Deconstruct and compare two texts representing aspects of masculinities.

The starting point for understanding masculinity lies, not in its contrast with feminity, but in the asymmetric dominance and prestige which accrues to males in this society” (Sattel1983:119 cited in Whitehead and Barrett 2001:112). The portrayal of men in social institutions such as the workplace and the media, to an extent fortifies the conventional notion of men and women in society. Women are usually represented in the form of male sexual desires and conquests, therefore regarding them as inferior to the male sex, even when portrayed in an dominant and physical nature, the are still depicted to be substandard to their male counterparts. For example the main character Xena in the television series, Xena: Warrior Princess. The television series places a greater emphasis on her females attributes such as her body rather than her fighting and warrior skills, in comparison cultural depiction of men are consistently constructed highlighting their self-reliance and self-control nature. This idea of hegemonic masculinity may not been the most prevalent form of masculinity for all men, but rather the most socially sanctioned.

Edley and Wetherell (1995) argue that in most cultures in modern society there are characteristics that exemplify a set of themes which relate to men and masculinities. These images of masculinities represent below can be said to reinforce common ideals about what it is meant to be a ‘real’ man.  I have decided to deconstruct two texts which provide different interpretations about the meaning of masculinities. One being the fictional characters of James Bond, assisted by an image of Daniel Craig and the other showing a man in a posture that shows him working.  They do not represent a single consistent notion of what it means to be a man, but rather presents sometimes contradictory notions about the meaning of masculinity.

The character of James Bond has provided a dominant and striking image of masculinity over recent decades. “Bond is an archetypical hero, willing to risk his own life in order to defeat evil” (Edley and Wetherell 1995:132). In popular culture the image of James Bond is portrayed as a sophisticated and charming gentleman with a sense of style, a touch charisma and a taste for the ‘finer things’ in life. In terms of his love life, Bond is depicted has a ‘romantic’ womaniser, who under no, designer circumstances falls in love. The image of Daniel Craig, show this by the way that he dressed, with the tuxedo, designer watch and smart cufflinks.

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Over recent decades, one may argues that the fictional character of James Bond has reflected the changing views of masculinity.  Sean Connery, the very first Bond, provided an image of man's man of the time, with his hairy chest and chauvinistic machismo.  Sub-sequent actors to have taken the James bond mantle such as Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan have created a much more polished and sophisticated 'edge' to the role of James Bond.  In a new millennium, in which many scholars have depicted a ‘crisis’ in masculinity, the image of James Bond has evolved yet again, this time portrayed ...

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