Masculinity is Ours to Keep: Male Power Fantasy and Masculine Archetypes in Grappler Baki
Summary
TLDRThis video script explores the concept of masculinity amidst a cultural war, where it's deemed both toxic and essential. It discusses masculine archetypes using the anime 'Baki' as a lens, highlighting male power fantasies and the mythification of masculinity. The script argues for the necessity of power fantasies in shaping male identity, critiquing modern deconstruction of traditional values, and emphasizing the cyclical nature of masculine traits. It concludes by asserting the importance of masculine role models and the need for media that reinforces, rather than destroys, these values.
Takeaways
- π Masculinity is a central topic in a cultural war, with some people denouncing it as toxic and others trying to reclaim it.
- πͺ The script discusses masculine archetypes and their importance, focusing on male power fantasies and the mythification of masculinity.
- πΊ The show 'Baki' is used as a case study to explore these themes, chosen for its portrayal of testosterone-fueled masculinity.
- 𧬠Masculinity is linked to the production of male hormones, which give men physical characteristics like muscle mass, height, and a low voice.
- πΏ The script argues that masculinity is rooted in biology, but also shaped by cultural standards and learned behaviors.
- π The concept of 'male power fantasies' is introduced, where media portrays an idealized version of masculinity that people aspire to.
- π Literature and media are seen as important in preserving and transmitting masculine values across generations.
- π The script criticizes Western media for deconstructing traditional values and not celebrating cultural standards of masculinity.
- π₯ The script suggests that without masculine role models, future generations may become either overly aggressive or overly passive.
- π€Ό The narrative of 'Baki' is analyzed as a journey of physical and spiritual growth, with the hero confronting various aspects of masculinity.
- π The script concludes that masculinity is about action and self-improvement, and that it's the responsibility of men to uphold and pass on these values.
Q & A
What is the central theme of the cultural war discussed in the script?
-The central theme of the cultural war discussed in the script is the concept of masculinity, with people either denouncing it as toxic or trying to reclaim it.
What is the purpose of discussing masculine archetypes in the script?
-The purpose of discussing masculine archetypes is to explore their importance and how they contribute to the understanding and perpetuation of male power fantasies and the mythification of masculinity.
Why is the show Baki chosen for the discussion on masculinity?
-Baki is chosen because it is seen as dripping with testosterone and showcases extremely buff and combative characters, which are indicative of masculine traits.
How does the script connect testosterone to the concept of masculinity?
-The script connects testosterone to masculinity by stating that being a man is to produce male hormones, which give men their characteristic physical traits such as muscles, height, square jaw, and a low voice.
What is the role of biology in shaping masculinity according to the script?
-Biology plays a foundational role in shaping masculinity by providing the physical traits that are associated with being male, which are then complemented by nurture-based qualities to complete the picture of the perfect man.
What is the significance of male power fantasies in the development of male identity?
-Male power fantasies are significant in the development of male identity because they provide a model of what men aspire to be, allowing them to project themselves into stories and identify with characters that reflect their ideals.
How does the script view the role of literature in preserving the concept of masculinity?
-The script views literature as an integral part of preserving the concept of masculinity by allowing it to be shared and survive through time, serving as a guiding beacon for future generations.
What is the script's stance on the current state of Western media's portrayal of masculinity?
-The script criticizes Western media for having stopped celebrating cultural values and now focusing on deconstructing them, which is seen as detrimental to the modern concept of masculinity.
What does the script suggest as a solution to the 'crisis' of masculinity?
-The script suggests that more power fantasies are needed to bolster the strength of the modern male and ensure that future generations are influenced by positive masculine role models.
How does Baki serve as a medium for transmitting masculine values according to the script?
-Baki serves as a medium for transmitting masculine values by narrating the physical and spiritual progression of its protagonist, showcasing the confrontation and growth necessary to embody positive masculinity.
What is the significance of the antagonistic relationship between Baki and his father in the script?
-The antagonistic relationship between Baki and his father symbolizes the struggle between positive and negative aspects of masculinity, highlighting the necessity of balance and the cyclical process of masculine identity construction.
