Ball Gowns and Bow Ties

Haily MacDonald

Media stereotypes are foreseeable, especially in the advertising, entertainment, and news industries. Stereotypes act like codes—they give audiences a quick, general understanding of a person or group of people, usually relating to their class, race, gender, or occupation. There are several other attributes that create the stereotypes of males or females. In our society today, men should be masculine, dominant, strong, aggressive, intelligent, rational, and also be active. Whereas women should be feminine, submissive, weak, passive, intuitive, beautiful, emotional, and communicative. From Cosmopolitan magazine, a stand out article was “Men, Love + Life”. Placed directly in the middle of a page is a couple—each supporting gender stereotypes about what it means to be a man or a woman and their roles in society.
Not only is the couple kissing, they each are doing something else. The female in the image is holding a vacuum revealing that she is doing household chores. She is carrying out a task “defined as ‘women’s work’—nurturing, feeding, caring for family and home” (Anderson 374) as stated in Rereading America in the essay “True Women and Real Men”. Instead of the female being dressed in a work attire carrying a brief case, she is vacuuming, a common women’s stereotype. The simple household object, a vacuum, symbolizes her duty, which is to work at home. Women are seen cleaning and caring for the house as well as the family, while men go out and support the family. This then leads me to the male’s work attire; he is wearing work shoes, socks, and a bow tie. The three simple aspects of his clothing symbolize how a man is provider, where our “American society reserves highly valued attributes for males and actively supports the high evaluation of any characteristics which might inadvertently become associated with maleness” (Devor 388). In our culture, typically what is associated with men is considered superior. Even in the article’s photograph, the man is portrayed to be superior to the woman through his gender role—he brings home the bacon.

Not only are the gender roles stereotypical, but their appearances are also. “..Femininity must be expressed through modes of dress, movement, speech and action which communicate weakness, dependency, ineffectualness, availability for sexual or emotional service” (Devor 389) is displayed through the female’s outfit in the article. The female’s nude colored dress is a ball gown style—tight top and free, flowing, sheer bottom. The color nude can represent how women in our society are often plain and unnoticed. The top of the strapless dress is embroidered with elegant jewels giving a sense of femininity. The slit up the leg gives a sexy touch to the dress as well as a greater exposure to more bare skin, emphasizing her sexual characteristics. The female’s shoes also set off a different style for women—showing the contrast of two different approaches of femininity. Women of the more classical era were often found in dresses that were long and free moving. The stylish pink, leopard patter of the high-top shoes shows the more informal style that is common today. This represents the clash of the two time periods and how women are creating a hybrid of the two. The male is posed in no shirt and bold colored boxers. The boxers have a loud plaid pattern on them and are a lime green color. The color is bright, and shows off a strong and courageous side of the man. Also, he is in his bow tie, work shoes and socks which show his status, and success. The male is dressed in these clothes because men in our society are often seen as being in charge, noticed, and assertive. Why is the male choosing to wear a bow tie instead of a normal tie? Since the man is shirtless, I believe he chose to wear a bow tie to keep his bare chest exposed because a man’s style of dress should “emphasize the size of the upper body musculature” (Devor 391). Also, it shows a more playful side in a way, that he means business, but wants to have fun too.

Not only does their clothing attire reveal certain aspects, so does their posture. The female is standing calmly, and leaning backwards—showing her submission to the male. The male on the other hand is standing solidly upright, showing how he is a strong, sturdy foundation for the female. The male holds the female with power, “strength and readiness” (Devor 391) showing his aggression and his wanting of affection. As the male holds tight to the female, she holds tight to the vacuum—one hand holding the cord and the other grasping the handle of the vacuum. Media influences many of our views of men and women. These stereotypes mold an individual’s mind into what men and women should be. Men are seen as masculine, dominant, strong and active, but women are seen as feminine, beautiful and emotional. The article “Men, Love + Life” represents a man’s lie and fantasy in a women’s magazine. A man fantasizes about coming home from a long day of work to a clean house, dinner on the table, a woman looking good and expects her to take his clothes off. But what do women want? Do they imagine the same things as men? Most women do not dream of wearing a ball gown. Nor staying home all day and be expected to look good. Many women go out and help support the family—it is becoming more common in our time period. I dream of being successful, and I want to help support my family one day. This article does not exemplify that—is says women should stay home doing women’s work, while a man should go out and bring in the money for the family; Women should remain dependent and a servants to men.

Your Mom Hates This Essay

By Joe Tiernan

On 25 January 2011, the video game Dead Space 2 came out and was a hit, being considered one of the best games of all time. It was praised for its violent gameplay, gory images, and frightening sequences. While the game was being released, a commercial came out, posted on YouTube as “Dead Space 2: Your Mom Hates Dead Space 2 Trailer.” The people who made the commercial recorded the disgusted reactions of older women as they watched gameplay of Dead Space 2. “Your mom hates Dead Space 2. The critics don’t” became the slogan for the game. The commercial shows that men welcome violent images and enjoy watching it while women can’t stand them. It also promotes teenage rebellion against their mothers. Finally, the commercial assumes the common stereotype that men embrace adventure and are willing to take risks and face danger while women cower into a corner seeking protection and safety from their strong male counterparts.

Men love watching violence and typically women do not. Since human beings have existed, it has been men who have gone out and fought wars against each other. The women, on the other hand, were the ones who stayed home and rarely saw blood except if they cooked an animal. Over time, people generalized that women cannot tolerate violence. My family raises sheep, and sometimes we have to put down a few because they are badly injured. My mom sobs great rivers of tears because she loves the sheep and doesn’t like losing them. I was anxious the first time I shot a sheep in the head, but after the third time, I got used to it and haven’t hesitated to kill sheep since. However, there are men who dislike violence and women who embrace it. My English teacher can’t watch a UFC fight. He believes that it is too violent for him and won’t watch two grown men fight to the near death. There are women in our armed forces. They must be able to withstand violence and be ready to see others killed and even kill another person. If they couldn’t commit acts of violence in times of need, then they couldn’t be a part of our Army, Navy or Air Force. This commercial depends on the stereotype that women dislike violence, men embrace it, and that men take pleasure in this gender difference.

The commercial promotes teenage rebellion against their mothers through video games. If a teenager sees that the moms in the commercial hate Dead Space 2, he will want to buy the game to get back at his own mother disgusting her with the graphic violence. The commercial further encourages teenagers to show violence even though their mothers disapprove through other media like movies, magazines and sometimes athletics. The entertainment industry does this because they know that moms hate violence and it makes them go away so kids can have privacy. Sometimes, when I am in a bad mood, I put on a violent movie or play a video game (even Dead Space 2) so my mom will stay away and I can be alone. The marketing researchers know this is an effective marketing tool because teenage boys are the primary audience and they will jump at the opportunity to act out in a way their moms dislike. Boys turn into men as they ignore the advice of moms and establish their freedom of independence.

If there is an opportunity of adventure with tons of danger and risks, many men would jump for the opportunity. Men embrace danger and risks and are excited to go on adventures. Dead Space 2 takes place on the Sprawl which is a space station near Saturn’s moon, Titan. The place becomes a futuristic haunted house when the Necromorph infection spreads in the station. The player is the protagonist Isaac Clarke and the goal of the game is to destroy The Marker which is a stone structure causing the infection. As Isaac Clarke, you explore the scary environment while trying to avoid being gruesomely killed by the constant danger that you put yourself in. Even though you on the verge of peeing your pants, you are still eager to beat the game and find out the fate of Isaac and The Marker. By having only male avatars and pushing the game to male audiences, Electronic Arts is assuming that a woman would go through this adrenaline pumping adventure that they would cower and hide in a small area and wait to be rescued. Maybe a woman is not looking for an adventure and would rather have a man go on one only because they aren’t encouraged to and men are. The commercial discourages women from going on Isaac’s terrifying adventure.

The commercial advertising Dead Space 2 proves that men love violence and women don’t. It also promotes teenage rebellion against mothers because of the women’s reactions to the gameplay in the commercial. Lastly, it shows that men are willing to go on an intense adventure and embrace the risks and danger that go with it. Dead Space 2 is a violent scary game but it should not discourage women from playing it despite the sexist advertisement’s objective of scaring women from buying the game. Not all women follow these stereotypical rules and who knows, maybe it will be a woman who destroys The Marker and saves the day in our future.

You Don't Go Girl

By Taylor Wallace

The shocking Teen Mom episode in which Amber physically assaults her boyfriend Gary has become an internet phenomenon. This video from the MTV reality series has over 5,000 hits on YouTube and at the time, was on the covers of tabloids everywhere. Why exactly this video was so shocking? Amber from this clip is a 140 pound woman who is captured punching and assaulting Gary—a man much over 6 feet and 200 pounds. In our culture, abuse and assault is always greatly looked down upon, but even more so when the man is the one assaulting the woman. When I think of physical abuse in a relationship that has been in the public eye, I automatically think back to the 2009 pictures of pop star Rihanna with black eyes and a messed up face which surfaced all over the internet. When Chris Brown assaulted her, it greatly damaged his career and made women across the world hate him. When Amber got all of this publicity for her video beating up Gary, something very different happened.

Amber’s video punching Gary and cursing at him is not looked down upon nearly as much as it would have been if it were Gary punching Amber. This reveals a lot about modern society and what we think and feel is okay for women and men. If a man punches a woman in the face with great force and calls her a “bitch” he is a total and complete dirt bag and should be, in some cases, thrown in jail. If a woman punches a man in the face with force and calls him as Amber does, “a piece of shit” she is empowered and is taking charge of things. This video of Amber beating up Gary is highly controversial because not much was done in the way to stop this abuse. Amber was definitely looked down upon by the public from this incident, but there was little social or legal consequence.

According to the incident in the video, Gary seems like an extremely submissive and passive guy. When most men watch this video, they assume that Gary is a girly man because clearly Amber “wears the pants,” and that she is the dominating, maybe even more masculine person in the relationship. Gary sits there and takes all of Amber’s abuse as she throws punches at him and calls him horrible names. I believe that Gary is a strong man for being able to hold himself back. Another argument can be made: Gary is less of a man for not picking Amber up, tossing her across the room and asserting himself. I disagree with this because Gary is being mature and rising up against the violence. He is a wonderful example of a modern man who need not be ashamed of acting gentle. Gary is comfortable enough in his own masculinity that he doesn’t have to act overly macho all the time.

Watching a small woman assault a huge man reveals a lot and is quite ironic. Amber throws punches right to Gary’s face and does not hold back. This shows us that violence isn’t the result of one’s gender, that violence and aggression can obviously take place in either gender. It shows us that violence and aggression can obviously take place in either gender. Violence has more to do with one’s environment and social upbringing than one’s sex. Amber and Gary have become a very good example of how America’s culture as a whole is evolving. One of the good things that this situation shows about America is how we have come out of the age where women are secondary to men. However, are women taking on men’s role of being overly assertive and masculine? Do some 21st century women feel the need to get back at men for their long history of being overly dominant? The road to complete equality for women and men has been a long one and it seems that American culture may be further away than we thought.

And 1 Streetball

By Alan Bertolero

In “And 1 Streetball” from season 2 episode 9, a streetball team travels around the world to the best basketball parks and play the best streetball players in that area. The show has mostly men in it, in fact the clip that I saw doesn’t show a single woman in attendance. The people there try to act very masculine by acting tough and showing off. They like to portray themselves a certain way to maintain a reputation of toughness. High rep doesn’t necessarily mean that a lot of people like you, it means you are known by many people to be tough and that nobody will mess with you. This is no doubt a very masculine show.

The “And 1 Streetball” video communicates to men, especially African American men, that to be a true man you need to show your superiority and dominance. We have to show that we are better. Competition is part of our male culture. Sometimes men compete with each other to impress the ladies, but many times it is just to prove to everyone that we are the best at what we do. Men strive to be the best. I tend to think of this trait as a good thing, something that pushes us harder and harder. In this clip one of the players who is nicknamed “Hot Sauce” for his fancy dribbling and “saucy” moves, shows off and showboats in a way to give him respect and credibility. He has the ball at the wing and dribbles the ball in-between the defender’s legs, brings it back, pulls down the defender’s headband over his eyes so he can’t see, bounces the ball off the guy’s head, and dribbles around him to the hoop. He could have easily just dribbled by him and avoid all the hassle, but that wouldn’t be good enough for him. In his mind he has to humiliate his opponent; he has to make him look stupid. This is the primary goal of each player, to make their opponent look stupid. This scene of Hot Sauce playing with his defender is a perfect example of how men like to show their dominance and superiority.

True men don’t just need to compete in a certain way, with fancy dribbling and jaw-dropping dunks; they need to dress just right. All of the players wear balloon shorts that are so baggy that they barely stay on their waists. Sometimes you can see them pulling them up or just holding on to them when they run down the court. Clothes, fashion, and the way a man looks is almost as important as how they perform. In the clip, the baggy shorts are worn because they are cool and they want to look a certain way even though it makes it harder to play. I know because I sometimes wear extremely baggy shorts too and when I run it sags down and when I try to dribble the ball between my legs it gets caught in the shorts. Men’s priorities sometimes put how they look first, in front of practicality.

To be a man you have to be loud, demand attention, and make noise. Being loud makes you known and brings attention to yourself. In the clip, every time a player does some fancy move or a thundering dunk, the crowd goes nuts. You can hear every person in the room screaming “oooooooohhh!!!” It’s something men like to do because men desire to be independent, but also to fit in; once most people yell out and jump around everyone starts doing it. It is another way we can act cool and be part of the group.

We have this drive to be better than everyone at everything, no matter if it’s a basketball game or a simple game of tick-tack-toe. Men worry almost as much as women do about their appearance, although we act like we don’t really care about our looks. Men need to be loud. Shouting and screaming when something cool happens or when someone gets made fun of is how men like to get attention.

Femen Frenzy

By Megan Badger

Woman activists from Europe known as "Femen" gathered at the Italian Embassy in Kiev on February 14th 2011 to protest against the Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi. Berlusconi, already considered to be corrupt by many, is being accused of changing the birth records of the beautiful under age dancer, Karima El Mahroug. Silvio changed her records so she would be 18 years old, the legal age for sex with an adult. Karima, famously known by her stage name Ruby, says that she received seven thousand Euros from him in return for sex. However he denies this and said the money was him “merely wanting to help someone in difficulty.” Italian women supported by Ukrainian feminists are outraged by this scandal. Women in this country are seen to have no use, except for sexual pleasures, and now that they have an opportunity to speak out for themselves – Berlusconi denies all allegations.

In this image a woman is dangling a pair of sexy lingerie panties in the face of a male police officer. By doing this she is saying she wants “Equality!” and “Respect!” and that she “Is more than this thong!” On the internet this image is accompanied with numerous other photos of women bending over in front of the men while flipping them off. In a way it is very ironic, they are dressed up representing the way that men see and use them: sexual objects. On a video a woman speaks about the controversy saying, “I am a twenty-seven year old woman and being young in Italy is a disgrace! We are not considered useful.” They are not happy that men see their only use as sex objects.

These women want to be respected and not seen as just an object. They want a change, and this protest just might be the turning point. They want to be known for their personality and as a friend, rather than just an intimate partner. Although as stated earlier there is sort of an ironic twist with this whole scandal. Maybe men do not grant women with the utmost respect that they deserve, due to the way certain women put themselves out there. The way they dress and their attitudes in some ways represent themselves as only sex objects. So this may be the leading factor of how this controversy erupted.

