3
submitted 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) by barberousse@lemmy.ca to c/mensliberation@lemmy.ca

Hey there, fellow movie enthusiasts! I'm on the hunt for films that portray positive masculinity. We often see movies with traditional, stereotypical portrayals of masculinity, but I believe there's a world of cinema out there that can challenge these norms and offer a fresh perspective.

So, I'm turning to you, the experts of Lemmy, to help me discover hidden gems and well-known classics that showcase men in a positive light, breaking free from the clichés. Positive masculinity can encompass a wide range of qualities such as empathy, vulnerability, strength in character, and emotional intelligence. I'm interested in any genre – from drama and comedy to action and sci-fi – as long as the films make us question what it means to be a man.

Let's curate a list of films that define positive masculinity in cinema.

top 7 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[-] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 2 points 1 year ago

If you're interested in animated shows, Avatar: The Last Airbender's uncle Iroh is a really solid depiction of healthy masculinity.

He's kind and gentle, but has a tremendous amount of strength both emotionally and physically. He's empathetic and loving, diplomatic and wise, but very humble and doesn't take himself too seriously. He loves tea and flowers, and doesn't get bothered or embarrassed when other male characters tease or mock him for his hobbies.

[-] Sacha@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

Sokka also has very good character growth in terms of healthy and positive male traits. He starts out as a bit abrasive and sexist. The opening scene of episode 1 is actually just Katara going off on him about sexism. The scene is kind of abrasive but again, the character grows really well as the series progresses. And I think Sokka is important too. Showing that male characters CAN change and CAN become better people.

Plus, the show does have another case of character growth, with one of the most compelling in all media when it comes to Zuko. And towards the end of the show, he's also showcasing a lot of positive traits. The duality with his sister is also important. Because this is one of the only shows that has the female counterpart as more violent/"evil" than a male character. Usually the female character is always the gentle, kind, loving one that tempers the male one. But they flipped that on its head. No, girls can be abusive too.

[-] barberousse@lemmy.ca 2 points 1 year ago

I can start with two exemples:

"Dead Poets Society" (1989)

Robin Williams inspires a group of students to embrace their individuality and challenge societal expectations.

Good Will Hunting" (1997)

Matt Damon's character, Will Hunting, learns to open up emotionally and seek help, displaying positive growth.

[-] hemko@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 year ago

Lord of the Rings trilogy.
There's so much to it, the relationship between Frodo and Sam, Gimli and Legolas, the kindness and openness of Aragorn, the everlasting joyfulness of Merry and Pippin, Boromir who stood by his brother and Faramir who saw the good in people.

There's so much to love in lotr

[-] qwertyqwertyqwerty@lemmy.world 1 points 1 year ago

I could joke about the fact that there's essentially no interaction between female actresses in the LOTR trilogy, or social media's crazy love towards this series, but this is honestly a great example of positive male bonding and friendship, acknowledging and working through one's flaws, and achieving an goal despite overwhelming odds.

[-] acceptable_pumpkin@lemmy.world 2 points 1 year ago

Everything Everywhere All At Once. Very fresh take on “masculinity”. Great video on the subject: https://youtu.be/O7YnbGszcb8

[-] Chetzemoka@startrek.website 1 points 1 year ago

I think The Martian fits these criteria.

this post was submitted on 16 Oct 2023
3 points (100.0% liked)

Men's Liberation

1845 readers
1 users here now

This community is first and foremost a feminist community for men and masc people, but it is also a place to talk about men’s issues with a particular focus on intersectionality.


Rules

Everybody is welcome, but this is primarily a space for men and masc people


Non-masculine perspectives are incredibly important in making sure that the lived experiences of others are present in discussions on masculinity, but please remember that this is a space to discuss issues pertaining to men and masc individuals. Be kind, open-minded, and take care that you aren't talking over men expressing their own lived experiences.



Be productive


Be proactive in forming a productive discussion. Constructive criticism of our community is fine, but if you mainly criticize feminism or other people's efforts to solve gender issues, your post/comment will be removed.

Keep the following guidelines in mind when posting:

  • Build upon the OP
  • Discuss concepts rather than semantics
  • No low effort comments
  • No personal attacks


Assume good faith


Do not call other submitters' personal experiences into question.



No bigotry


Slurs, hate speech, and negative stereotyping towards marginalized groups will not be tolerated.



No brigading


Do not participate if you have been linked to this discussion from elsewhere. Similarly, links to elsewhere on the threadiverse must promote constructive discussion of men’s issues.



Recommended Reading

Related Communities

!feminism@beehaw.org
!askmen@lemmy.world
!mensmentalhealth@lemmy.world


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS