Representation of Men in Action Films

This Weeks Objectives

• To know the stereotypical representation of men in the media

• To explore the representation of men in action movies

• To comment on the way these representations have changes since the 1970s

Male Stereotypes

Representations of men across all media tend to focus on the following:

• Strength - physical and intellectual • Power • Sexual attractiveness (which may be based on the

above) • Physique • Independence (of thought, action)• The Lone Hero: as independent and not needing to

rely on others

How has representation of the male hero changed?

• View scenes from different decades

• Write down the general ideas you get about the male action hero in these decades

1970s

• Dirty Harry 1971• The French Connection 1971

• 1970s saw Action meet Spy genre following the success of Bond in the 1960s

1980s

• Die Hard • Rambo 1982• Terminator 1984

• When Action movies became big business in Hollywood

• Summer blockbusters

1990s

• The Fugitive 1993• Armageddon 1998• Face Off 1997• Enemy of the State 1998

• How had the representation of men changed again?

2000s

• The Matrix 2000• Gone in 60 Seconds 2000• Transformers 2007• Gladiator 2000• The Dark Knight 2008

• Two different types stand out here