ipl-logo

Masculinity In The Last Samurai

766 Words4 Pages

The Japanese culture of samurai always presents male image full of masculinity. The film called "The Last Samurai” will use to analyze the masculinity in Japan present in the media content. In definition, masculinity is socially and culturally constructed that exists on the basis of the biological differences. It about the traits that culture assigns to male and composed of the social codes of behavior while male learn to reproduce the traits in a particular way. The socially given ideal male is the ultra-masculine male who is powerful, strong, independent, leadership, aggressive, and have high social status.

In the film, the dominant version of masculinity is composed of male violence and male friendship. Those violence actions are seen as …show more content…

He is in the dominant positions of man and female. From the conversation between Algren and Taka, it can know that all housework is done by the female, as evidenced to show female is in a subordinate position. Although male is privileged than female, others samurai still need to follow Katsumoto 's order as Katsumoto is their leader. For example, Ujio wants to kill Algren for revenge. Yet, Uijo stops to hurt Algren when Katsumoto says "stop". Katsumoto also portrayed a cool and intellect image. He seldom expresses his emotional feeling even his son plans to stay in the war field and dedicate his life to war. Katsumoto is smart and differences from other samurai. He is the teacher of the emperor, and persuade the emperor to refuse Westernization in an indirect way, which reminds emperor to review the past wisdom. he also well-educated who can speak decent English, write poems, as well as to keep Algren 's life in order to well defeat one 's enemy. Katsumoto also strong-minded and ambitious. Even though Katsumoto knows he will lose in the war and face a great power disparity between the military power, he never gives up and wants to assist the emperor to make Japan becomes stronger. Those highlights that male need to rational, self-controlled, violent, and ambitious. If male fulfills the criteria of Japanese hegemonic masculinity, they are …show more content…

They are more educated and well-balanced that physical fitness is less important than good manners. This kind of masculinity still in a dominant position and success-oriented that both emperor and Omura has high social status and is rich. Yet, the emperor is less masculine than Katsumoto. Sometimes, the emperor shows his weakness and hesitation in front of other. He is not sure the way to lead Japan becomes a strong country. Though the emperor decides to adopt the western culture and Katsumoto is his subordinate, the emperor is not willing to refuse Katsumoto 's suggestion in the meeting. It is much different from the traditional masculinity that male need to be determined and have a good leadership

Show More
Related

  • Robert Jensen The High Cost Of Manliness Summary

    714 Words  | 3 Pages

    Society should not base masculinity with these traits since it is learned by observation and demonstration, and this leads men to disconnect their emotions. The author is trying to take away the blindfold on society's eyes because there is an injustice towards men and woman. These aspects of masculinity are how men are taught to be, but if we remove, eliminate, or ignore those aspects and misconceptions men will express their emotions openly without having to restrict themselves and be able to fit in society or at least feel like they are a part of the society. As you can see these views make men disconnect with their emotional side Jensen mentions this when he gives the example of his friend that worked on Wall Street and his friend described it as “coming to work as like walking into a knife fight when all the good spots along the wall were taken” (131). If we stop identifying masculinity as conquest, men would stop trying to be competitive, dominant, and even violent men might not need to always be on their guard to keep this appearance all the

    Read More

  • Norms In The Mask You Live In

    830 Words  | 4 Pages

    Society tends to ignore the struggle of masculine norms men face everyday. In the film, “The Mask You Live In”, various ages of men discuss what it is like to live in a society filled with sexism and masculine norms. In the film, it is shown the impact of these norms society puts forth for men is catastrophic and negatively impacts their mental health. A few masculine norms that are found within the film are, self-reliance, violence, power over women, winning and risk-taking. Self-reliance is a big topic to cover in regards to masculine norms.

    Read More

  • Tough Guise 2: Violence, Manhood & American Culture

    502 Words  | 3 Pages

    When we talk about masculinity in America today we theorize that violence that happens more often than we like, from mass shootings or crime in general, including rape and murders in the real world and in the virtual thrill world of videogames and movies we find a parallel connection of masculinity as violent. Even though an overwhelming majority of violence is committed by men and boys we as americans rarely connect gender as a major key in violence. But when we lay out the plane lines about culture of violence were almost always hinting that it is a masculine trait that is a taught behavior. The modern society has conjured up the idea of the ideal man, that showing emotions is wrong but one must be charming, seeming smartish but more of an attitude of control showing that manhood has a hierarchy. Weakening the not so tough guy, society giving them labels to show they are outside of the gender binary.

    Read More

  • Spongebob Gender Roles

    1332 Words  | 6 Pages

    What constitutes “masculinity?” Sadly, the term has been defined so harshly that it is having detrimental effects on our society. The definitions of gender roles bombard us everywhere, from books, to advertisements, to movies, there is seemingly no place one can hide from these absurd standards. Canadian sociologist Aaron H. Devor points out in his article “Becoming Members of Society: Learning the Social Meanings of Gender,” that gender norms are learned early on in life, burdening children with these restrictions (388). This is what makes movies which clearly reject and mock gender roles, such as The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, so refreshing.

