Richard Linklater: Masculinity in Crisis
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In this video essay I examine how director Richard Linklater explores the notion of masculinity in his spiritual coming-of-age trilogy (consisting of DAZED AND CONFUSED, BOYHOOD and EVERYBODY WANTS SOME). Why do we relate to these films and what can they tell us about the state of masculinity in the modern world?
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Check out our videos on The Lion King: Becoming a Man, and Collateral: Taming the Bull of Masculinity! th-cam.com/video/rzNA6VumofE/w-d-xo.html th-cam.com/video/oy2imk4PXic/w-d-xo.html
Having fun bashing men? Feminists band wagon much? Why don't to make the same criticism on female nature????
Are you French Canadian lol
@@DOMiNOUKAE What?
This is why God is meant to be the Father to strive for. The problem is when society misunderstands God's role in shaping men for the greater Good & rebel is when society starts falling apart. God is supposed to be an image of a perfect being to strive for. In the Bible it clearly states "God is Love" & most people don't even realize that.
“Humans don't mind hardship, in fact they thrive on it; what they mind is not feeling necessary. Modern society has perfected the art of making people not feel necessary.” ― Sebastian Junger, Tribe: On Homecoming and Belonging
YES! that book is awesome
FrenchMercenary oh man, so good. This is why it always irks me when I hear someone, usually a feminist woman, say something like “I don’t need you, but I do want you.”
On the surface it sounds good, but in reality it basically says I’m not necessary. It’s the biggest slap in the face I could ever get.
great book
KickAndDestroy
I feel bad bringing politics into this but I believe this is why communism will never be copacetic with the human condition. We strive to work and struggle towards something great than ourselves, or to at least feel *valued* and *productive.* To do away with all work, all struggle, and hope that every person self-actualizes is folly. Not saying capitalism is perfect, either; I think a marriage of the two would be perfect for allowing humanity to strive, while also feeling secure enough in life to want to do more.
Those who don't feel necessary have too little knowledge because when you know more and can imagine a better world and think of the needs of others over your own immediate needs, you'll never feel unnecessary. For me, there's not enough of me to get everything I want to get done done.
A mature masculine man is not an angry child that is controlled by hate and narcissism but is a leader who understands empathy and the need to care for his family and community.
The problem is the family and community has been destroyed. There is nothing to protect.
@@maplesyrup1805 you are never going to become a strong confident man of you have no one to take care and protect ......... you just have to find that one thing
@@maplesyrup1805 Protect yourself.
When you say "angry child controlled by hate and narcissism"... what are you talking about? uh?
@@maplesyrup1805 Oh my... oh my... how wrong you are... geezus! how wrong you are!
“We have no Great War, our Great War is a spiritual war, our Great Depression is our lives”
Fight Club?
@@jameskresl Yes!
james kresl one of the greatest movies of all time and endlessly rewatchable
Jiggle Billy You can’t make a video about masculinity and not bring up Fight Club
@@PeterEhik damn right lol
"What exactly were you trying to accomplish?"
"I was trying to make a girl fall in love with me"
"Did it work?"
"No"
"So everything was for nothing?"
"Yes"
"Then why are you smiling?"
"Because i just realised something"
"What is it?"
"That life is a pathetic joke that we take way too seriously"
Beautiful!
Joshua Belmont Reese what’s that quote from?
@@noahfreeman9705
From a story I read it once
Joshua Belmont Reese do you remember its name?
@@noahfreeman9705
Considering I was the one who wrote it then yes
Watching this gave me some much needed perspective-Sadly. I’m a 21 y/o college flunk that’s going back for round two to be a math teacher. And in all honestly I may not even do that. I feel like a lot of my behaviors today can be linked to my parents, but I don’t like putting blame on anyone but myself because it’s not the adult thing to do.. but in reality.. I feel like I’m already too far gone. I love my dad, but I don’t love him because of how he is. He acts like a child a lot, but he’s the kind of guy to throw his masculinity in your face, or act out aggressively if you question it. I’ve been thinking about suicide and death lately-the inevitability. I try and look at life on its grandest scales to try and understand my purpose on this earth. What I’ve come to understand is resources are limited, it’s a privilege to breath the very air, and I’m replaceable. In the grand scheme, I have no REAL purpose unless I make myself non-disposable. There aren’t a whole lot of things an individual can do to maintain that status in the grand scheme. There’s always someone out there bigger and better... unless you don’t look on the grand scale. If you look only as far as the edge of your community then standing out is more viable. If you have muscle, brains, creativity, money, honor and integrity then you’re sitting high on the ladder. Idk.. I’m rambling at this point. If you’ve stayed this long then thank you.
Hi Christopher,
I'm a former teacher in The Netherlands. I had good and bad experiences during my life and grew up in South America. As you write it is easy to blame your parents or anybody else for ones behaviors, but in fact the only one responsible is one self. It takes some time and some need more time to realize it as the get older. Your dad seems not have to behave as someone who has grown up and behave as an adult should towards his children. But understand that he is going through his own reality based on his experiences in life, his upbringing etc. What did he experienced as he was a child, what happened to him ... Maybe this is why he acts like that towards you and other people. We can’t choose our parents, the place we would like to be born, the circumstances, our destiny etc., but we can’t expect to have it all to enjoy life, we have already the life to enjoy it all.
