Sunday, July 7, 2013
Manliness & Civilization - What is constituted as manly today?
I enjoyed how Bederman organized this book. Each chapter flows together and clearly shows how individual groups tried to explain why their group was the most important in civilization. By the end of the book it became clear that no matter how hard women or blacks strived, the definition of manliness only referred to white men. Whenever white men felt threatened they continued to change what manhood meant. Society went from being civilized to being more primitive. How do you believe that manliness is defined today? Is it still a blend of being civilized and savage? Is it still tied to being a certain race?
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Hey Purav, I also feel like Bederman was making the argument that "manliness" was (and probably still is) a constantly evolving concept that was utilized by many different people (a few are shown here) in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries to achieve different and often contradictory goals. And I think the idea of contradiction is hugely important throughout the book, especially when understanding manliness as an ideology.
ReplyDeleteAgreed, Purav! I like the organization as well. The author also mentions how she could have chosen several other historical figures to support her thesis, but I enjoyed the four she chose (and Tarzan)...very diverse, yet connected.
ReplyDeleteRace and gender work together throughout history, and the views on race and gender change. Bederman discusses some of this change between post-Civil war and Victorian culture.
Hey Purav, while I might say that you are the definition of manliness, for those that don't know you the question of what manliness is today is an interesting idea. My understanding of popular culture is poor at best, I don't have Facebook or twitter to show me examples of manliness, and from the last time I had cable manliness seemed to be fist pumping and muscles on the first season of jersey shore. I'd love to hear what others more versed on the subject have to say, someone who can fix things and put food on the table? (Times are hard)
DeleteHey Purav, while I might say that you are the definition of manliness, for those that don't know you the question of what manliness is today is an interesting idea. My understanding of popular culture is poor at best, I don't have Facebook or twitter to show me examples of manliness, and from the last time I had cable manliness seemed to be fist pumping and muscles on the first season of jersey shore. I'd love to hear what others more versed on the subject have to say, someone who can fix things and put food on the table? (Times are hard)
DeleteHi Purav,
ReplyDeleteWell put! I think that the characteristics of manliness is definitely transforming itself in society. It reminds me of a book I came across once called, "The Last American Man" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I think this book portrays our current views on manliness perfectly. I never read the book in its entirety because the title put me off, but from what I took away from it, it describes manliness as rugged, "rough-rider," bearded, and courageous. In that respect, it does seem to be a blend of civilized and savage. Very interesting.
I found Bederman's recollection of TR's rhetoric to be very contemporary and compatible when imagined and applied in the context of the U.S. invasion of Iraq.
ReplyDeleteAfter finishing the book this morning I began to think about modern manliness a bit more. After TR manliness was definitely shifting towards the savage according to Bederman, and once Tarzan hit the scene manliness was full fledged savagery. Anyone seen the huge trend towards MMA on tv, gyms and even clothing?
ReplyDelete