Ideas about gender are reflected and reinforced through popular culture. This exercise is about cinematic portrayals of masculinity. One of the underlying themes of manhood and masculinity is that it is something that must be constantly demonstrated and is precariously held. The perceived precariousness of manhood can lead to feelings of alienation, impotence, despair, malaise, or nihilism among men. Across the last few decades, films have explored the theme of masculinity in crisis, in one form or another. Pick a film that deals with these themes. Below is a list of some possibilities (though there are many others):
Good Will Hunting (1997)
Office Space (1999)
Fight Club (1999)
After you have finished watching a relevant movie, briefly describe the plot and then write a couple of paragraphs critiquing it from a psychological perspective. In what way is the character (or characters) experiencing a “crisis of masculinity”? How does the character (or characters) deal with this crisis? What statement do you think the makers of the movie are making about manhood in general (if any)?