September
21Will Women Rule the World?
I’ve been wondering why Seth Rogen seems to represent “guydom” in most new movies. Rogen seems like a great guy, but is he really the man to assume the mantle of, well, Jimmy Stewart?Survey a few new books about the Battle of the Sexes and you realize this is not a fatuous question. The bottom line: Men are in desperate decline in our society and it’s not just about the emasculating surge of Sarah Palin.
Guys, we’re in trouble – and if you’re in doubt pick up books like “Guyland” or “Men to Boys” which depict the descent of the contemporary male into a “stoner with an Xbox” (the words of writer Kay Hymowitz).
Marvin Kimmel in “Guyland” describes the pathetic dependence of today’s male on the Guy Code, whose dictates are to “shut down emotionally”, embrace closet homophobia and defend a “culture of silence.”
To Gary Cross, author of “Men to Boys” (and an academic, like Kimmel) today’s guy is a refugee from “Dumb and Dumber.” He supports a popular culture that represents a “celebration of the puerile.”
If you examine the data, there’s even more reason for concern about the modern male. Special ed classes in schools are mostly male. The rate of autism among boys is vastly higher than among girls. And we all know that our sperm count is in sharp decline – that’s a given.
Women earn 57% of all bachelor degrees and half of all doctorates. By 2017 three women will graduate from college for every two men, thus establishing a firm hold on the meritocracy.“The long term result seems unavoidable”, the Economist newspaper concluded in a recent study. “Men are becoming ever more marginalized while women are taking over the commanding heights of wealth and power.”
So maybe Seth Rogen is a worthy representative of today’s guydom, after all. We’re a bunch of losers, guys. We deserve a Sarah Palin presidency.
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Seems like we are only speaking of perceptions, stereotypes and image. I believe it is easier to find men who are not emasculated by Palin''s image than to find a shred of feminism in her, and despite being biologically a female, that does not mean she is at all for women. If anything she helps hold up the standard for patriarchy and a male dominated status quo. Still, since we also seem to be uncontrollably swayed by image and perceptions rather than facts, why not recreate the male image once held so dear? Fight the image management machine with a better image management model!
Suave, smart, strong, educated, reliable, courageous and doing what is right because it is right rather than that which will garner publicity. Ah, were there really such heroes in our past? If not, we should be raising our sons to fit the bill.
Posted by: LESLIE AGUILLARD | 9/23/2008 8:03:51 PM
To Mr. Brutal, not sure I see your point. Isn't Palin's adoption of the male mantle--ie. the fact that she is more manly than most men--exactly what we're talking about here? Actually, in fairness to you, I'm not so sure I see Peter Bart's either. I mean, Rogen is a young, twentysomething comedian who gets laughs by being slightly immature and neurotic -- he hardly represents 'guydom' at large. There will always be goofy comedians. For example, in re/ to Jimmy Stewart, in "Philadelphia Story" he gets out-manned by Katherine Hepburn AND Carey Grant, which kind of makes Bart's comparison seem strange. There are still manly men, and they still gross well (ie. Dark Knight). Comedy is whole different beast, and Rogen's lack of manliness, as it were, is often part of the point. Chaplin wasn't exactly Steve McQueen either.
Posted by: amble | 9/23/2008 6:07:25 PM
I think a man's charm and appeal comes from confidence... A confidence that says, "I'm not afraid of who I am." A confidence that accepts the mind and power of their counterpart without feeling threatened. I think Seth Rogan's characters typically deal with young men struggling to be more confident... Men trying to figure out ways to communicate with women... and I think that's a good thing.
Sure I miss the strong quiet charm and confidence of heros like Paul Newman, Steve McQueen and Clint Eastwood... So I write characters that reflect that. Still, no matter how charming or self assured they are, they will always be flawed and vulnerable... Because I think that's what makes men real.
Posted by: Nick Dillon, THE REBEL RIDERS | 9/23/2008 10:38:39 AM
Hooray. We men suck.
Posted by: Christian H. | 9/23/2008 8:59:17 AM
@amble, Palin is more man than most of the "men" I have met in this town. I'll bet she pees standing up! There are always exceptions to the rules. Jimmy Stewart = grandfather. McQueen = man. Rogen = characature. The shift in power is written by people that grew up in times when mom's stayed home and dad's were the sole source of authority and income. Change that just slightly and a thousand articles will scream the sky is falling. No it is not falling, but it sells papers.
Posted by: Mr Brutal | 9/22/2008 5:38:15 PM
Let's hear it for the fathers modeling strength, faith, compassion, and values to their sons. Abdicate those responsibilities to the TV and the media and we're left with a bunch of Judd Apatow manboys. Short term funny. Long term pathetic.
Posted by: DD | 9/22/2008 4:28:37 PM
To Mr. Brutal,
So to see the dominance of men we should check out a red state, like, say, Alaska?
Posted by: amble | 9/22/2008 3:21:17 PM
Embrace the Y chromosome. Men are not getting weaker, we are getting better at faking interest to get some. It is all this bogus metro junk. It is just an LA thing, get in to the red states, you will find men, not panty-waist boy driving BMWs shopping at Barneys.
Posted by: Mr Brutal | 9/22/2008 11:24:07 AM
I admire the way your mind works, Mr Bart. It is consistently apparent why you are the Editor In Chief. Kudos to you for touching upon a topic which impacts society in myriad ways.
I interact, daily, with members of the L.A. public and I agree with your observations. What strikes me, additionally, is that so many men are, quite simply, bored.
While women thrive in our current environment of emotional perceptions and constant communication, men are at their best in a social climate of disasters, survival, physical strength and heroism.
Many men feel drowned in a world of nuances and soy.
Rest assured, though, that men will step up to the plate when bravery and brute strength are required. We always do.
Could such a time be upon us shortly?
Posted by: Mark Hillcrest | 9/21/2008 10:49:50 PM