These women are transgressing numerous stereotypes of how feminine women should act. They are protesting together against this showing that they not only care about politics but that they are taking action in them as well. They aren’t going about this in timid quiet ways; these women are being rather aggressive about it all. They show no fear through their yelling and raunchy gestures made towards the men and police officers. They are doing this as one. They are unified, not separate in anyway. They are all in the same situation that is why they are supporting one another.

The women activists of Italy are doing what needs to be done. However it needs to be known that this is a reoccurring problem, not only in this country but all over the world. Berlusconi should take responsibility for his actions and pay the price, time in jail for his crime against a minor and for his dishonesty. Women should work harder to be known for their personalities, so that mean will not see them as only sex objects. In every society, women need to come together as one and demand equality and most importantly, respect.

Think About Me

James Pennington

The romantic relationship between a man and a woman is the topic of many discussions; everyone talks about their issues with the opposite sex every once in a while. In the song, “Think About Me” by iLLa, he reminisces about a past lover. In our society men aren’t supposed to openly admit their deep feelings for a woman. iLLa however has no problem doing that, as he sings a song about a former lover that still seems to stroll through his thoughts.

iLLa transgresses some common male stereotypes at the songs start. The song opens with the chorus, “Do you think about me? I wonder, wonder, wonder, yes I wonder.” Right from the start he tells us that this woman is on his mind. By repeating “wonder” he reveals that this is something he thinks about often. iLLa admits here, “Fooling at a café, fresh off a kush made, sipping on a mocha, thinking about an old flame. What the hell you doing ma’ tell me what you been on, things I would say to her in case she were to come along.” Men aren’t supposed to be open with their feelings and they certainly aren’t supposed to think about what they would talk about if a former lover were to appear. He also says, “sipping on a mocha,” which is considered a more feminine drink. Men are supposed to be as rigid as the breathe they get from black coffee. They aren’t supposed to “sip” mochas while they think about their feelings.

iLLa does fall in line with some common male stereotypes. As the first verse ends the chorus starts again with a revealing twist: “I’m stuck fantasizing, I know its not proper, it used to be so good, being up on top her.” The first verse takes a more feminine approach. This chorus however is slightly more masculine. With it’s “it used to be so good, being up on top her” sexual reference. This is a much manlier thing to say. In that he stops explaining his feelings for her and focuses on the good physical feelings he got from her. Men in our society are supposed to have less emotions and more instincts, and sex is probably the most dominant instinct in a mans brain.

The part of the song that interests me the most is small and seemingly insignificant. The chorus has a line that says, “I know it’s not proper.” In the song he talks about being emotionally attached to this woman while also referencing how much he misses having sex with her. So what confuses me is when the chorus says “I know it’s not proper” what is it exactly that he is referring to? He could be saying that it’s improper to talk about his emotions so publicly or that he shouldn’t be singing about how much he misses this sexual relationship. I believe that the ambiguous pronoun “it’s” allows the line to have multiple meanings. First he shouldn’t fantasize about a woman so openly. Also, it is maybe even less “proper” to be so emotionally open. It’s also the entire idea that someone can be so emotionally complex.

The truth is, I’m not sure what it is this song is trying to say. I think it’s a great example of the emotional inconsistency we experience as human beings. I think it also illustrates that even though society wants us to behave a certain way as men, we shouldn’t be afraid to express how we feel, especially to women we love. The day men talk about their feelings while sipping mochas, is the day everyone can express themselves that much more.

It's Not Pollution, It's Horsepower

Scherf Montgomery

“Trophies. Nice for sticking on the wall and in your buddies’ faces.” This is the phrase branded deep into a slab of wood in an advertisement for the all-new heavy duty Dodge Power Wagon. This truck is a trophy in its self and makes others jealous. This Dodge Ram is only for Real Men. Real Men whose livelihoods depend on dragging eight-ton trailers from job site to job site and loading down their trucks with ATV’s and ammunition; real men who would never be seen dropping a dead goose and their gun in the trunk of a Prius Hybrid.

This truck was voted Motor Trends 2010 truck of the year and is said to be, “the most capable off-road truck.” The advertisement shows a man dressed in camouflage, hunting and stalking his pray while his big truck sits in the background caked with mud and dripping with pride. The truck comes with BF Goodrich All-terrain tires for traction and rugged terrain, a 12,000-pound Warn winch to help get you out of any mess, and comes with four doors so its family friendly. As with all things with men whoever has the biggest is the “best.” The Dodge Power Wagon is a big truck, with a big engine, and enough power for both work and play. The Power Wagon comes with a packed 5.7-liter V8 iron block and aluminum heads, port fuel injection Hemi; which in real man terms is extreme power. The truck is loaded with front and rear locking differentials, which helps tremendously with traction while off-roading. This truck is the ultimate work and play vehicle.

According to this advertisement, real mean must be, rugged, rough, and ready for anything that is thrown at them. In the full two-page image it shows a man hiking in Wrangler jeans, camouflage jacket, boots, and a backpack with a giant elk rack. It’s the symbol of the ultimate man, he is alone, rugged and supplying his own food. He is being adventurous away from his home, and going back to his primitive senses. The colors in the advertisement point out the rugged terrain with the grey sky and dusk lighting. No sunshine translates into seriousness and that no matter what the day is like the man will not back down. Next to the truck there is a jagged rock pile signifying that the truck can conquer anything. This truck is the ultimate vehicle fit for the rough and rugged man life.

Men like the truck, must be ready for adventure and the unknown; the 12,000-pound Warn winch represents this. A winch is used when you are alone and the only vehicle. When your vehicle becomes stuck you can tie the winch to a tree and pull yourself out, which is very convenient if you are far out in terrain with no other vehicle to help. In the advertisement, the truck is loaded down with and off-road ATV so when the terrain really gets rough you can explore it more. The Dodge Power Wagon is for the adventures man who will take chances on and off the road.

Men and Dodge Power Wagon owners should take risks and be a outdoor enthusiast. The advertisement shows the man loading a huge Elk with a vast rack into the back of his truck. The man feels empowered to be able to take an animals life and bring it home to show to his friends and family and put meat in the freezer. Men are aggressive while growing up they get in fights, play in the mud, and end up in the principals’ office once or twice. Its nothing serious just acts of growing up. When that kid grows up to be a man he still likes to play in the mud but now it’s with a big truck. Hunting is fun for men and is a primal male activity shared with buddies. Men like to act aggressively every once in a while and be competitive.

To be able to go out on your own into the wilderness and be your own individual is another trait of a real man. Individualism is shown throughout the advertisement by the man hiking alone with his elk rack on his back because its his personal goal to get it back to the truck and bring it home. The truck is a personal goal that many men want to obtain because it is their truck no one else’s and they are able to do what they please with it.

The 2010 Power Wagon will make friends jealous and your enemies want to be you. The advertisement signifies that you will be better than the man next to you if you own this truck because the things you will be able to achieve with the truck are far greater than they would be with any other vehicle. Men have always been competitive its in their nature. In the end, this truck is built for the ultimate rough and rugged lifestyle and will not take no for an answer in any terrain situation.

How Do You Like Your Eggs?

By Rex Rafanelli

If you already know Banksy you are probably already picturing some kind of cleverly stenciled graffiti on a cement wall or maybe have even seen one of his public sculptures- a crippled over phone booth with a bloody pickaxe protruding from its midsection. If you haven’t heard of him, he is a British artist who creates graffiti pieces focusing mainly on political and social commentary. And nowhere is Banksy’s uniquely dark sense of humor more evident than in his painting “How do you like your eggs?” It strays from his usual medium: spray paint on public walls. This realistic portrait, painted with acrylic on canvas, is arguably one of his most controversial statements.