I myself am a non-duality and Buddhist thinker. It helped me a lot to find my way is this jungle we call life. There is some purpose/energy to continue fighting and go on.
Don’t give up. Become the teacher you want to be and help other people. That’s your purpose in life.
Maybe this videos can help you to see things different:
th-cam.com/video/ZBBP-pSIWvA/w-d-xo.html
th-cam.com/video/_UYcYrLp6oI/w-d-xo.html
Lots of luck and best of wishes,
Walter
Winston Stanley - Thank you, Walter. I’ve taken both my parents’ previous lives into consideration before. Given what my dad has gone through, I don’t hold anything against him. He’s had an incredibly hard life, and he’s done well for himself still. I was referring to the time when I was a child-being an impressionable boy and young man. Although, through time I’ve grown into my own man, but I still have moments where I begin to act like my dad; things I’ll say and do. Nasty things. I’m a firm believer in taking responsibility for oneself, but some things I feel can’t be helped. Not without some serious time and energy to “reprogram”. I suppose we need to look deeper into the individuals psyche to uncover true motive and desire. Me personally... I simply lack motivation due to my belief that I am worthless. That I am replaceable in this world. A sad thought I’m tired of depressing over. I’ve been trying desperately these past few months to gain new insight and perspective on life and its deeper meaning to motivate and/or inspire myself. Thank you again Walter, for your time and words.
Edit: Thank you for the links as well:)
@@airviper6 Christopher, first of all people are replaceable when they have a job and are fired, but as a human being you are unique and not replaceable at all. Every life on earth is unique from trees, animals to human beings. We all have a unique DNA that makes us who we are. Your parents are only the vessels that made it possible to be born. Second: nobody is worthless. We all have given a mysterious task to for fill. The mystery of life so to speak. I have two dogs who don't ask questions. They just do what they have to do and never complain about anything. Even if they are ill, have good or bad bosses etc. they always will waggle their tail, give us joy every day. Spiritual animals. People should look more at animals.
What helps to gain new insight and perspective in life and find a deeper meaning and answer the questions you are searching for would be to make a trip outside the DOME you are trapped in. Make a trip to Spain por example and walk the “Camino de Santiago”. My son just finished a walk of 7 days and he is just a couple of year older then you are. There is so much out there to discover. followthecamino.com/camino-tours/walking-camino-de-santiago/#exitpop and caminoways.com/walking-the-camino-all-you-need
You are not alone in this world! Best wishes and all the best, Walter +31644836345
@@airviper6 Hi Christopher. Just wanted to let you know you're not alone with those thoughts. For many of us, we have very little clue what we are doing, and what our purpose is. I don't know if it is common for you to compare your life to the life of others, but that's what I found myself often doing, and I was very harsh on myself for failing to be at a certain point in my life that others were. I also flunked out of college first time around, but finally got my degree even though it took me 6 years. And now I'm back in this place where I have no idea what to do next and where my life is going to go. The way I view it is that it is not a bad thing, and that having a lack of direction can also be empowering. If I wanted to move across the country and start new life right now, I could do it. If I wanted to take a job in the city , I could do it. If I wanted to write a novel, I could do it. I think sometimes we make ourselves believe we are supposed to have a purpose in life, and that if we don't do something great, then it is a life wasted. Truth is that there are no rules to how to live life. You kind of just keep going and keep figuring stuff out. People who you think figured stuff out have not. There is no magic moment you suddenly realize your purpose in life. And there have been unmotivated people that have still lived full, happy lives. You may never hear about them, but they've always existed. You just keep going at things day by day and try to live a life you want to. The mundane takes up the majority of most people's lives. Sometimes it's just great to sit and accept the moment you are in. Nothing more than that. Not think about the past, or future, and just be in a moment.
I just read "the great good thing" by Andrew Klavan and his depiction of his childhood, relationship with his father, and the dispair of not knowing how to live seems like it may relate to you. While, yes we are responsible for our own lives, recognizing the effects that our parents' have had on our lives and learning how to deal with those effects and grow past the harmful ones is part of our responsibility to. Andrew Klavan said that he had to seek therapy to be able to get past those issues. He then had to learn how to live. This book might be helpful to you (disclaimer it is overall a story of Klavan finding Christ, but the majority of it is Klavan working through his own philosophy on life from what his dad wrongly taught him to what he knew was true all along. Well worth the read even if you aren't a Christian.)
I might add that having a purpose isn't found in making some grand impact on the world because the world is made up of the little things. From a Christian perspective, God created you and knows you individually. He loves you individually. He died for you individually. He calls you to seek Him, not to have some grand impact on the world. And in that there is great peace and joy. From a secular perspective we can see this in the fact that some of the most cherished people in our lives are ones who have made no grand impact at all. My grandmother never did anything worth a headline in the newspaper, but she fulfilled a great purpose in showing love and truth to her family.
Anyways, know that if you seek you will find. Don't give up.
