Tough Guise Response - John Gallagher
The documentary Tough
Guise provided a very interesting and somewhat upsetting outlook on males
in society. It stressed how males
must show their “manhood” by proving they are tough, strong, physical, and
independent. The documentary
raised the point of the media’s role of how men are portrayed. Clips from sporting events, movies, and
TV were shown that all depicted men in this “tough” light. It was interesting to look at these
famous actors and athletes from an unusual point of view for me.
The film also presented many appalling statistics about
males and violence in society. 95
percent of road rage cases were caused by men, and over 85% of people who
commit murder are men. For the
small percentage of women that commit murder, most of the time it is in defense
from males. When women are accused
of murder, much more of a deal is made of it due to the rarity and perception
of women in the world we live in. It
becomes that much more visible. This really makes you think about the male
gender as a whole and how icons such as movie stars and pro wrestlers can be
such important factors.
Another interesting component that I took from the video was
the media comparison from over the years.
It is true that over time, these “manly icons” in films and sports have
gotten increasingly bigger and stronger looking each decade dating back to the
1960s. Also, weapons in movies have become bigger and more complex and are used
in more aggressive ways. As for
women, the difference between a Marylin Monroe and models such as Tyra Banks is
immense. These changes have had a
significant impact on our society, and the film Tough Guise really helped put it all in perspective for me.
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