How the Media Define Masculinity
Mainstream media representations play an important 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.
One example which can illustrate this point could be the James Bond film series. In different films or TV series of James Bond, this character always has some typical qualities which a lot of people admire in a man. He is always confident, powerful, self-control, independent and also a bit aggressive. Meanwhile, the portrayals of his violent fights with enemies also contribute to the
construction of masculinity. Since James Bond is always represented as the good guy in the film and always defeats his enemy, he becomes a model of men and his characteristics has been generalized as the common qualities which a man should possess. Thus, this kind of media representation constructs the stereotypes of masculinity and reinforces the notion of ideal characteristics and behaviors of men.
One example which can illustrate this point could be the James Bond film series. In different films or TV series of James Bond, this character always has some typical qualities which a lot of people admire in a man. He is always confident, powerful, self-control, independent and also a bit aggressive. Meanwhile, the portrayals of his violent fights with enemies also contribute to the
construction of masculinity. Since James Bond is always represented as the good guy in the film and always defeats his enemy, he becomes a model of men and his characteristics has been generalized as the common qualities which a man should possess. Thus, this kind of media representation constructs the stereotypes of masculinity and reinforces the notion of ideal characteristics and behaviors of men.
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http://www.gadgetreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Bond-Girls.jpg,
http://cache.reelz.com/assets/content/blogimages/JamesBond007LISTBANNER.jpg,
http://xinchanchan.files.wordpress.com/2013/10/masculinity-word-association1.png