*_“BOYHOOD TOOK 12 YEARS TO MAKE!!!”_*
-Mike Stoklasa
Oh boy was it ever. It was a simplistic take that is as outdated as the eighties, it’s exactly what you’d expect from someone jaded to the point they think they know exactly how each generation will conduct themselves, based on _their exact biases_ they learned growing up. There was no real development to the boy, other than he was a boring douche, and he made horrible decisions. The ending is what makes me think the message of the film was made up on he spot, which is not how one should develop their ending. Everything leading up to that point should have a reason for doing so, this movie has no reason or meaning, it just goes off tangent and the audience is along for the ride. At least in Dazed and Confused there was meaning and reason to this day spent hanging out with these kids who are going through a transition in their lives, and for better or worse they make decisions that will impact their, and others, futures.
@@InVinoVeratas There's certainly an aimlessness to the film in the sense that it doesn't have a MacGuffin that the plot returns to or there isn't a specific goal that Mason is trying to achieve, but I wonder if that is necessary in a film that seems to be rather plainly about various vignettes in his childhood and adolescence. Like the film is moreso about the small moments we look over in childhood rather than just about these milestone moments and I think it achieves that successfully. Also, saying there was no real development to Mason seems like a stretch if I'm being honest. But hey that's just my take.
Hey HorseHeadBookends, I can tell your comment needs a sober mind, so I’ll respond tomorrow in kind, when I’m sober.. sorry if I don’t give a proper response until then, but I can tell at a glance you deserve a sober response. I’ll let you know then what I properly think, (I don’t mean to sound like I’m important or anything, I’m just stating facts).
Idk i loved boyhood. It was extremely relatable and well executed. Little overdramatic at times but great nonetheless .
Rich Evans: AIDS!
Mike and Jay: *AHAHAHAHAHA*
This is a great video man. Love Linklater’s movies. Your channel is one of my favourites. You’re a great storyteller.
taxi driver, another exammple of "masculinity" theme, no doubt about it
Definitely a movie that takes a look at how society breaks down the common Man and how us men are constantly forced to try and take back our standing as men and feel the need to defend it.
Mrs. Doubtfire also.
Evan Cooper Travis isn’t the hero in Taxi Driver. He’s not defending anything, he’s an angry, hypocritical lunatic.
@@Matter-Dark a lot of people dont realise that travis is not someone to get inspire, the dude is mentally insane, the movie is just the path between somewhat sane, to a lunatic.
Johnny Guitar amazing movie.
Nothing like watching it sleep deprived at 3 am.
What greatly helped my life is ease out of women for a few years, build your strength and self-dependence, align your life along your values, and then slowly let them in again to the degree that it does not jeopardize your value structure, constructive efforts, and vision.
Interesting.
Indeed, that's what the great motivational speaker Eric Thomas teaches us
"build it and they will come"
That’s a very neurotic view of women
YES YES YES
So men were talking about this before the present... Hmm, perhaps 2019 isn’t any different than before.
It really isn't.
History repeats itself...
People will always complain about the next generation
spencer lewis “My generation was the last good one.”
-every generation since at least Aristotle’s.
some form of juvenoia. I'm sure the youth of Greece and Athens were at the same threat of emasculation. God damn kids these days.
An importang question for the crisis of manhood: If the archetypal journey of the hero is to 'slay the dragon' and overcome some great journey or foe.. what meaningful challenges does society allow and encourage in modern life? To quote the brilliant but troubled Sylvia Plath, 'Cursed is the hero born in the province of the stuck record'.
Yep, this is a very immature perspective. The meaningful challenges in life are too many to list. "slay the dragon" could be a metaphor for anything, kid.
@@earnthis1 A rhetorical question, not a personal stance. This crisis is the crisis that brings many young men, and indeed women to the brink. We should find both individual answers & answers that apply on a collective, cooperative level.
MacG establishing great credit and getting my H-D motorcycle was a huge Dragon slain for me.
Each Dragon offers different challenges and taps different fears and inner issues to heal, cleanse and fortify / transform.
I know some rich people who can’t buy themselves any kind of meaningful toy or treat or experience. Their terrified to break with the chains of the frugal up bringing... perhaps we could call that a Dragon suppressing joy?
For some it’s savings, adventure, how about today??? Telling the truth is : can be a revolutionary act. A truth suppressing Dragon.
For me, my next Dragon is the destiny of evolving balance Dragon.
I’ve slain many Dragons but but integrated all my learnings for purposes of doing my destiny... this is the next Dragon.
I can see past that one it would/could be a upgrade or optimization or huge level up of the same... type Dragon or a Power Dragon... but for now it’s evolving balance your Dragon...
Bone Cancer, Martial Self Defense, Living In Asia 2 Years... mastered sales work... we’re some previous victories...
However simple things like credit and safe n happy meaningful friendships eluded me. WHY? Child hood programming n karma.
Each Dragon is a dangerous monster for each of us. Laugh not at your neighbors challenges... yours too may seam trivial to him 🐉
@Nick Smith Good points.
This is true however the issue of being in such an area up the stuck record as you put very well is at the dragons within us. Which means the province is us and we are fully in control there. But control is not always easy to exercise and course and sometimes we are beset by difficulties on the rounders however those of the dragons you must defeat. And every force in our societie is encouraging young boys to weaken themselves. Mind you this is not an argument for the more negative aspects of masculinity it is simply an argument that boys should be allowed to express their selves and be challenged rather than being shoved down into a Box I don't fit in.