In “How do you like your eggs?” a Middle Eastern woman is dressed in her customary burqa, as well as the traditional face covering called a hijab. Atop her outfit she garnishes an apron, imprinted with an image of a white woman’s body wearing nothing but lingerie. And if you thought that this wasn’t enough, or were still curious how the piece got its title, she is holding a spatula in one hand, and a frying pan in the other, cooking two sunny side up eggs. Banksy’s ironic humor is obvious in his naming of the satirical piece “How would you like your eggs?”. With an understanding of its humor one might go deeper in search of the pieces meaning.

This isn’t easy, as it seems that Banksy’s work comments on race, culture, and gender roles. The Muslim woman is modestly robed, while the white woman on the apron is scantily dressed. We might attribute the lingerie to Western culture. This definitely brings up ideas that this piece is a clash of societies, pitting Muslim standards against western society. Is perhaps Banksy, growing up in Britain’s Western and more liberal society is trying to make a statement regarding the oppression of Muslim women, that they should be able to dress however they please, hence the lingerie apron. But Banksy is far too counter culture to agree with anything mainstream. Maybe this is outside of the box? From a Muslim woman’s perspective, perhaps the apron is the expression of her sexuality; she is saying she is a woman. And whether or not she hides it, like man, she is a sexual creature. It’s every woman’s choice how to convey that sexuality. I believe these are all valid points, and that Banksy understands the sensitive issues regarding conflict of Western and Middle Eastern cultures.

What if the subject of his painting is not contrasting their differences but their similarities? Eggs are a common breakfast food in both cultures, where might they fit in; it is the title of the piece after all. Perhaps Banksy is thinking on a larger scale? Maybe the subject of this piece is the worldwide oppression of women? This painting is displaying his thesis plainly; he has gone to the lengths of contrasting its evidence, things that are part of the daily lives of all women. The oppression of women reaches to the extremes of all cultures, from Muslim women who may be required to dress fully covered, all the way to the Western society that puts too much emphasis on the physical appearance of a woman.

Banksy encourages the viewer to see Muslim women as independent and powerful, not as oppressed. Looking closely, her poise is not submissive. And when observing the only visible part of her body, her eyes, it appears she may even be dawning an arrogant smirk. It almost looks as if she’s saying, “You think I’m oppressed? Take a look in the mirror.” Perhaps in a way Banksy is cleverly mocking Western society for being so quick to judge and impose its ideals upon the Muslim society.

I believe the strongest evidence that Banksy wants us to question society’s gender roles is the title, “How do you like your eggs?” It is posed as a question, from the woman to the audience. Neither Banksy nor the Muslim woman think it is a woman’s job to serve a man. Among his gender related artwork would be graffiti of two gay British police officers kissing, along with a lesbian version of Queen Victoria. It’s safe to say that questioning gender roles is a familiar subject for Banksy.

Lastly, it is obvious the eggs represent woman’s sexuality. If female sexuality is completely dependent on the fact that the female contains the eggs, then maybe, just maybe Banksy is using the terms interchangeably. The title then becomes “How do you like your women?” or “How do you want women to behave?” This question is obviously being asked to the males, and the answer is dependent on the ideas of traditionally male ruled societies. Banksy’s most controversial statement made by this painting is not that men have always been the dominant sex with women being customarily obedient and submissive. The true meaning lies in the subtleties, as Banksy’s painting shows, the look in her eye tells us she may know times are changing.

King of the White Line Highway

SCARFACE - Blu-Ray Trailer 2011 [HQ] by Eklecty-City
by Conor Larkin

In Scarface, the epic drug cartel movie staring Al Pacino as the all mighty Tony Montana, he was king of the “White Line Highway” during the 80’s. A fictional tale based roughly on real events, Scarface took place in southern Florida, a large market for cocaine at that time. What was it about the man who owned Miami Beach, that was so appealing to the male viewers? Tony Montana made it to the top in the cocaine world the only way he knew how: by playing dirty, by committing to selfish goals, and showing the world and all the women on it, that he was fierce.

In Scarface, it was common for Montona to lie, cheat, steal, bribe, and even kill to get ahead in life. Being a rat, also known as snitching, was considered breaking the “law”, as well as poaching on another gang’s turf. The funny thing, however, was that Pacino’s character, was a man of fearless desperation. Being one of few immigrants to make it to the United States from Cuba, Montana’s life was the sinner’s tale of rags to riches. Willing to do anything necessary to make it to the top, Tony would kill anyone who opposed him. He even shot a man in the head, in the middle of the street with tons of witnesses, just to make a statement. He was the all-time bad guy. Men are drawn to these types of male characters who break rules, get rich, and are feared.

Montana had the features of a most powerful man. He was a rugged individualist; he had no concern with anyone but himself; he was committed to always doing what’s best for him. Completely detached from feminine emotions like empathy, guilt, and love, his senseless and reckless behavior is accepted as masculine. His alpha-dog savagery is what every other man envied. With no remorse for his actions, Tony was never hesitant to take control of everything and do things himself; he didn’t even think twice when killing his best friend for loving his sister.

Montana states, “To get the women, you need power. To get the power, you money.” It is the man’s job to pursue power to impress women. Montana forced his power onto others with tough talk and the “balls” to back it up. He used his “balls” as a term for how strong and able he was. Any man who contested Tony, was taught a lesson, and Montana was the teacher. An example would be Frank, the man who brought Tony into the big time business. Tony desired Gina, but she belonged to Frank, so Tony gobbled Frank and his operation like Pac-Man on a power-pellet. When Gina saw the Tony “took care” of Frank she realized his potential, and was immediately attracted to his power.

I am sure many men walked out of the theatre desiring to be Tony Montana. He had the money, the power, and the “balls” to be number one, the man. Living life in a most epic fashion, he had everything he wanted and more. The world was against him, but he refused to lose. Montana is a “real man”. He dominated. He was king.

Boarded Up

By Ryan McCandless

Banksy, an anonymous graffiti artist from Bristol England, combines dark humor and graffiti to express his political and social views. Using bridges, walls, streets and buildings as canvases, Banksy uses the unique method of stenciling to produce his images. Banksy picked up on the style after seeing art by Blak le Rat, the first artist to use stencils in the underground scene in Paris. Banksy’s art can be analyzed and critiqued in many ways; however, some of his feelings about gender in society isn’t difficult to pick up. In one of his more well-known pieces, Boarded-Up, Banksy reveals some of the differences in each gender and critiques the relationship between men and women, whites and blacks, middle and lower class.

Boarded-Up depicts a young girl just finished creating a house with a crayon and expressing her imagination, she watches as a carpenter with a toolbox boards up the front door of the house. The expression on the girls face seems to show both her awe and her hurt as her young imagination, dreams and visions are being suppressed by a man driving nails right through it.

Men and women are very different in a lot of ways which can be seen in many aspects of life. Women tend to be more creative and expressive of their ideas. In the image, this is shown because the girl is holding a crayon, which represents females’ desire to be imaginative. The crayon she holds is her tool to make her voice heard, show her feelings and make her point. The boarding up symbolized man’s efforts to silence women. This happens in politics and higher power positions in today’s working world. Banksy is defending women because women are depicted as an innocent, helpless girl while men are being depicted as a rugged figure working against the little girl.

Along with the crayon, her backpack also represents women’s ambitions. For a long time, women weren’t encouraged to be educated or work outside the home; they were confined to their roles as homemakers and mothers and were unable to break from the status quo. This could be the very reason why more than half of today’s college students are women, because they value the opportunity more. Banksy must be a man for equality since he is publicly defending women and this clearly is an issue he has with society.

Men tend to be more destructive while women are more creative. Women are more expressive and full of imagination and men tend to shy away from such expression. For a man to behave as a woman does he is making himself susceptible to scrutiny. Men shy away from such scrutiny because they are more concerned with being accepted among peers than women are. In Rereading America, the idea of men having four main attributes holds true in almost every situation of a man’s day-to-day life. Displaying success and high status, toughness and avoiding femininity are what drive the male schema. This concept is reflected in Boarded-Up through the actions of the worker. He is putting nails into a board over the door that gives the girl access to her dreams and her imagination. The boards are men trying to cover up what women are trying to create and trying to dream up. The nails secure the oppression. Although obvious discrimination such as women’s suffrage and the right to education are no longer banned, men still try to keep women away from their positions and try to silence their counteracting voices.