    Read More

  • Jackson Katz Masculinity

    1322 Words  | 6 Pages

    Over time, the thought patterns of many individuals mould to believe only one perception of what is morally acceptable— a perception that is completely faulty. The ideology of the male body and demeanor is only one of the many societal norms constructed by the media, and it alone can result in mental health fatalities, mass violence, or the mere elimination of self-identity whilst attempting to meet the ever-changing ideals of masculinity. The continuous and stereotypical depiction of masculinity in the media has idealized invulnerability, toughness and physical strength as the sole qualities of a ‘true man’. As a result, the complexity of masculinity is flattened, and immense pressures are placed on individuals to meet requirements that are entirely faulty. According to Katz, cultures, topics, and even genders are not one-dimensional; in order to fully comprehend the meaning the entirety of something, one must look at more than its representation in the media.

    Read More

  • Examples Of Masculinity In Frankenstein

    1670 Words  | 7 Pages

    The concept of masculinity is traits that are conventionally associated with boys and men. These may be physiologically defined in terms of physical or biological traits, but more commonly masculinity is considered to be socially constructed and restricted by the norms applied to boys and men in a given culture. (Gabriel, 7). Mary Shelley characterizes Victor, using societal and gender norms to motivate him as a victorian doctor. His motivations lay in that of conventionality, to feel good about himself as a man because of his insecurities.

    Read More

  • The Stono Rebellion: The Kingdom Of The Kongo Rebellion

    986 Words  | 4 Pages

    This masculinity had come from the way the men in the Kongo had been treated. Men were soldiers in the Kingdom of Kongo. The image of the Dutch ambassadors bowing to Don Alvarez- the King of Kongo- shows Kongolese men at the side carrying arms. This implies that the Kongolese men must have also had experience in fighting. The slaves in the revolt had swiftly taken guns and gunpowder, and killed everyone who was in the way of the their freedom.

    Read More

  • Hegemonic Masculinity In The Wire

    702 Words  | 3 Pages

    Hegemonic masculinity is a often associated drive, ambition, self reliance, and aggressiveness” (Messerschmidt). Both of these examples show us that the construction of the characters would not be the same if it weren't for the ideals of hegemonic masculinity that they portray through the entire

    Read More

  • Theme Of Masculinity In Chinua Achebe's Things Fall Apart

    786 Words  | 4 Pages

    Throughout the book Things Fall Apart by Chinua Achebe, there are many references to the protagonist’s necessity to be recognized for his masculinity. Okonkwo, the protagonist, despises his father for his unsuccessfulness, and Okonkwo is motivated to become a prosperous man. His fear of being weak determines his actions in difficult situations, which causes an internal conflict. Eventually, this fear overwhelms Okonkwo, and he commits suicide. Okonkwo’s desire to be masculine in opposition to his father creates an internal conflict established in his fear of being thought weak, which ultimately leads to his death.

    Read More

  • The Theme Of Masculinity In Long Way Down

    829 Words  | 4 Pages

    Masculinity. “The epitome of what a man should be,” or, “the social expectations of being a man.” The theme of masculinity is highly present in the book Long Way Down, by Jason Reynolds. The main character, Will, has just witnessed his older brother Shawn get shot to death. Shawn has been a role model to Will throughout his whole life, and his death absolutely shattered Will.

    Read More

  • Masculinity In David Fincher's Fight Club

    818 Words  | 4 Pages

    In David Fincher’s, dramatic film “Fight Club”, Fincher develops satire to explain the masculinity of the main characters throughout the movie. Being masculine and or having masculinity, means qualities traditionally ascribed to men, as strength and boldness. Typically, men are seen to be strong, able to fight, have a large frame, and or be fearless. Men such as Arnold Schwarzenegger and Chuck Norris are seen to society as Masculine men. However, some develop their masculinity later than others.

    Read More

  • Essay On Masculinity

    1064 Words  | 5 Pages

    Masculinity (also called boyhood, manliness or manhood) is a set of attributes, behaviors and roles generally associated with boys and men. But the culture doesn’t end at the definition, it starts from there. The first thing to come to mind when the word masculinity is heard is usually a man flexing his gigantic muscles, as the word might sound to suggest, and that right there is the current culture of masculinity because sadly, in the world we live in, not everyone has a “muscular body”. So far we know the concept of masculinity, but the culture is what is truly hampering.

    Read More

  • Things Fall Apart Post Colonialism Analysis

    1837 Words  | 8 Pages

    His sense of attaining masculinity is fuelled by an indomitable desire to rise above his father’s spendthrift, lazy, ineffectual and effeminate character and he associates violence, haughtiness, and aggression as the only set of emotions to be displayed for expressing true masculinity. He beats his wives and threatens to kill women.

    Read More

  • Feminism Vs Masculinity

    988 Words  | 4 Pages

    Masculinity refers to the qualities, personality traits and roles that are associated with the male gender. In the 21st century, there has been a movement, a drive in the more socially aware sections of the world to equalize or balance out masculinity and femininity. Feminism or, at least the main stream feminism aims to find equality for the females in social, political and economical fields. Even today, as we work forward to find a middle ground for the two genders, masculinity is seen as the superior quality that only men are privileged to have. Hence, main stream feminism is so focused on emancipating women by encouraging them to let go of the ‘weaker’ feminine qualities and roles and fit themselves in a Man’s world by embracing masculinity

    Read More

  • The Advantages And Pros And Cons Of Hofstede's Model

    1239 Words  | 5 Pages

    What you see is a severe competition between groups. From very young age children learn to compete on sports day for their groups traditionally red team against white team. What you also see as an expression of Masculinity in Japan is the drive for excellence and perfection in every aspect of life. It is still hard for women to climb up the corporate ladders in Japan with their Masculine norm. At 92 Japan is one

    Read More

More about Masculinity In The Last Samurai

Open Document