Outlines
πͺ The Concept of Masculinity
This paragraph delves into the ongoing cultural debate surrounding masculinity, with some viewing it as toxic while others seek to reclaim it. The video aims to explore masculine archetypes and their significance, using the show 'Shogu Probaki' as a case study. The narrator highlights the biological basis of masculinity, linked to testosterone and its influence on male physical traits. The discussion also touches on how masculine identity is shaped by both biology and cultural standards, with literature and media playing a crucial role in perpetuating these ideals. The paragraph concludes by criticizing modern Western media for abandoning traditional masculine values in favor of deconstruction.
π‘οΈ The Defense of Masculinity
Paragraph 2 discusses the importance of masculine traditions as a stabilizing force and a protective bastion for a country. It suggests that the current attack on masculinity is an attack on the identity of men and their communities. The narrator argues for the need for more power fantasies to strengthen modern masculinity and prepare future generations. The paragraph also refutes the misconception that masculinity breeds dangerous males, instead positing that it is essential for maintaining order and preventing societal chaos. It emphasizes the role of media, particularly anime and manga, in teaching and transmitting masculine values.
π The Dragon of Masculinity
This paragraph focuses on the dichotomy between positive and negative traits of masculinity and how they contribute to the construction of male identity. It uses the metaphor of a dragon to describe masculinity, suggesting that it must be confronted and grappled with. The paragraph discusses how the show 'Baki' and its characters represent different facets of masculinity, with the protagonist's journey mirroring the process of becoming a man. It also touches on the cyclical nature of masculinity, where positive traits are born from the need to balance negative ones, and how this is represented through the show's narrative and characters.
π€ΌββοΈ The Struggle for Masculinity
Paragraph 4 examines the role of violence and confrontation in male power fantasies, using 'Baki' as an example. It argues that violence is not normalized but is instead portrayed as a necessary tool for survival and self-defense. The paragraph discusses how the characters in 'Baki' face tragedies and adversities, which serve as catalysts for growth and the development of masculine traits. It also addresses the criticism that such portrayals are toxic, arguing that they are instead a reflection of reality and an essential part of masculine identity. The paragraph concludes by emphasizing the importance of action and self-improvement in achieving masculinity.
πΆββοΈ The Path to Manhood
The final paragraph of the script is incomplete, but it seems to be leading into a discussion about the journey towards manhood. It suggests that being a man is not just about who you are but also about what you do, implying that action is a key component of masculinity. The paragraph likely encourages viewers to take the lessons from the show 'Baki' and apply them to their own lives, to become a male power fantasy for others to follow.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘Masculinity
π‘Cultural War
π‘Power Fantasies
π‘Testosterone
π‘Biological Reality
π‘Representation
π‘Deconstruction
π‘Hero's Journey
π‘Antagonistic Relationships
π‘Masculine Traditions
π‘Media Influence
Highlights
Masculinity is at the center of a cultural war between those who denounce it as toxic and those who seek to reclaim it.
The concept of masculinity is explored through the lens of the show 'Shoguprobaki', which is rich in male power fantasies.
Testosterone is linked to the physical traits associated with masculinity, such as muscle mass and aggressiveness.
Masculinity is portrayed as having both mental and physical aspects, with both being interconnected and rooted in biology.
The show 'Shoguprobaki' is used as an example of how media can perpetuate the mythification of masculinity.
Representation in media allows individuals to project themselves into stories, resonating with characters that reflect their identity.
Male power fantasies are discussed as a foundational element for the development of male identity.
The importance of literature in preserving and sharing the concept of masculinity across generations is emphasized.
Western media is criticized for no longer celebrating cultural values and focusing on deconstructing them.
Masculine traditions are seen as a stabilizing force and a last bastion of protection for a country under attack.
The need for more power fantasies is argued to strengthen modern masculinity and prepare future generations.
The concept of 'toxic masculinity' is refuted, arguing that it is necessary for the existence of positive masculinity.
The show 'Baki' is highlighted as an effective medium for conveying masculine values and the hero's journey.
Baki's character arc is used to illustrate the development from boyhood to manhood, emphasizing the importance of strength.
The antagonistic yet complementary nature of father-son relationships is discussed as central to the construction of male identity.
The cyclical process of masculine traits is explained through the trope of confrontation and the creation of role models.
