CaseStudy: The Representation of Masculinity in Modern Cinema + THESP

Representation Case Study: The Representation of Masculinity in Modern Cinema

by Jamie Lewis

Primary Text: 300 (Zack Snyder 2007)

Technology

A film like 300 could never have been made as recent as 10 years ago because of the latest advances in CGI and editing.
DVDs and Blue-Ray DVDs.

History

During the 1960’s the Vietnam was one of the defining events in terms of masculinity. It started in 1955 and ended in 1975. Films such as Platoon and Apocalypse Now were made in response to the film; interestingly the two films had completely contrasting representations of US forces; Platoon depicting the US soldiers and forces as inhuman and showing a Vietnamese perspective on the violence rather than Apocalypse showing the US dropping bombs and enjoying the experience.
Not only the Vietnam War but also the World Wars changed masculinity and roles of women because women had to fill in for jobs on the Home Front. Whilst men were out being conscripted and fighting Germans, the women had to change their stereotypes and gender roles of the early 1900’s.

Economy

The cost of the film was supposedly $60mil and demonstrates how much money goes into modern cinemas and blockbusters with high-earning directors that can afford to ‘slash the cash’ no their films and then make a killing as 300 did making back all that money in the first week. Also for a blockbuster, increasingly nowadays, that’s still cheap. The IMAX cinema viewings of 300 would have been more expensive and therefore helped the profit substantially.

Social/Cultural

The trend of films such as 300; ‘sword-and-sandals’ including Troy, Gladiator and others. The media suggests that they have been made in response to the changes in the definition that the ‘modern-man’ that have arisen. The increasing appearances of musicals and dance-based shows and programmes focussing on expressive arts rather than sport shows (the attempt to remake Gladiators, presented by Ian Wright, failed as it was cancelled due to lack of viewing figures. Sky1) – this tells us that not only a female audience but also a male audience seems to prefer watching your X-Factors, Strictly Come Dancings and High School Musicals. From the latter a global celebrity Zac Efron has emerged redefining the modern man because of his interest in singing and dancing in the characters he plays and his attention and care of his appearance in real life. Also promoting the men’s healthcare and skin products etc – toiletaries; is David Beckham – men’s health and a great example of a footballer – usually seen as masculine (he is tatoo’d, from an average English family: son to a kitchen fitter and a hairdresser; and average upbringing from London. However Beckham features in constant toiletary adverts such as deoderant, after-shave and Gillette. He was always renowned for changing his hairstyle throughout his football career, watched and exploited eagerly by the media.

Political

The director of ‘The Hurt Locker’ is James Cameron’s ex-wife and perhaps this had some influence in how The Hurt Locker eventually became ‘Best Film’ rivaling her ex’s Avatar; both great films for the advances in cinema. Interestingly the film’s content is heavily about war and masculinity; teamwork and bonds/relationships in masculinity etc. similarly The Sun, renowned for page 3 is run by their female editor Rebekah Wade.

Academic Articles:
http://www.tesisenxarxa.net/TESIS_UdL/AVAILABLE/TDX-1203109-154039//TMISC7de7.pdf
http://www-copas.uni-regensburg.de/articles/issue_8/Christina_Judith_Hein.php