Trying to find my way now at 31. Spent much of teenage years and twenties on video games. But I'll conquer a lot of shit in the years to come. I love the Richard Linklater film Waking Life. Thanks for this video!
It really is hard. White men are not favoured by our own societies.
@@matthewread7220 , dude. Tell me about it. I was once complained about in front of a city council meeting; for the fact that I exuded too much "machismo".
Good for you my man! I am 30 and I am also looking for my own way. I spent my teenage years separated from the society and most of my young adult time lost. But I have finally resolved to grow up, take fate and responsibilities into my own hands and stand up straight. It is, most of the time, a process of confusion and lots of frustrations. It is like taking one careful step at a time in total darkness, trying to reach somewhere you know is there but cannot yet see clearly. But I have strength and belief, and I will accomplish it; just as I believe that you will become a man the society can lean on. I wish you all the best.
Me too guys, i'm about to turn 31 the end of this month. Starting to take control of my life and understand what responsibility really means. It's hard, but it's slowly beginning to be fulfilling. It takes a while to try and break away from old and sometimes destructive habits. And yes, I totally agree. White (straight) men are not favoured. I've especially noticed since my late 20s going into my 30s that people are merciless. I can't open my mouth sometimes without receiving abuse or being told i'm previledge. Personally it sucks, because I feel like like everyone struggles in their own way. I can't tell if it's because society has changed or because I'm older people judge you more harshly. Though this video seems to outline that perhaps men have always struggled with this the last few decades. The hardest part in the journey of taking responsibility is feeling alone. I'm lacking the support from the people around me and society itself.
@@matthewread7220 That's a negative mindset that wont get you very far. Stop playing the victim card, it's pathetic
I'm 44, grew up without a father for the most part and a mother who was more interested in the party lifestyle from second grade. I consider myself lucky I stayed out of prison and squeaked by in school, and I loved school, and a career in the Navy. But I've never had children, drink too much and I would never consider marriage. My siblings have never had contact with me and my friends are my family. But I'd definitely consider being a stepdad and a positive role model. Guys, if you have kids, especially boys, be there for them, if you don't, c'mon.
This is such an important video. If we want to have a healthy society, and happy empowered women, then we need mature, powerful, self-actualized men. You see so many attacks on masculinity today (as if the whole of masculinity is inherently toxic), as if taking power and security away from men is going to be of any benefit to women.
David Becquer you’re right, though I don’t think Linklater helps. Even the central male characters of his stories don’t fully grow up like they should. I saw that most in Boyhood (I didn’t like that movie at all)
Edit: on second thought, this may stem from the fact Linklater himself never really grew up, for if he truly thought there was a crisis he’d work its resolution into the story or discuss it outside of the work. He goes towards the nostalgic because he’s still living it in his head
@@gracelament why is that crisis just now emerging if the ideal has stood for such a long time? Why is the traditionally male way of doing things always the wrong way of doing things? Why can't men and women just be different? I also know you are coming from a good place, but i wonder about these things.
@@RedbadofFrisia The crisis has been around for a long, long time. People are just getting to be more open about it. And nobody's saying the traditionally male way of doing things is always wrong. The idea is that telling boys that showing emotions, and especially showing weakness, is unmanly and for pussies, leads to them bottling up their negative emotions and being afraid to reach out for help when they really need it.
" You see so many attacks on masculinity today" pffft complete twaddle. There is just a sad little minority of little boys that hate women (MGTOW, neo-cons,republicans, the alt-right) and feel threatened that women are demanding equal rights now..rights that these sad little turds take for granted and that women should have been granted long, long ago.
@@surfinmuso37 What rights do the women not have that a man has in the USA?
The two teachers (and his boss) in "Boyhood" offer some hope - supporting Mason in way that suggests it really does take a village to raise a child.
And his biological father eventually does mature, although its too late to have a big impact on Mason
You reminded me to watch Dazed and Confused before summer is up. Its tradition.
Man I really needed this man thanks. Turning 20 this month and I can really relate to this shit
Holy crap I didn't realize that I was turning 20 in 3 months, time just flies...
If I can give you guys any advice, it would be to be unafraid of change and to constantly invest in becoming the men you want to be in society.
23 years old here. My go-to philosophy to mature as a man is to always think of an ideal, role model. In my case, a gentleman like Sherlock Holmes guides (and moderates) my most impulsive behaviors. Then, "moderation", as abstract as it may sound, is one essential virtue to live on. Once you don´t let yourself to be overcome by circumstances, even your surroundings adapt to your calmness. Once you master your impulses, you feel in control of the world around you, and after every peak of anger you will come back stronger and calmer.
Turned 19 yesterday.
26 here. Losing your way is easy finding your way back to The Road of your Destiny is incredibly hard
I loved the video. Dazed & Confused is my favorite movie & I'm glad someone went deep on these films finally. Thank you.
This is incredibly interesting for me(f), who never really had to think about how the coming-of-age process for men might differ from women's. Will admit I was slightly antsy when I saw the title, as discussions of masculinity on youtube are often slippery slopes for some extreme positions, but the video itself turned out to be great and very enlightening. I believe maturity often comes early to women, at the finger snap of puberty, when they are immediately faced with the weight of responsibility and consequences behind their choices from that point on, while boys may risk being lost forever. Masculinity as "a force in desperate need of guidance and nurture" needs to be understood by more people.
