Masculinity In Film

Masculinity in Film

It is very important to highlight the issues of masculinity in society as a whole, which is reflected greatly in film. The repression against men having no emotion and always being the "hero" is beginning to be pushed, however, previously to this, it was shamed greatly for a male protagonist, not acting like a "man". 

In the majority of mainstream films, masculinity is always presented in the same way, similarly to the recurring theme of femininity. 

Fight Club was one of Hollywood's most prominent films investigating and exploring masculinity.
Quite apparently from the name, Fight Club was a way to reassert the violence, emotionless, ideal "man" of society. It was created to remove men from consumerisms of American society and take them back to their original "masculine" state. On the surface, the film suggests greatly that the only way a man can experience a true masculine self, is through violence and wounding. However, if you are to look further into it, it appears to actually critique violence and the concept of "survival of the fittest." It appears to stress that, being able to accept responsibility, attaching and understanding your emotions and recognising the limits of nihilism (Tyler's specifically), is what assists in being a "real man." It highlights the frustration from men in today's society, who appear to turn their suppressed emotions into anger, which is then transferred by society into their masculinity and strength, rather than processed as an "uncommon" emotion, much like the unnamed protagonist and narrator and the film.

-Caera Mendez