Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Gender Roles Final

When most people think of a 'man's man,' they picture Clint Eastwood, or James Bond. "Real men don't cry," Clint Eastwood would say, guns smoking, standing over the body of his opponent. Or the infamous line, "Name's Bond. James Bond." Is this idyllic image a myth or a reality? My question to the reader is this: how could such a man exist? All men cry at some point in their lives; to not do so would be inhuman. Also, not all 'real men' can constantly prowl the west, shooting out all 'bad guys' in sight. If this was true there wouldn't be any men left at all. The underlying question here is, simply, what does it mean to be a man? Biologically, this question is easy to answer. However, after delving deeper into the question, a person realizes that it is not so simple. I hope to show the reader, through popular culture, that what we commonly take for manliness is often the opposite.
We all have hear the song, "Macho Man." As I kid, I remember hearing the song over the radio and singing the chorus, not realizing its meaning. Before we delve into the song itself, let's take a moment to examine disco, the musical movement during which the song was created. Disco is know for its homosexual undertones, and this song is no exception. The band who sings the song, Village People, gained a reputation for wearing outfits that mocked the 'macho man' mentioned in the song. At the time of my childhood, less than twenty years later, the song had become an anthem for the nacho-eating football-watcher, its origins forgotten. However, the songs lyrics usually remain omitted in the current versions
of the song; if you look at its original form, its meaning is clear.
Jogging in the mornings, go man go
works out in the health spa, muscles glow
You can best believe that, he's a macho man
ready to get down with, anyone he can.
To me, one quote from Self Made Man become clear, "I guess maybe that's one of the secrets of manhood that no man tells if he can help it. Every man's armor is borrowed and ten sizes too big, and beneath it, he's naked and insecure and hoping you won't see," (pg. 130). Like the Village People, Norah points out that the idea of a 'macho man' is ridiculous-that the macho man is merely a myth, a concept produced by western society designed to confine manhood to a narrow viewpoint. Now, years later, we are proving the Village People right by taking their song for face value-we have shown that manhood is whatever we want it to be.
If you have watched the movie 'Mulan' you probably remember the song, 'I'll Make a Man Out of You." The first time you hear the song, you take it for face value, getting caught up in the tale of the comical soldiers harsh introductions to manhood.
Did they send me daughters
When I asked for sons?
You're the saddest bunch
I ever met
But you can bet
Before we're through
Mister, I'll make a man
out of you.
The meaning behind the man's words is clear: he equates physical strength with manliness, and these men are clearly lacking. However, the obvious irony is that the 'man' who improves the most is really a women: Mulan. In Raising Cane, the authors have this to say about male physical activity, "Size and sports are dominant themes in the males psychology. Men are impressed by big football players, tall basketball players, and heavy-weight boxers. Size and the power it connotes fascinates us," (pg. 145). However, even without big muscles or a tall frame, Mulan captures the respects of her peers. Once a listener realizes this, the once simple Disney story takes on more humorous undertones. Much like the previous example, the viewing public has once again proven that a 'man's man' is merely an ideal fabricated by our society. If you ask most people about Mulan, they will usually start to sing this song, smiling; they do not think of the gender roles behind the picture.
The last two songs have been mockeries of traditional manhood because of who was singing the song, or who the song was about. We can tell this because both songs are not obviously satire-at first, anyways. However, this song, composed and preformed by the only 'man's man' out of the three, is the only one that blatantly makes fun of the 'Tuff Man' stereotype.
I'd lay in a pile of burning money that I've earned
and not even worry about getting burned.
I'd climb the Empire State Building, fight Muhammad Ali
Just to have you baby close to me.
I believe that this songs purpose is a little self-mocking. Every man needs to make
fun of himself at some point in our lives. After acting too 'macho,' I know that I feel ridiculous. "You worry throughout your childhood about whether or not you are going to be a man. Then, once you are a man, you spend the rest of your life wondering whether they think you made it," (pg. 238). Men need to stop worrying about their masculinity so much. It is easy to get caught up in the idea of a 'macho man,' but, like The Thunderbirds show, it is easier to just poke fun at masculinity.
By now I hope the reader has a good idea of the 'Macho Man.' I believe he is a figment of our imagination, more ethereal than physical. Some people would argue that he is still out there, somewhere, deep in the Maine woods. However, do amount of deet, songs, or books can ever truly materialize Chuck Norris from the shadows.

1 comment:

DC said...

Lucien, Thank you for your creative argument about the social construction of masculinity through popular culture. If you are wondering where the last American man is, check out this book http://www.amazon.com/Last-American-Man-Elizabeth-Gilbert/dp/0670030864
Seriously, though, I found your argument thought provoking and one I generally agree with... though your interpretation of the songs may or may not have been what the artists originally intended. Thank you for the depth, originality, and insight of your contributions to this class.