"I believe maturity often comes early to women, at the finger snap of puberty, when they are immediately faced with the weight of responsibility and consequences behind their choices from that point on" Could you elaborate on this point? How does is this different between men and women?
To be honest, I can not tell why this video's title is "masculinity" not "adulthood". As if taking responsibility and understanding one's limits is a thing that only boys have to go through. Which parts of this video aren't applicable to any human being? (I am a male human, just in case).
"maturity often comes early to women" is the greatest joke I've literally ever heard.
@pistolen87 reminds me of something the author Neil Gaimen said in his Sandman series: that men are creatures of daydreams while women are constantly waking. Mothers wake babies into existence, girls are forced to wake from childhood innocence to the prescribed roles of femininity and womanhood, women wake to the roles and responsibilities of motherhood and then again when their motherhood is spent and their nest is empty. The idea, I think, is that women are much more tightly bound to their circumstances by nature, whereas men are technically more free from consequence and allowed to dream the hero’s dream...
@@julijakeit It seems that you're speaking from personal experience and perhaps even some personal pain. I guess, if that is your whole perception of women right now, I can't really say much. I do think I need to clarify that when I said "puberty", I really meant "first period" (pointed out by another commenter), as that is actually when girls will be at once confronted by the biological fact that they could be burdened with pregnancy after just one mistake from then on. How it changes a woman will obviously differ from person to person, but that confrontation is an important part of...existence, as a female. I don't think there is a male equivalent
Great video but I think there's somethings to add. Now I can't remember who said it but I always thought it made sense. A boy usually has two fathers if he's fortunate enough. The first is his biological father which he at a certain age will push away and rebell against. The other is usually a teacher, a priest or guidance counselor etc.
I think that goes well together with Campbells theory of the Heroes Journey, where our hero meets a Wiseman who guides him and gives him important advice, which will lead to help him slay the dragon. Take care
Rich dad poor dad.
Haha. Teachers don't have time to raise your kids. Have you been in a school any time in the past 20 years? They're full of brutes, not mentors.
Why would you say priest 🤣🤦
I grew up at 40... I thought the 'eternal hero' was the only hero out there. But holding onto that persona just became more and more challenging. Now I've moved on. Feels right and good.
@fromTull I'd like to take credit and say I finally realised that I should grow up, but the truth is the hangovers played a huge part and I just wasn't having the same chemistry with girls that I met out, them being in their 20's and me being 40. So I lost interest in going out with my younger friends and having a 3 day hangover. I had a year where I played a lot of video games, and then it hit me... I had to try the next stage of life. So I got here, one way or another.
@fromTull Wow, that's some big gains. I'm also going to have a bit of a health kick, just to get my body ready for getting old, haha. Congrats, best luck to you too, let's hope we can develop and enjoy the things that really count.
Man, I feel like I couldn't watch these movies, they'd make me miss something I never had
The research you put into these speaks volumes about you. Thanks for being an example of diligence, creativity and the spark of humanity... our increasing reverence (hopefully) of truth through story and science.
Thanks for watching man! Always appreciate words of encouragement from fellow creators.
@@storytellers1 I'm curious. How did you find that book? 🤔
Man after seeing that movie, I felt a lost sense of direction like what Am I doing or like a freedom vibe but it’s destructive. This really helped me a lot. A mans gotta find his way the right way:
I reject this guys assertion telling men they need to be cannon fodder so the traditional conservative machine can keep running like its some gate to manhood to lay down your freedom and pick up a yolk to be a "real man" that is a slave mentality. You define you... society may have its wants but that is not your purpose you are not just some tax payer made to carrying the system on your shoulders. If society wants to entice men into that bargain then the system needs to offer a better deal we are so choked by restrictions generated by a system that could not care less about the well being of men. The system treats men as a disposable utility there is so much needless bureaucracy standing between you and true freedom its hilarious you can't even cut hair without a license in most states. Men need to understand life is a negotiation on multiple levels time for money sacrifice for privileges and right now the deal looks really one sided almost no incentives it's all stick no carrot. Men never let someone else define what being a man is for you because if you do the definition they come up with will benefit them and disadvantage you. Never let someone else tell you what a "real man" does all its just a tactic to shame you into doing what they want if you are dealing with someone that manipulative just walk away.
Thank you.
Preach!!!
Amen
You seem to forget that YOU are in a society that runs on such conservative norms. YOU can't completely define yourself because YOU are not living by yourself. YOU live in a system and that system has limits. Period.
That's one trait of manning up: knowing that reality sucks and that you have to deal with certain things which also include other people telling you what you can and can't do and be. That's how any structure works. Are we disposable? Unfortunately, yes. Nature declared that. Evolution imprinted that. We can't do anything about either. On the upside, we get more freedom i.e we get to collect more resources and have as many mates as we want. We are SLAVE to that system and for the most part it's pretty good. That's the law.
A law with its exceptions, but YOU are MOST LIKELY not that exception. Thinking you can be anything you want is, though positive and makes you feel all giddy and inspired inside, is ultimately naive and childish. Nothing wrong with those by themselves, but together it's asking for hard reality to set in.
Grow up like the rest of us. It's a sacrifice to be sure but hey it's worth picking and it has been for thousands of years.