Besides the gender slams made through Banksy’s satirical art, he also pokes at race. The little girl appears to be Black. The fact that he chose a young African-British girl says something in itself. Blacks have, for centuries, been denied education, civil rights and respect. Because they suffered from such extreme discrimination and racism, taking advantage of the tools they now have is very important. The little girl uses the crayon to illustrate her attempts to build a middle-class life and achieve social acceptance. She draws a picture of a house, showing that she has aspirations she would like to fulfill one day. Her backpack shows her eagerness to learn. Given the fact that African-Americans haven’t always been handed an education, capitalizing on the right to education is highly valued.

In the same way men try to silence women and they way whites try to oppress blacks, the government tries to cover up Banksy’s art. His art is painted over and covered up. The government wants to shut down any unrest Banksy’s art may cause and eliminate any outlandish ideas. He is a champion for the lower class and exposes the ugly truths about our “advanced societies.” 

El Tango de Roxanne

By Marina McCormick

The following analysis will investigate a small performance that took place during the film Moulin Rouge, entitled El Tango de Roxanne. The storyline follows Satine, a leading courtesan at the Moulin Rouge, a cabaret in Paris. In the film, Satine dreams of becoming an actress, leaving behind her life in nighttime entertainment. After she runs into a new and upcoming playwright named Christian, agreements are made to write a play, making her the leading role, and turning her far fetched dream into a reality. From the moment they laid eyes on each other, they fell madly in love. As they spent more and more time together, their love grew, and Satine began to only have eyes for Christian. Unfortunately however, Satine is sent to seduce the Duke, a man who is offering to fund the whole play. As a courtesan, she must convince the Duke of her love for him, in order for the play to go on. The Duke, charmed by Satine’s beauty, would remove his financial backing if he found she was charmed by another man. Christian, torn between his love for Satine, and the reality that the show cannot go on without the Duke’s money, lets her go to have dinner with the Duke. All that is left for Christian to do is to wait at the Moulin Rouge for the fate of Satine, and the theater.

As Christian begins to debate his decision, a man begins to sing to him, El Tango de Roxanne, a song that follows the love of a man for a prostitute. While some of the theater members begin to dance to the song, at the same time, Satine dines with the Duke upstairs. Two scenes simultaneously play out, the song paralleling the story of Satine’s life, as well as the dance that is being acted out by the company. The dancing and music add dramatic flair to Christian’s trouble between his jealousy and sadness, as well as the dialogue between the Duke and Satine. Objectification of women, as well as oppression and violence through imagery, and symbolism, is clearly displayed in the interactions between the dancers, as they act out Satine’s life, and the sadness of her reality.

Expressive movements used in the Tango, symbolically represent objectification of woman. Beginning the dance, with a single man; the room is dark in shadow, except for a spotlight that follows the couple. Shortly after they begin to dance, other men begin to appear around from the shadows and each take her away from the other to dance with her. The dance doesn’t follow a traditional style of Argentine Tango, however the routine symbolically describes the life of a prostitute: a life led in which a woman is passed around by men, each using her for their own gratification. The female dancer is passed roughly between each man, communicating to the viewer that the men not only do not care about her well being, but also that she is not the one in control. The woman is controlled by the desires of men, not by their own choices or desires. Towards the end of her solo routine, the woman is lifted into the air by a single man. Her head is thrown back, her body illuminated clearly. The lighting and lift both suggest the man is holding her body up in a worshipful way to the sky. This represents women’s bodies as a sort of sacrifice to the gods.

Oppression of women is also represented in movements of the Tango. Within the dance, several times there are glimpses of the male dancers grabbing the wrists of the female dancers. This happens while they are dancing together with footwork, as well as during a low dip. By the men grabbing the wrists of their dance partners, they are restricting the movements of the women, not dancing with them but dragging them around the floor forcefully. This represents the control men assume and take even when there is female resistance. They are not equal partners, the man dominant and the woman submissive to his command. Her mild resistance represents the reality and truth of the unbalanced relationship between men and women.

In the song Roxanne, the man sings of a prostitute. In the lyrics he sings, “Roxanne, you don’t have to put on that red light, walk the streets for money, you don’t care if it’s wrong or if it is right. Roxanne, you don’t have to wear that dress tonight. Roxanne, you don’t have to sell your body to the night.” From the lyrics, the listener is under the impression that the woman Roxanne is leading a lustful life, deceiving men around her, and not really being forced into being a prostitute. However, the message of the song and the social reality of women don’t match. This woman, along with other female prostitutes, must sell their body to the night in order to survive. The dancer in the scene is dragged around being used by men, symbolizing the imbalanced role of domineering men, and submissive women within society. Although she may not “have to” sell her body in order to make a living, she is placed in that position because of society.

Money, Hoes, Cars, & Clothes

Jeff Woodworth

As a seventeen year old white kid at a private Catholic high school, who stands six foot two, one hundred and eighty five pounds, wears cargo shorts and a hoodie, drives my dad’s old Volvo, I am drawn toward what I’m not. This leads me to listen to hip hop. One of my favorite songs by Atlanta’s T.I. is “24’s”; my favorite part is the hook: “Money, hoes, cars and clothes, that’s how all y niggas roll. Blowin’ ‘dro on 24’s, that’s how all my niggas roll.” The music video and song itself, gives viewers a sense that this is what it takes to be a real man, someone with money, girls and all the latest things.

I’ve always hated the saying, “Money doesn’t buy happiness.” Well it sure looks like it when you compare the rich at this school throwing parties, driving nice cars, having all the latest fads and they sure look happy, with the less fortunate working at various jobs. So when T.I. is rolling around with money, having a great time, viewers then want to be like T.I. and do the same. The video gives off that money doesn’t just buy happiness, it’s the root of it all; it brings freedom from long hours at a job you may not like, opportunity to travel all around the world or live in huge houses and if you’ve got money, chances are you’ve got girls.

Next in the hook, T.I. makes it clear, to be a real man, one must get women. In the video you can clearly see women dancing all round T.I. and the tires and rims on the cars. This portrays women in 3rd place not only behind men, but the money as well, this is stated in the hook again: “Money, hoes, cars and clothes…” This brings up the issue that girls are nothing but pieces of property or status symbols; the more girls you have the bigger the man you are.

Lastly, the song suggests that cars also make the man. As I stated earlier I drive my dad’s 1999 Volvo, this is not exactly a status symbol by any means. Cars are important, they can instantly earn you respect in certain groups. Cars allow T.I. to show off his proof of success, a nice paint job, subs in the trunk and some shiny new rims just like in the video. It then becomes a symbol of desire for individuality and distinction, it shows to the need to be seen and noticed. Cars aren’t just freedom of mobility anymore, they can make you respected by men and desired by women.

So whether its money, cars or hoes, boys are left wanting it all because T.I. has made them think they need those things to be a real man. Just think of how fun it would be to drive around in a classic Mustang with the girl of your dreams in the passenger seat and you in the latest fads, yes, a mad man living the life. That’s what I want, or at least I think I want, or maybe what T.I. told me I want.

Big Trucks for Sensitive Men

By Sam Sweet

Today, the definition of what a man is has been spread out over a wide spectrum of different characteristics instead of just a couple like it used to be. Everyone has their own idea of what a man is, but for Chevrolet, the idea of an American man still remains the same where a man can get up in the morning and leaves for work, to provide for and protect his family.

The Chevrolet 3500HD commercial expresses to the viewer that to be a man is to work hard and do physical labor and to do so you must drive a Chevrolet truck. The essay that fits in perfectly with this idea is about the four main attitudes of being a man submitted in the book Rereading America 7th Edition. This essay says that you have to be tough, self reliant, and strong to be a man which is somewhat accurate, but that is mostly found away from the inner cities and towns these days. In the commercial the idea that you can still provide for your family in every single way in and outside of the home is expressed tenfold.