The importance of symbols inδΌ θΎΎing the messages of male power fantasies is discussed.
The necessity of violence in male power fantasies is justified as a tool for self-defense and survival.
The show 'Baki' is praised for its portrayal of strength as a virtuous trait and its focus on action over debate.
The conclusion emphasizes the duty to pass on the concept of masculinity to future generations.
Transcripts
masculinity is at the center of what can
only be described as a cultural war
right now
between people denouncing the entire
concept as toxic and who's trying to
reclaim it there is a lot to be said
about the topic so much so that i'm
fully certain this video will not be
enough to cover it all
but since the idea of what being a man
constitutes is so interesting in my eyes
i don't mind making this a series
today i want to offer a broad discussion
on masculine archetypes and their
importance using the shoguprobaki as a
way to narrow down the scope of this
discourse
that will be focusing mainly on male
power fantasies and the mythification of
masculinity that they perpetuate through
narration
i selected this show because one is
great and two it's so dripping with
testosterone that the only way to grab
the volumes without developing firm
mittens is to wear kevlar gloves
and just like that there goes our first
point
testosterone
why did i just make that connection
well the answer is simple
to be a man is to produce male hormones
these hormones in return make your body
more androgenic giving you all of the
characteristics of a male
periosity muscles height square jaw and
shoulders low voice aggressivity etc etc
these traits are gifts from nature and
our cyclical resurgence is what allows
masculinity to rest on a base more solid
than ideology alone
as they aren't going anywhere
stemming from them were created
nurture-based qualities aiming to
complete the picture of the perfect man
as instincts alone aren't enough to
create him
one or the other is missing
male identity is incomplete
here we see that masculinity works on
two fronts
both mental and physical with the two
being interconnected and taking souls
from the same place
biology
this means that a manga focused on
representing masculinity would need to
showcase extremely buff and combative
characters
and that's exactly what becky does
regardless of your identity you will be
able to resonate with the story simply
because there's bound to be a character
you'll recognize yourself in
this is the mere power fantasy trope in
full effect
in every piece of fiction we tend to
scan for people that look like us in
order to be able to project ourselves
into the story
this is known as representation
however
some shows take that to the next level
by showing you not who you are but who
you wish you could be
these are male power fantasies
without them we wouldn't be here
they are the soil in which male identity
blossoms
it might sound extreme especially to the
people who have a bone to pick with
masculinity but the truth is that the
codification of what it means to be a
man is what has led the wood to be what
it is today with literature playing an
integral role in allowing this vital
information to not only be shared but
also survive through time
after all while being a male is first
and foremost a biological reality
there's no denying that a large portion
of it also comes down to cultural
standards
which aren't exactly innate traits
instead we learn how to behave according
to masculine standards thanks to our
environment
be it via oral transmission or books of
written tradition that serve not only as
a guiding beacon but also as a permanent
lighthouse
left there to inspire future generations
for us the children of modernity this is
our main pathway to access masculinity
since and let's be honest the
generations of men that precede us have
been nothing but disappointing
and are mostly to blame for the
decrepitude of the modern man
sadly we can't really count on western
media to salvage this [Β __Β ] show either
considering that it has stopped
celebrating our cultures decades ago and
is now entirely focused on destroying as
many of our values as possible
this is because the west has entered the
age of deconstruction
everything must be questioned and
anything that doesn't align with the
bleached out blemish of modern morality
must be deconstructed for the greater
good
and since there isn't anything more
vital to our societies than masculinity
it is therefore no surprise that this
concept would attract the ire of the
beast
always under the cover of progressivism
and global equality
acting as a stabilizing force the
masculine traditions of a country end up
being its last bastion of protection
when under attack
something that explains the constant
bombardment the concept has been under
they're not attacking you they're
attacking who you are telling you that
both you and the community would be
better off if masculinity were to die
in this dire situation we need more
power fantasies more than ever
to bolster the strength of the modern
male but also to make sure that those
who have yet to come will be placed in
the right hands
if you think that men are pathetic now
wait until you see what an entire
generation that will have ground without
masculine role models will look like