A man that discourages you from achieving your goals is a man that never worked hard enough to achieve his own. Don't settle for mediocrity.
If you read people's reviews of Linklaters films on imdb for example, you'll find plenty of "nothing happened"-type of comments. Actually A LOT more happens for example in these 3 films compared to your average superhero movie.
I’m 20 years old and it’s been years now that I’ve thought the exact same thing... if you want an equal society for both men and women besides empowering femininity, WE NEED TO FIX MASCULINITY
My POWERFUL MAIL MAN is too powerful. He keeps crushing all my letters
Empty your mailbox every once in a while. He'll not feel the need to cram the letters then.
SIEGE!
Though I agree with your reading of modern masculinity theory and his work, I don’t think it’s fair to say these films are judgmental about the “lost boys” or whatever or that they end on a regressive note for the characters. Linklater is very empathetic and understanding of slacker culture and burnouts and just the idea of being a 30 something still figuring it out thing, because it was his scene most of his life. He is so NOT the guy telling us to grow up, though it’s interesting you saw these films that way. Listen to Fearless by Floyd again 😉
You're right, I'm not implying that Linklater is pro-actively being judgmental in these films. His films never force a viewpoint on you and he always looks at his slacker characters with an empathetic lens. I think what he has actively tried to do with these films is celebrate the little moments over the forced big one's. Not searching for something big, but immersing yourself in the mundane. It's as I said, a celebration of the young, immature hero. But by depicting this in a truthful manner, he is inherently (albeit likely not consciously) also showing us the flipside of the coin, regardless of his intent. I think he's showing youthful masculinity as something beautiful, but he doesn't shy away from showing us the negative aspects of it in the modern world. And so yeah, the endings are hopeful, yet when viewed through the lens of modern masculinity they can also be seen as warnings of sorts. He seems like an intuitive filmmaker who tries to capture life as it is, and because right now the West is in the middle of a meaning/masculinity crisis, that is also reflected in his films.
Storytellers I’m not so sure it’s youthful masculinity that is being celebrated here per say but rather the beautiful androgyny and amorality of youthfulness. Remember visual art is always about appearances first, not allegory or metaphor. Look at the hero’s: none of these boys are masculine in any immediate or traditional way. They’re like the long haired beautiful boys of Ancient Greek culture with their effeminate, slim bodies with frail shoulders and infantile baby faces like the one we see in many renaissance figures.
These movies and characters, much like the male rock and roll stars also of the late 60s and 70s, are an aesthetic ideal and since we all think in terms of images - our ideas, abstract concepts and philosophies are all actually imbedded within aesthetics.
So the final image of the long haired boy, boundless on the open road in his speedy motorcar is both an archetypal image and an aesthetic ideal with it’s roots grounded in pagan cults of beauty and youth worship. Perhaps he’s not boundless at all, as the camera shot from the roadside turns what we know to be two parallel lines into a vanishing point: a heading or final destination, in this case, the sunset which is a fleeting image. It’s the image of self obsessed youth chasing itself.
I can’t see it as a warning in this regard. It’s not a cautious Icarus story. I think that mainly comes as a 21st century reaction that’s heavily influenced by the current political climate and obsession with the notion of masculinity being in crisis as if it hasn’t always been like this. Masculinity is always in search of an identity and the movie theater is like a testing range for male will power and ideas. That’s also why not a lot of movies revolve around female leads or why they always come across like dudes when they do.
@@brendancahill3723 although I'm not sure yet if I entirely agree - I find this to be the most intriguing counter-perspective on this comment board. To only to your final statement: could it be we are experiencing an obsessed notion of crises in general? possibly as a consequence of our growing lack of meaning and personal utility in a world of netflix and uber eats
@@connorstansfield6461 we've always been obsessed with crisis. That's why we all love a good apocalyptic drama about doomsday or the end of the world. Of course the apocalypse is never actually the end of anything; the universe doesn't begin and end with us. Linear timelines are a masculine idea, inspired by our stiff rigid forward projecting bodies and our fear of nature's endless menstrual cycles. Masculinity is in a sense a fleet away from that round about, even in the womb as male embryos mutate away from the natural female default. Man is a mutant without any sense of a collective identity or objective purpose. That's why masculinity is always in crisis. That's why we're obsessed with dramas. Rango or Taxi driver are brilliant examples of identity crisis as part of masculine domain.
As a gay man. They always assume that I'm a good-for-nothing fruitcake. I work as a manager in a coffee house for a living and have been in a relationship with my loving man for years now. I wanna prove to my family that I'm not just some man who happens to be gay. I'm a man with respect, a man with confidence, a man with internal strength, a man who knows leadership and hardships. As of now, I'm happy, even though my family ridiculed me, I don't let that take over me. Me and my boyfriend are living together now and his the only person who keeps me going, alongside the friends who support me.
you got this man
You might have just saved my life, i really hope so. Watching this video made me realize that i've not really done anyhing remarkable with my life. As a kid my dream was always to be a man with a wife and kids and i was never worried that it wouldnt happen. Now i'm 26 and i have done absolutely nothing to achieve those goals, nothing! I have just been waiting hoping it would come to me instead of me actually going out there and achieving my goals. I cried for the first time in maybe 10 years when i realized that im nowhere in life, it's hard to realize that when you have been telling yourself that you have time for it later, dont worry. But in fact, i am getting worried that i will not reach my goals that i set for myself when i was younger. I'm finally feeling an urge to reach those goals, not only getting someone to love, but to feel better in myself. My first step is to get a sick fkn body, for me. We will all make it!
