Crisis in masculinity – Brazilian Cinema – City of God
Masculinity means “the characteristics that are traditionally though to be typical of or suitable for men” (Cambridge Dictionary). What American Psychological Association describes as “traditional masculinity” traits are stoicism, competitiveness , dominance and aggression. In cinema virility is shown in different ways, as the society’s view on those characteristic changes with time. As an example we can look at Hollywood, where for a very long time the archetype of a man, would be someone who has a muscular body, who is strong, tough, confident, dominant, someone who is a fighter. With changes in the society like increase of feminism calling for gender equality, long crisis and decline of heavy industries, films started showing men as more caring, family oriented and with domestic interests. Yet, modern cinema still has figures of a men who are just emotionless fighters. This influences the way society thinks about men, it makes it difficult to get rid of the stereotype. At the