Chevrolet expresses the idea that men in the country should live and work in the dirt which builds up muscle from physical labor. The essay about a manly man and a sensitive man addresses this almost directly. Most people think of country men as big, dumb, and sometimes even stupid. They are thought of as big burly men who walk around thinking “must work and be manly” but this is not the case. As human beings, men feel some form of compassion for at least one thing that is present in our lives and to that subject, object, or person men are sensitive towards and swallow the manly man routine momentarily.

While Chevrolet has expressed many manly ideas to the viewers over the course of their commercial, the very end catches you by surprise but demonstrates that Chevrolet is changing with that times. Today men should be manly and tough, but when they have a family they are expected to be sensitive and warm and take care of them, not letting their testosterone get in the way. The shifting gender roles essay in Rereading America 7th Edition is a perfect example of how the roles of men and women in a family are changing slightly. As women used to be only given charge to the baby, now they are leaving home like the man and going to work. When the truck pulls up to the daycare center and the man pulls his sleeping daughter out of her car seat you see that although he drives a giant truck and is ready to go to work he is still willing to take care of his daughter and bring her to a daycare center while he and his wife go to work.

The modern day idea of a man has changed so much from the old time cowboy who works outside the home from sun up to sun down and makes the best out of what he has to a man who is always looking to gain more power and make even more money. Today, the man is clean cut and dressed in less rugged clothing accompanied by other accessories such as a watch. To most people, Chevrolet’s insinuated claims might seem extreme and too country western, but America was started in the country by men who hardly had anything to their name but a family. The real men are those who work for the good of their family and not just for themselves.

Real Men are Rock Star

By  Colin Garvin

At the start of the music video, "Someday" by The Strokes, three men sitting outside a bar. One wears a cut off shirt; two of them sit in chairs smoking cigarettes. Cigarettes and alcohol are a recurring theme in the video. The rock star life is the way of life for these indie rockers. It appears to be the common thread that unites the men in the video. In the video a bar is filled with hearty, young men, living the stereotypical lifestyle that many believe to be appropriate for them. My uncle Darren, who drinks beer every night shortly after returning home from work, is a family man, but he needs to be in a different state of mind to be happy. He uses alcohol to alter his mood. On the other hand, I see my dad who comes home from work and rides his bike with his son. He is elevated by exercise and fellowship. They both are good to their families, but one does not make alcohol one of his priorities. Who is the real man, the bike rider or the beer drinker? Which is more masculine? That is the question that many boys run through their minds every day. According to the video the real man is the person who is happy because he uses substances, cigarettes and alcohol.

Being a man is being able to support your family, being respectable, having a level head and contributing to society. In the video, the band is being portrayed as partiers, smiling when they have a cigarette in their mouth and a beer in their hand. However, the part they do not show is where they don’t have their cigarettes and are stressed out and agitated or the negative effects caused by alcohol. People do not enjoy being around others who have unpredictable personalities meaning if they are not drinking or smoking they are not content, they need substances to elevate their moods. A man who can have fun without use of substances is more predictable and stable. He is the person who can think correctly and have an intellectual conversation. Also, he or she will be able to wake up the next morning bright and early to start the day with a clear head

There are also glimpses of women in the video; the first glimpse is 16 seconds into the video, one of the members of the band and what looks like his girlfriend are picking a song from the jukebox. A boyfriend and a girlfriend should do things together, like pick a song. Shortly after there is a quick glimpse of another woman sitting in the background, but the beers are more evident covering the girl in the scene and then right after this there is another scene that shows two women having their own conversations in the background because the guys are not giving them any attention. 32 seconds into the video two of the band members are playing pinball and decorated on the pinball machine is a picture of a sexy mermaid, which displays what men fantasize about and what to look at and play with while they are partying. 43 seconds into the video there is a big cardboard cutout that shows a sexy woman posing, which portrays again, that this is what the men what next to them while drinking their beer. But then there is a women that is not being shoved in the background, the boyfriend and the girlfriend that were shown earlier in the video picking a song together, in this scene there having a conversation and only them are shown, these two look more happy then the girls that are not the center of attention.

The atmosphere the lead singer puts himself in is a carefree setting, where his friends are similar in personality, making it easier for him to be himself. As evident by the multitude camera shots of him are supported by those who are modeling his behavior and style. But life is not about what is easier; it is about the hard choices that we are faced with. The things that are most important are the things people need to work hard for, such as a good education and productive job. At 23 seconds into the video, is a scene where they look at each other and see that what they are doing is what the people across from them are doing, so it makes them happy to smoke their cigarette or drink their beer.

The video portrays a carefree lifestyle in which socializing is the main focus not hard work, not education and not responsibility. The chorus of the song tells of the lead singer’s lack in depth, and his need to mature and realize the need for meaning to his life, which he has not found in alcohol and cigarettes nor in the bar scene. He has this girl who wants to stay with him even though they are not right for each other. In the final verse is tells of him wanting to move on, possibly to contribute to society. The very last line is where he realizes all of this and decides not to waste another day. Drinking is wasting days; he needs to start doing something productive to make him a mature man. Being a man is able to move on with your life and to find things that will make you a better person.

Nice Car!

Lars Noren

My dad had a 1964 Mustang and I have pictures working with him under the car at two years old; I was still in diapers; my mom would come to the garage, see me, and freak out. This began my fascination, borderline obsession with engines. I even liked mowing the lawn because it had an engine. At eight years old I began consuming car magazines, mainly Hot Rod Magazine, Diesel Power, among others. I always looked past the scantily clad girls posing in the images because the cars were far more interesting to me. No really, I’m serious. Now a teen it is harder to look past the women at the cars. I do get distracted. I want to look at them now, not in a sexual, but a critical, analytical way to discover what the images reveal about men, women, the relationship between them.

In the essay "Two Ways Women Can Get Hurt: Advertising and Violence" Jean Kilbourne writes, “Most of us like to think of ourselves as immune to the power of ads, we know that advertisers use sex to get our attention and they make exaggerated claims...The way ads portray bodies- especially women’s bodies- as objects conditions us to see each other in dehumanizing ways, thus normalizing attitudes that can lead to sexual aggression.” This quote clearly states the truth, but some of us might not agree that this kind of advertising of women will lead to sexual aggression. I believe it all depends on how a person is reading and analyzing the ad, based on their own mindset, placing a powerful muscle car by a beautiful young women seems to be inviting the viewer to be aggressive with cars and women.

In the April 2011 issue of Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords, there is an article about a 2007 Mustang GT “assembled in less than five hours at the Orange County International Auto Show.” In the main picture, the Mustang’s Lambo doors are being caressed by a woman dressed in sun glasses, stiletto heals, a checkered flap print bikini top, and skirts so short it doesn’t cover her under garments. This images communicates to the viewer that women are object to be competed for and won like trophies.

This image also says that women should not be known sexually but, should rather be known personally. Her bikini, high heels, and the way her body is laid back on the car makes her look vulnerable and sexually available. Her sunglasses hide her eyes making her more anonymous and confident when doing this pose The model’s posture tells men that women are and should be submissive, especially in sexual matters. By looking at her, she emphasize “come get me and take me away in your fast car”. Her heels give her height and give the feeling of tall and sexy. The checkered flag paint bikini shows that you have won her or you can win her and her hot body. This gives the wrong message today to younger women that don’t pursue an education and try to make a quick buck. It seems today that some women don’t have confidence in themselves and may end up hurting themselves by trying to become unnaturally thin or they will end up getting plastic surgery because they are not happy with how they look. This sort of relationship doesn’t just hurt the women but men around them too.

Women aren’t cars, they aren't machines. I know both and they aren’t the same and shouldn’t be treated as such.