Good luck
I love Linklater and especially his coming-of-age films. Every time I revisit them I come back with a new perspective. I hope this video will do the same for you. Also, if you're interested in the topic of modern masculinity, check out my video on COLLATERAL from about a year ago and look into the King, Warrior, Magician and Lover book if you're interested in archetypes!
Lastly, if you wish to support us, but can't or don't want to do so financially, please check out mubi.com/storytellers where you can sign up for a 30 day free trial for an amazing streaming service - Thomas
You are too afraid of dying my friend. You are afraid of the void.
Cleaning your room may help. Cheers!
I enjoyed this very much. Thank you. I don’t necessarily agree with your conclusions, but, brother, I understood the walk you took, and I thought your commentary wonderful. Keep on becoming and sharing and helping others to do the same.
@@OjoRojo40 clean your room, bucko!
@@vVlisterfiend :p
Excellent video Thomas! I love Linklater's films, and it's crazy how differently I've come to feel about a lot of his work as I've gotten older. The ending to Dazed and Confused used to feel like "hell yeah! WOOOOOO!" but now the old man in me feels quite a bit different haha. I find the whole masculine crisis fascinating, I feel like it's been really prevalent since the 90's and so many movies deal with it, but arguably none better than the work of Linklater.
I am facing this type of situation now i'm 18 graduated High School 3 weeks ago I feel confused not quite an adult ( I pay all my bills ATM and work 2 jobs) but still partially in that fun mindset the part of me that likes to go on road trips and blind dates. I always feel the need for more like i'm not taking enough weight i'm paying for my college and paid for everything since I was 14
You're still really young. Don't worry.
Just curious, it's been 3yrs now. How's it going?
The process of shepherding boys into manhood is not a task one can take on themselves. It's done within the context of a cohesive culture. Coming of age rituals are often part of this transition and are common within some religious traditions like Mormonism. This problem was identified decades ago but as our society became more fragmented and the citizens deracinated, collective solutions have become impossible.
Winter-Chan what do the Mormons do specifically?
This you are saying is so very true as we at least in America are trying to take steps towards a more inclusive society while also excluding and even demonizing aspects that move us away from that. The untented consequence being “what are we going to use to take it’s place?”
Who’s to say we should all live this way or that way??
I can only really speak for my self but as an America when I talk to friends of mine who live in Europe, they tend to think of the US is one big monolith of a country when in reality we are more like 50 countries in one.
We are also a country of immigrants with the idea being that “this land is what ever you want it to be.”
The consequence of that is we all want stuff to work out for our selves and in order to get things done ALL of us have to agree to move forward on it. And when I say ALL I mean over 300 million of use have to agree vs 4 to 7 million people that may exist in one European nation alone. Combine that with the mix of cultural practices and perceptions of how we all think we should live our lives and we have breeding ground of constant arguing and discourse that is rooted more in selfishness that what is good for everyone. And don’t think we’ll compromise soon. It’ll take at least a generation to fix and that is where a lot of young people are now. Figuring out the best course of action for our own lives but also the world we hopefully wanna live in. If this is the result of forcing all of us together in one nation, then that may have to change as well.
@@AKen_Films America will never be a collective culture again. The closest we came was following the Great Depression peaking after WW II but that only lasted for a few decades. At best it will simply be an economic zone, a place where people come from around the world to make money. That leaves the job of building therapeutic cultures to discrete groups residing within the economic zone. That could be religious organizations like the Amish or Mormons, it could also be quasi ethno-states like the Lakota or Cherokee Nation. In time I believe we will see more discrete ethnic divisions in America and the country will eventually balkanize.
@ Koby Sampson
Edit: The priesthood is a responsibility specifically given to men.
Mormons believe in the Aaronic and Melchizedek priesthood. But they believe you have to be worthy for it. It means you have to live a moral life and follow the guidelines of the church to be worthy to receive both of the priesthoods.
to be worthy you have to follow the law of chastity, which means no premarital sex, you have to follow the word of wisdom, no drugs or alcohol, tobacco, smoking etc, be honest in your dealings with your fellow men, which pretty much means you must always have integrity and be trustworthy etc. there is more, but I don't remember all of it.
If you follow these teachings you can be ordained in the Aaronic priesthood when you turn 12 and the melchizedek priesthood when you turn 18. The Aaronic priesthood is commonly called the preparatory priesthood because it prepares you to take on the duties and responsibilities of being a moral guide and protector of your family and community. It pretty much means you have authority to serve others in the church by giving them special blessings. Kind of like when a priest marries a couple they say: by the power vested in me I pronounce you man and wife. Someone with the priesthood can give a blessing (essentially a prayer out loud) for someone who is sick, bless the sacrament, and bestow the priesthood on other worthy members.
They really foster a culture of serving your fellow man, whether they are members or not and being mature and worthy enough to accept the huge responsibility of using the priesthood to serve your family and community. I actually lived in Utah for years, where half the population is Mormon. You can always tell when someone is Mormon, because they are mature for their age, very polite, honest and don't use foul language. At least that's how people who actually follow the Mormon teachings act.
