The Masculinity Crisis and the Death of the Hollywood Hero

A quick Google search for 2023’s most anticipated movies brings up some interesting results.

• “John Wick: Chapter 4”
• “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One”
• “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny”
• “Creed III”
• “Extraction 2”
• “The Equalizer 3”

What are the commonalities of all these movies? Every movie has a strong male lead character.

Strangely, the desire and demand for these movies comes at the same time that Hollywood is trying to demonize masculinity by destroying traditional Hollywood heroes.

I’m not talking about the Marvel comic book heroes; I mean the classic, James Bond types. Real men not in tights who fire lasers from their eyes.

This essay is a great example of how to discuss the Male actors are emasculatedDr. Marcia Sirota from Toronto, a psychiatrist, describes what it means to be a therapist. “gradual process of psychological and emotional castration” That is draining. “masculine energy” Out of Hollywood

The days of American heros are fast ending. This is not a bug; it’s a feature. Dr. Sirota said today that both the large and small screens are saturated with floodlights. “man-boys” Who now rival the girls in looks with their new look “high cheekbones, pouty lips and ultra-long lashes.”

Before, not that long ago, girls wanted to date or marry the men they saw on screen; now, they’re more likely to want to emulate them. It seems that the feeling is mutual. Men have been reduced in Hollywood to a shaming of authentic masculinity. Caricatures of emasculated womenThese are pale imitations of traditional masculinity.

Brad Pitt was once considered to be the epitome masculine energy. He can now be seen wearing a skirt.

#BulletTrain Brad Pitt in a skirt “We’re all gonna die, so let’s mess it up.” https://t.co/c4Ce3LROrj pic.twitter.com/m0RQImAidz

— Variety (@Variety) August 2, 2022

Harrison Ford, Tom Cruise, Denzel Washington and Denzel Washington aren’t just physically powerful actors capable of dominating the screen.

They’re an endangered species.

They represent a time rapidly ending, a period when Hollywood was still looking for strong males. For deep psychological reasons, the characters played by these three men resonate with viewers. They provide a temporary escape from the sexism of western society at a time when it has, in some ways, turned its back against men.

The psychologist Tania Reynolds recently discussed the fact that, in modern-day America, men’s suffering is treated a lot differently to women’s suffering. Reynolds observed that men are more likely be homeless or imprisoned than to drop out from college.

As Pew research shows, men, Particularly black men Overdosed drug users are three times more likely to die than those who drink. Suicide is also more common in men. Suicide is the leading cause for death in the United States. Men under 50 years of age

Yet, as Reynolds pointed out, society is still unwilling to fully acknowledge men’s suffering. That’s because millions of Americans still subscribe to a vague, empirically unsound notion that we live in a “man’s world.” If this is true why are so few men so miserable?

Agency is the false belief that men enjoy unparalleled privileges regardless of their financial status or social standing. On average, men are perceived to have more control and agency over their lives.

This belief is a contributor to the pernicious aggressor/victim dynamics, in which men are more likely be viewed to be perpetrators of various crime while women are more likely be viewed to be faultless victims.

This helps to explain why #MeToo quickly evolved from Harvey Weinstein’s scandal into the “believe all women” movement. To believe all women, is to almost automatically be suspicious about all men.

RELATED: HOW HOLLYWOOD HELPED CREATE, DESTROY TIME’S UP

While the impact of #MeToo is less profound today than it was a few decades ago, many still find the notion that the vast majority are decent, law-abiding citizens worthy of sympathy strange. It’s even absurd.

We are now back to the first paragraph, and the escapism that they provide. These movies come at a time in which masculine energy is being depleted from society.

The days of Alpha-fueled escapism seem to be coming to an abrupt halt. Tom Cruise, star of the “Mission: Impossible” franchise is 60. Denzel Washington, “The Equalizer’s” Main man is 68. Mr. Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is 80.

These legends can’t go on forever. This is also true for other men’s icons like Robert De Niro (79), Samuel L. Jackson (74) and Al Pacino (82).

Enjoy these actors’ work if you have the time and the desire. Because, in just a few years, Hollywood won’t have any Alpha males left.

John Mac Ghlionn works as a psychosocial researcher. He also contributes to UnHerd, Newsweek and the NY Post.

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