicing for the first time about his struggles in becoming the man he is today. This contrasts his physically strong and tough exterior. Moonlight, therefore, was the start of a new era for masculinity.

Brazilian cinema is well known for its representation of masculinity. City of God (2004) is striking in its symbolism. Two men from the favelas take drastically contrasting paths. Rocket (narrator) breaks away from the stereotypes of poverty-stricken Brazil by aspiring to become a photographer. Lil Ze, on the other hand rises to the top of drug scene in Cidade de deus (City of God). Although the two characters have grown up together, the film highlights the disparities between them. Where Lil Ze follows the favela stereotype which leads to his demise and Rocket follows a new path.

All films discussed are different in their own way of portraying masculinity. However, there always seems to be a link between them all. Largely, the physically strong body type is to this day the most recognisable trait of male masculinity.

---

[1] Jeffords, S. Hard Bodies: Hollywood masculinity in the Reagan era (Rutgers University Press, 1994)

[2] Malin, B.J. American Masculinity under Clinton (Peter Lang, 2005)