Guys up Front, Girls in the Back

By Josh Schreeder

Redneck rappers, yes they exist. They are rappers who are white and prefer hunting, to clubbing. The person rapping may have changed from the traditional gangster to the good old country boy, but the objectifying of men and women is still present in their music. “Kickin up Mud” by The Lacs, the music video shows stereotypical guys who own a big truck, guns, drink beer, and plays in the mud. It also shows the women in bikinis pole dancing and wanting a ride. The rappers and some of the subjects of the lyrics have changed, but not the treatment of women.

Being a man means you have to act a certain way and own certain items. A big truck, a symbol dominance and fear; are essential. The big trucks are meant to look mean and dominating on and off the road. Some of the trucks in the video tower over everyone, even other trucks establishing dominance over everything. The trucks are loud and aggressive looking. A lot of them are diesel trucks with big engines to show power and strength. Author Aaron H. Devor in “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender” writes about the fact that it’s the nature of masculine men to try to demonstrate their superiority to women and other men. The Lacs capture the idea that to be a real man means that you have to have the biggest and loudest truck.

Off-roading is a manly way of life. It is loud, dirty, dangerous, and only the strongest make it though the elements. In the video you can see the trucks powering through the mud throwing mud into the air. Being in the mud symbolizes man’s need to be wild, careless and adventurous. A man also means being that you love playing in the mud which is made very clear in this video and song; no matter the age you are at, whether you are a young boy with your hands or an old man with a big truck, mud is your playground.

This music video also does what rap does best, objectify women. Women, like in so many other rap videos, are used as sexual objects. In the video all the women have really short shorts on and most have bikini tops. A few women are dancing either on a pole, on the guys, or in the mud. This image is constantly repeated though out the video as if it was a decoration on the set. Author Joan Morgan in “From Fly-Girls to Bitches and Hos” argues against the sexism that is common in rap. Rap is the most sexist music out there on the market and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a gangster or redneck rapper there is going to be sexism in the lyrics and videos.

They say in the video that all guys, no matter the age, have big toys, play in the mud and love girls who will get half naked and play with them. Most of the images are of guys having fun with their trucks, and with other guys. The girls are in the video just to tag along and look good. This style of rap is completely different then other rap music in the fact that it focuses on sex and drugs as things that are manly, this style focuses on getting dirty, having big trucks, and having fun. Women however are still used as sex objects in both styles of rap; however, this redneck style chooses to focus less on the women and more on the trucks.

Who is That? A Real Man

Ryan McNeil

Masculinity is a trait many males seek to acquire early in life. In the music video “Who Is That?,” Krypto and Husalah communicate to boys what it takes to be a man. For these two rappers, to be masculine you need to have a certain attitude, dress stylish, and own the right things.

Every day people are judged based on what they own. As the video begins we notice Husalah next to his oversized Ford Excursion and Krypto standing by his pimped out green Chevy Impala. They are standing in front of an abandoned warehouse, which shows how they grew up poor, but now have money. Husalah’s vehicle demonstrates toughness by its all terrain capability and the lift portraying how he’s large and in charge. The whole time they film the video it’s being shot at a low camera angle making everything seem much larger than it is as all men want to be bigger than each other. Krypto’s car shows another symbol of how to be a man you need to be cool. This custom painted car is sitting on some of the largest rims I have seen making him stand out so as to draw attention while being unique and cool like a man should. Men need to possess the right cars, but wear the right clothes also.

When people meet one another they often reflect on what the other person is wearing. While Krypto and Husalah have a good amount of money, their taste in clothes isn’t as expensive as you might think. Husalah is shown wearing a white International Milan soccer jersey, this represents how a man is competitive, fit, and enjoys sports. While later Husalah is seen driving his Excursion without a shirt, demonstrating the confidence in himself. This portrays his strength within himself, and how he is vulnerable yet not scared. By having no shirt on he is leaving himself open, but his attitude says he is courageous and willing to fight any battle thrown in his path. Krypto on the other hand is wearing a white shirt with Vallejo printed on it. Vallejo, a large low-income city in the Bay Area, is well known for gang activity, which not only shows how tough and mean he is but that he is proud and loyal about where he’s from. One of the videos main symbols is a man in a gorilla suit.

The first image in the video is a man in a Gorilla suit dancing in front of a sunset; we see him again and again throughout the clip. Gorillas are wild, crazy, and they have many characteristics a typical man would have. One of the beginning scenes presents the viewers with a man in a gorilla suit car jacking a young Caucasian male with a UC Berkeley hat on. This symbolizes how to be masculine you have to be relentless and do what it takes to survive. Another scene where attitude is clearly shown is when the street bikes are wheeling donuts around the rappers. They stand in the middle completely unfazed by the commotion around them, which tells the audience to be a man you need to be fearless and ready for anything. Throughout the whole video the rappers are singing and dancing with confidence as if they were the most important people in the world.

To be masculine you have to have swag, dress popularly, and have the biggest and best stuff. Krypto and Husalah constantly portray these traits in several different ways with symbols and references to show the viewers what you need to be a man. Music, movies and pictures we see everyday help influence our youth towards what real masculinity is.

Portraying Women

Sheldon Sanford

In the song “No Hoe”, by D-Lo, women are portrayed as promiscuous and care free. From the beginning of the song, you know right away that it’s sexist and promotes women as pieces of meat and that they only care for their bodies, nothing else. Throughout the song, E-40 and D- Lo keep saying how they don’t care about women.

In the beginning of the song, there is a fashion show scene where all the women are dressed up in revealing clothes and are objectified by hungry men. The camera focuses either on their breasts, or their hips if their wearing a short dress. During this same scene, there is one guy in the front row rubbing his hands together and smiling delightly, makes the girls look like sex slaves waiting to be bought by the audience. This scene is promoting objectification in the sense that all the girls on stage are like objects to be looked at, or even to be bought and consumed.

Throughout the entire music video, women are being depicted as objects to be possessed, instead of mature women to be befriended. Every dress in the video reveals a lot of legs and breasts which just promotes viewers to think that that is all that matters, and then view those girls as objects and act as D-Lo would. Every girl in this video has a short dress and is very beautiful. All these girls are recklessly drinking and dancing trampy and it just sends a bad message to viewers and women.

Unnatural behavior is vital in this song because women are constantly putting themselves all over other guys and rubbing up on them carelessly. It’s natural to dance, but the way the women do in the video makes it seem unnatural. It’s contradicting how E-40 and D-Lo are singing and calling these girls hoes, and saying how they only want sex out of it, yet all the girls still end up getting with them and still like them even though they are treated badly and knowing they only want their bodies. It’s unnatural behavior to act like a hoe and just put yourself out there for anyone like these girls do in this video knowing that they’ll get treated badly and that these guys are just in it for the sex.

D-lo is living the upper class life with expensive jewelry, fancy clubs, and expensive alcohol. It’s for this reason why women are so attracted to him, and why their addicted to this lifestyle. Since he is living the high life, he believes he can do whatever he wants so treating women poorly and disrespecting them is just part of his daily life. People living in the high class like D-lo, are very confident and aggressive towards women and are very controlling of what they can and cant do.

I believe this video is portraying women badly. First, it’s objectifying women because all the girls on stage are treated like objects just waiting be be bought and taken home with them. Second, unnatural behavior is promoted because all of the girls are drinking and dancing sloppy, not caring about their bodies or how they might be treated. Lastly, from the second this video starts, it promotes sexism right away because the girls dresses are way to short, and their breasts are hanging out carelessly.

Two and a Half REAL Men

Jonathon Fisher

Modern American men think of women as objects. Two and A Half Men represents women as objects to be possessed and consumed by men. In the Two and A Half Men episode where Charlie Sheen compares women to cupcakes,  Jake Harper, Charlie’s nephew, is asking Charlie about what he should do about this new girl he likes in his class, and Charlie uses cupcakes as a metaphor to explain to him how men should deal with women.