there'll be either ultra aggressive low
self-control baboons or pacified pansies
with no balls to speak of
this is another misconception about
masculinity that needs to be refuted
the goal of such a social construct
isn't to breed dangerously unhinged
males that would pose a threat to
society
if anything it does the exact opposite
in a sense this is the distinction that
the woods toxic masculinity tries to
capture
if some of it is bad then by default
some of it must also be good
this nuance completely escapes the vapid
minds of those that choose the term
persuaded that manhood in its entirety
is on reasons to be ridden of
in reality there is only one thing that
can oppose the violence and mayhem of
which masculinity often gives both too
and that's masculinity itself
to prevent chaos from taking over
we must make sure that masculinity is
always in stock
and to do that we need instruction
manuals
under the form that will be the easiest
to consume for our little brothers
in this case anime and manga
i would prefer to offer a video essay
centered around the odysseus
but the truth of the matter is that in
this war against degeneracy
refusing to use the weapons of the enemy
would be a mistake
we get targeted through the media so be
it
we will use the media to fire back
and in that aspect there is nothing more
effective than japanese nakatsu shonen
these stories are for the most part
always centered around a young male
protagonist
narrating his physical and spiritual
progression with no regards for
political correctness or inclusivity
this is where bakiyama comes into play
as the hero of the eponym manga
he is the male power fantasy from which
masculine values will be vehiculated to
the audience
his journey and encounters serving as a
parabola
whichever message you can receive from
the narration will be shown to you not
told which is obligatory for the
transmission of masculine tradition to
proceed
if i tell you that you must be loyal
respectful and sincere it might stick to
you for a day or two but chances are
you'll never actually integrate these
values
this is where the hero's journey comes
into play
by showing instead of telling the story
places you at center stage
allowing your own subjectivity to
project itself onto the characters
gaining your involvement and attention
through watching jack you will learn of
the dangers of excess
through watching katsumi you will come
to understand the downfall of arrogance
and through watching bakki you will get
to experience the evolution of a boy
seeking to become a man
this means that it cannot start as a
fearless mountain of muscles as that be
counterproductive
the reader needs to identify with bucky
and so he has to start young and small
which is why the story begins when he's
only 13
to give you a chance to put yourself in
his shoes and grow alongside him
and why exactly is he trying to grow
well to become stronger meaning more apt
to defend himself and others from the
threats of his word
in the series the personification of
that danger is yujiro anmar who also
happens to be the father of the hero
an obvious metaphor that represents the
birth of positive masculinity as a
response to its negative counterpart
that topic will require its own video to
decorticate
as the opposition between positive and
negative masculinity traits is central
to the construction of male identity
for today let's just say that if
masculinity is a dragon it is one that
we must all confront
and in grapple back his universe
it is reincarnated as the strongest
creature on earth
naturally this means that bucky isn't
the only one to have his sights set on
the serpent
as every fighter in the show will sooner
or later try their hand at defeating the
ogre
which they always fail to do
by definition you cannot best paroxysmic
masculinity you can only measure
yourself to it
and by doing so you reinforce your own
masculine essence
in the hope of one day coming out on top
if that were to happen you wouldn't be
destroying it
you'd simply replace it
becoming the new target that men
everywhere would shoot for in order to
prove themselves
through that trope we understand three
things
one that masculinity is built through
confrontation
two that the creation of positive male
role models is only made possible by the
existence of negative ones
and three that the very perpetuation of
masculine traits is a cyclical process
that finds its roots in the antagonistic
yet complementary nature of fatter sun
relationships
one dominates the other topos
this is what makes the world go round
[Music]
it's no wonder why many books and movies
utilize this opposition in their
depiction of the hero's journey
the easiest way to convey those
struggles the main character will have
to surmount is by giving them a familiar
face
one that is either set up as a proper
model to follow or an example of what
not to do in order to be a good man
in bucky's case it's both
eugero is an abusive tyrant yes but he's
also a formidable warrior
leaving his son to juggle with
contradicting emotions between hatred
and respect
despite spending the entirety of the
series trying to separate his identity
from that of his father he still has him
as the main objective that dictates his
life choices showing that male power
