How movies teach manhood - Colin Stokes

Summary

In this insightful reflection on the influence of media on children, the speaker contrasts *The Wizard of Oz* with modern action films, highlighting the lack of strong female characters and the overemphasis on violence in contemporary storytelling. They discuss the importance of positive role models for boys, advocating for films that pass the Bechdel Test and feature empowered female characters who lead with wisdom and compassion. The speaker stresses the need to show boys a new definition of manhood—one focused on teamwork, empathy, and respect for women, rather than violence and domination.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker enjoys sharing classic movies, like *The Wizard of Oz*, with their children, fostering imagination and bonding.
• 😀 *The Wizard of Oz* stood out as a unique, non-violent movie from its time, especially compared to modern children's media.
• 😀 The gender dynamics in *The Wizard of Oz* are notable, with strong, wise, and villainous female characters leading the narrative.
• 😀 The speaker compares *The Wizard of Oz* to *Star Wars*, noting how *Star Wars* focuses on male-centric heroism while *The Wizard of Oz* emphasizes collaboration and friendship.
• 😀 *The Wizard of Oz* portrays a world where leadership, wisdom, and heroism are not defined by gender, offering a more inclusive role model for children.
• 😀 There is concern over modern children's movies focusing on violent, male-dominated narratives, which may influence both boys and girls in different ways.
• 😀 The speaker critiques how many popular movies, even those with strong female leads, still center on male-driven plots and reinforce traditional gender roles.
• 😀 The Bechdel Test, which evaluates films based on the presence of multiple female characters who talk to each other about something other than men, is a useful tool for assessing media representation.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on the lack of representation of women in the 100 most popular films, with only 11 having female protagonists in 2011.
• 😀 The prevalence of sexual assault statistics prompts the speaker to question the harmful lessons boys might be learning from violent, male-centered narratives in media, which fail to provide models for healthy masculinity.
• 😀 The speaker emphasizes the importance of raising sons who respect and support women, modeling non-violent, collaborative heroism, and encouraging empathy and team-building over individual conquest.

Q & A

What is the speaker's favorite part of being a dad, as described in the script?

The speaker's favorite part of being a dad is watching movies and sharing his favorite films with his children, especially with his daughter.

How does the speaker describe the impact of *The Wizard of Oz* on his daughter?

The speaker notes that *The Wizard of Oz* dominated his daughter's imagination for months, particularly because her favorite character was Glinda, which also gave her a chance to wear a sparkly dress and carry a wand.

What comparison does the speaker draw between *The Wizard of Oz* and modern children's movies?

The speaker compares *The Wizard of Oz* to more recent films, noting that modern movies often feature male heroes, violence, and computer-generated action, while *The Wizard of Oz* is more about collaboration, friendship, and leadership, particularly from strong female characters.

What is one key difference between *The Wizard of Oz* and modern films like *Star Wars*?

One key difference is that *The Wizard of Oz* features female characters who are heroic and wise, whereas in *Star Wars*, the protagonist, Luke, is the primary focus, and the film features a more traditional male-dominated storyline.

How does the speaker feel about the portrayal of women in modern action movies?

The speaker is concerned that modern movies often portray women in passive roles, with men being the central characters who fight villains and receive rewards, typically in the form of a woman with no other agency or friends.

What is the Bechdel Test, and why does the speaker bring it up?

The Bechdel Test is a measure of gender representation in movies, asking whether there are two named female characters who talk to each other about something other than a man. The speaker brings it up to highlight the lack of meaningful female representation in many popular films.

What is the speaker's concern regarding how boys are portrayed in modern films?

The speaker is concerned that modern films reinforce traditional ideas of masculinity where boys are depicted as warriors who solve problems with violence, which may negatively impact their understanding of relationships and emotions.

How does the speaker suggest redefining manhood for the next generation?

The speaker suggests that we should redefine manhood by teaching boys to trust, respect, and support women, and to work collaboratively in teams, rather than reinforcing outdated ideas of male dominance and violence.

What role do movies like *Brave* play in the speaker's argument?

Movies like *Brave* serve as positive examples where female characters are portrayed as leaders and heroes. The speaker praises *Brave* for challenging traditional gender roles and showing girls as capable of strength and independence.

What is the speaker's ultimate goal in raising children with media choices?

The speaker's ultimate goal is to raise children, particularly boys, in a world where they value empathy, collaboration, and respect for women, by carefully selecting movies that promote these values and teaching children to identify with positive, three-dimensional female characters.