On the episode Charlie Sheen depicts women as food to be consumed over and over again. Jake thinks that he really likes this new girl and Charlie doesn’t think he should fall for her too fast. Charlie doesn’t believe that men should ever become too emotionally involved with just one cupcake for fear that it might end up being the only cupcake you try in your entire life. He thinks men should enjoy different flavors of cupcakes before settling on the one he thinks is his favorite. Charlie wants to teach Jake early that there are a lot of cupcakes in the bakery and that he doesn’t need to fall in love with just one. And if he has trouble finding that favorite cupcake he always has the option of choosing a Ho-Ho. He uses a cupcake as a metaphor because it encourages men to think of women as sweet small things, that are bad for you and having just one isn’t filling enough. Charlie Sheen doesn’t believe in being kind and loving to a woman and only thinks about scoring with them.

Charlie Sheen’s personal life off screen parallels his on screen character as a womanizer. In almost every episode of Two and A Half Men, Charlie is always bringing home women and sleeping with them.  In another episode, he exudes confidence when it comes to women. Confidence attracts women, unlike the character of his brother who is Jake's dad is portrayed as a “momma’s boy”. Women are not attracted to momma’s boys. In Rereading America it argues that women want a man that is manly and not afraid to take charge in their relationship but at the same time women also like a man that is sensitive enough to listen to their feelings and to be there for them. So there is a line in which being too manly is a turn off and being too sensitive is a turn off. Jake watches Charlie act the way he does and he looks up to Charlie as a role model. He wants to grow up and be like Charlie, a ladies man, and not like his own father who is anything but that. There is no one more opposite of Charlie than Alan his brother. He is always yelling at Charlie to set good examples in front of Jake, but Charlie never pays any attention to those remarks. He is going to live life his own way, which involves using his manly confidence to eat as many cupcakes as he pleases.

A typical stereotype of a man’s role in a relationship is to be strong emotionally, sincere, trustworthy and reliable. Everyday men try to fulfill their roles but sometimes they can go a little to far by having too big of an ego, which is what typically gives men a bad reputation.  They act like they have all the answers and know everything especially in the presence of other men. Men seem to think they need to keep up an image such as Charlie Sheen in Two and A Half Men. He is the perfect stereotypical example of how men want to live and behave among other men and women.

Baseball, Beaches, and Bikinis: Men’s Perfect Paradise

By Tony Ordaz

Do you buy magazines because of the beautiful women on the front cover or for the information that is actually inside? On the cover of the 2011 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit edition, Irina Shayk’s body causes consumers to stop and stare. The Sports Illustrated cover reveals that true men need only concern themselves with sports, movies, and women.

Sports Illustrated typically treats sports as if it is the most important thing in the world. But looking at the cover of the swimsuit edition, you get the impression that the only thing worth thinking about is women. One issue a year isn’t about sports, but women. This is symbolized by the image of Irina Shayk, which is covering the word “sports” in the title. This magazine focuses on what men like to see and read about, not the important things in life. Sports Illustrated would never consider letting other topics, such as art, children, charities, religion, or politics have the spotlight for a month. This works to establish in men’s minds what matters and helps them justify ignoring other issues and topics.

According to Sports Illustrated, men’s minds should be dedicated, not just to women, but sex. This is shown by the size of the picture of Irina Shayk and her positioning. Her body positioning can tell the reader a lot about the purpose of the image, which is no doubt about turning on guys. She is on her knees with sand all over them and her hands are in-between her knees giving her support. This emphasizes her breasts and draws attention towards them, enhancing her curves. The hands don’t only give her more support, but also draw attention to and then teasingly hide her private area. Her hair is large and a bit messy-somewhere in between just left the salon hair and sex hair. Her positioning invites men to objectify her as a sexual object and not come to know her as a woman. The women don’t get interview opportunities; they get photographed and put in the magazine for men to look at. Men aren’t encouraged to care about the woman’s personality.

After sports, women, and sex, movies are a worthwhile pursuit of men. On the margin of the magazine, in small print it says, “Brooklyn Decker Movie Star”. This is trying to get a point across, by letting men know that women movie stars are important too. Brooklyn Decker is known for her modeling and nice body, not her acting. Men are encouraged to only go to movies if hot women are in them. Women are what are significant to men, not history, politics, society, or art.

The text on the left says, “Paradise found Irina Shayk in Hawaii.” For Sports Illustrated, paradise is sports, women, and tropical weather. What is excluded from paradise? Children, wives, work, politics, and religion are things that most men don’t think should be considered paradise. All of these things together make up real paradise and it is what men should care about most. “The Garden Of Eden”, the first paradise, represents heaven as the ultimate abode of the just. Justice, love, safety, home, this is what makes a place paradise. The magazine cover reveals what too many men want in modern day society--women in paradise wearing bikinis--and what they don’t want--wives, kids, work, etc.

The cover connects to Rereading America by objectification and dehumanization on pages 393 and 417. Both of these short stories tie into each other and make a connection with the point that Sports Illustrated is giving to men.

In conclusion, men are more than this, but things like sports, women and movie stars can distract them from what really matters. This is the message, but real happiness is nowhere to be found on this cover and Irina Shayk is only used as a diversion, in order to get men’s attention. In modern day society people judge magazines and other reading materials by what they see on the cover and not about the important information that it contains. Similarly, we shouldn’t judge men or women on...

Love Gangstas not Women

By Jessica Watson

What makes a man seem manly or appealingly to women these days? In the 2010 hit song “Gangsta Love” by Snoop Dogg, we learn the rappers feelings about how men attract women be a successful man. The video is a typical hip hop video. Woman dressed in skimpy to no clothes dancing on men, nice cars, and fancy clubs. The song explains how his gangster swag and money makes him seem enchanting to lots of women.

In the first few seconds of the video we see Snoop and the Dream cruising around a beach town. In a nice car with stylish clothes on. The expensive car is a symbol of a manly man. The fact that they can afford a beautiful car like that is a turn on to women and makes them look like they are on a higher level compared to the men cruising on the beach with no autos. They both are wearing diamonds in there ears and chains of some sort around there neck. This and the car makes it obvious the two are “high class”. Next, we see tons of women dancing around in swimsuits blowing kisses, and flirty playing beach ball on the sand. They continue driving around in the car throughout the whole video. Almost seeming like the car is a must have to pickup girls. They begin brining in more and more girls into the car, and once the party wagon is packed the men pop champagne handing everyone a glass to show off their wealth. They continue catching the eyes of more girls with there gangster swag and styles. According to the video men must be rich enough to attract a woman and keep them coming back.

The men are dressed nicely in every scene of the video, you can tell they have money and care about what they look like in order to impress or pursue women, just by the clothes they are wearing. They sport classy dress shirts and designer jeans along with black and white vest tuxes and canes. The nice tuxedos are a common symbol of a successful man. They each have millions of dollars in diamonds, ranging from chains, earrings rings and glasses. The women in this video are also dressed to impress they try winning over snoop Dogg by wearing tiny swim suits, tight short dresses, and high heels. The men in the video are dressed in baggy clothes that are clean and fresh, compared to the tight and small amount of clothing the women are wearing. This is a common idea we see as men tend to act like the big mauncho man and by wearing bigger clothes it may make them feel they fit this role.

The song is called “Gangsta Love” they rap about how “every time I come around shawty love me down” The word choice they use here shortie pronounced “shawty” is a term used reapeadtly in hip-hop describing a women in which they have feelings of some sort for. This video is a prim example of how in society men are usually looked at as superior to women, this is shown several times throughout the video, it is most obvious in the last scene of the video when they are driving in the expensive car and Snoop Dogg is kicking his feet up and the women dressed in a small amount of clothing is happily spoon feeding him noodles. As the women feeds Snoop she plays out the common belief that men are superior to women and that a woman’s job is to treat men like a king of a higher class