fantasies work on both a positive and
negative front
as such it would be ridiculous to say
that toxic maximality is bad
since without it positive masculinity
wouldn't exist at all as it is born from
a necessity for balance
throughout his battles becky faces
plenty of villains
all representing different facets of
masculinity which echo with the inner
turmoil agitating our hero
just like the labors of hercules
each new challenge can be interpreted on
a spiritual level
with success signifying victory not just
against an enemy but most importantly
over the self
one can for example cite the bout
against anayama which is a shonen
rewriting of david versus goliath with
its lesson being relatively evident
or the yasha ape encounter which dwells
more into the surmounting of primal
fears
in both cases the necessary masculine
attributes needed to survive these
challenges are expressed through symbols
which is often the case for male power
fantasies
at first glance it might look like two
hunks of muscle throwing haymakers at
one another
but the real importance of these battles
is to be found in the messages that they
transmit
the essence of chaos versus the spirit
of order
one only existing as a response to the
other
this subtlety
juxtaposed with the apparent barbarism
of the peregrination needed to own one
owns masculinity is the reason for all
the criticism coming its way
often the people hell bent on
deconstructing the makeup of male
identity aren't men themselves
which explains their inability to see
underneath the facade of brutality
to them if it's ruthless and bloody it's
bad because hurting people is mean
this is a typical feminine mindset as
one only gets to be this naive when
entirely sheltered from the reality of
violence
a privilege that is bestowed upon them
by the graces of masculine protection
paradoxically by trying to destroy toxic
masculinity
these people end up getting rid of the
only thing standing between them and a
soccer
punch in the world of bakki that
invisible barrier is more tenuous
and as people often get beat up or gold
it is incumbent upon the hero to grow
that much stronger to make up for it
this is a message to the modern man
as the world around you turns harsh
you have to become harsher
because if you don't
you won't be able to protect what is
precious to you
realizations such as this one are a
common occurrence in back his life who
went through several tragedies involving
the loss of a loved one
first the yasha ape then his mother
both at the ends of you guessed it
yujiro anma
if you're not tough enough to defeat him
the big bad wolf will eat your family
that is the lesson being taught here
at no point is this assessment turned
into an acknowledgment of failure
and our hero is always revolted and
invigorated by those deaths
that he seeks to avenge with righteous
anger
this shows one thing
in male power fantasies
violence is never normalized
rather it is always used either as a
tool to combat itself or as a method to
prepare for its inevitable occurrence
if baki characters fight it's not
because they like it
they simply understand that this is what
it takes to survive
[Music]
contending doesn't make one mean it
simply makes you normal
those that try to escape the cycle of
confrontation are the abnormal ones for
they seek to evade nature itself
in baghi everyone fights because
everyone lives unsheltered from reality
the members of the cast aren't cruel
they're simply competing against one
another to affirm their existence
the men that don't are really cured
often depicted pissing on themselves or
cowering away
an exaggeration that conveys a very
simple message
don't be a wimp
being weak isn't virtuous and it
certainly isn't a healthy identity to
cultivate
as a man that cannot defend himself will
soon see his self-respect with her away
and die
this type of aggressive normalization is
often decried as object bullying
when it is in fact an act of kindness
one that aims to guide men that have
started to believe that weakness could
be a strength
and who are suffering from it
too frequently men will compromise
masculinity by seeking to find in it the
aspects that should be shunned or taken
away
thus they try to only keep the nice and
ditch the mean which is exactly what a
work of deconstruction entails
to take apart a concept ignorant of the
fact that it was functioning precisely
because it was the sum of two parts
ancient masculinity wasn't toxic
it was whole
this is what made it great
if bucky is so efficient in sharing this
message
it's because it espouses every facet of
it
giving the reader a fantasized view of
what it means to be a man viabaci's
character arc
which at all times presents strength as
a virtuous trait to possess
the show highlights the time the hero
spends on becoming a man instead of
debating about what it means
as this reality cannot be told
only shown
this compels you to action
being a male isn't only about what you
are but also what you do
you are given the blueprints to
masculinity
now it's time to act on it or else will
stay a fantasy forever
and as you fully accomplish yourself and
your identity blooms you will in turn
become a male power fantasy for others
to follow
for our ancestors
our brothers and those to come
it is our duty
[Music]
[Music]
you
5.0 / 5 (0 votes)