Unfortunately, there are some people who pretend to be faithful members, but they don't actually follow the teachings. Which I find distasteful, because there are so many weird lies and rumors about what Mormonism really is and those people tarnish the image of true Mormons.
Mormons believe in Jesus Christ and the real name of their church is The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, commonly referred to as LDS or Mormons. They believe in the Bible (old and New testament) but they believe that some of the things in the bible are lesser laws that no longer apply and that God has issued higher laws for the modern day. An example would be how Christians used to sacrifice lambs to God in the bible, but Mormons believe that when Jesus came he gave the higher law of taking the sacrament instead.
They believe strongly in family and traditional family values. They put a huge emphasis on this and they believe that you can live with your family after death if they remain faithful and good throughout their lives. If someone in your family doesn't live a good life, they believe you can still see them in the after life if you decide to visit with them, but they can't live in the presence of God of even enter his kingdom. They believe that hell is a temporary place (not a place where you are tortured, just a place where you wait and no progress is made) for people who have done wrong and that those people can move on to a better place if they accept Christ in the after life, but they can not live in Gods presence or his kingdom because they were not worthy in mortal life.
They believe that Jesus suffered and died for the sins of mankind and that if you are truly sincere, you can repent from your sins. They also believe in the Book of Mormon and they believe it contains information that was lost and not included in the bible. They essentially believe that if you live a good moral life until the day you die, that you will be reunited with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit and the righteous dead in heaven. It's a pretty interesting culture and I've never met a Mormon who actually follows the church's teachings that wasn't a good person. Anyway, I could go on, but I think that gives you a good idea of what Mormonism is really like.
Men do not require culture to lead them towards truth; those are the trappings of civilization, and men found their way before civilization. They will find their way in its decline, or even in its collapse. The creative energy exists within the pattern of design, and as long as there is life it is immortal. Pattern; Pater; the Father. The guiding principle exists within us all. It may be a difficult path, and that is exactly the point. It is within this difficulty that something great can emerge.
I keep seeing stuff highlighting the masculinity crisis but whenever I look for the cure or the answer on how to solve this crisis I either get some sort of vague JP style “take responsibility” cop out or straight out no answer at all
Maybe it’s being honest about change. Let go of attempting to hold the whole burden and develop as the person you truly want to be. I think it’s the honesty we are avoiding that can be a key to updating masculinity beyond this eternal hero that he describes that is incredibly prevalent today.
We all should stop looking for answers and for gurus. We should find it in our mind as a result of our experience, only you have the right and responsibility to define your moral values, don't take them from other people
That is why it is a crisis, we don't really know the answer.
Well why isn't it the answer? I mean if you keep seeing it everywhere, why isn't it what you're looking for? Why doesn't it work for you?
These are all genuine questions, I don't want you to feel as if though you're being attacked in some way.
You gotta rescue your father from the belly of a whale bucko! Figuratively speaking of course.
Wonderful work you have done, this might assist many who seek themselves. One small disagreement: Having a psychedelic experience within nature can be the catalyst for profound spiritual insight and many indigenous cultures used psychedelics as a rite of transition from boy to manhood.
"Peter pan is the king of the lost boys And who the hell wants to be king of the lost boys?"
"Why does he not want to grow up. Well, he's got some adults around him, the leader of which is Captain Hook. Who the hell wants to become Captain Hook? First of all, you've got a hook. Second, you're a tyrant. Third, you're living in constant fear of a crocodile with the clock on its stomach. He sees that and says, "I don't want to become that." So he goes to be king of the lost boys."
Many interesting points, but annoyingly ideological in the overt suggestion that maturity and responsibility automatically means having children. Many of the most immature people I know are parents.
I think you're reading too much into my intent. I never state that having kids automatically transforms you into psychological maturity. The transformation of Mason's dad was merely used as an example from the context of the film.
@@storytellers1 family is the only example you give, and it is a prevalent societal ideal, so how exactly can one conclude anything else from seeing this?
I like to come back and watch this video from time to time. It really opened my eyes to my immature ways as a man and a father. I find myself searching for the next adventure rather than focusing on the things that matter the most.
What defines masculinity? How has that definition changed in the last few generations? How is it changing in the coming generations?
How much of our identity do we tie to our masculinity and how does that affect our self image?
There are traits we associate with masculinity, but they are going away, and that's not necessarily a bad thing. Traditionally we are providers and protectors who show courage in the face of danger.
The role of the provider is undermined by an increasing amount of women earning more than men, and perhaps becoming more obsolete as automation replaces more jobs. The role of protector is undermined by a society that is far safer than the previous few generations.
The only courage in the face danger our society has available is manifested through drug abuse, a record breaking killer of men. I think it's this unspoken change in masculinity's definitive characteristics that's responsible for the record breaking suicide rate in men today. It's really not a good time to be a man. That's apparent
by the societal trend where expecting parents are more hopeful for daughters than sons.
While I like the video and respect the intellectual depth of it, I feel the real crisis of masculinity is in it's definition and expression. We've become the gender most defined by an existential crisis. We are the "who are we" gender. Such a tumultuous position makes it hard to rectify our perception of our role, leaving us to determine if we can be happy to just be.
this is probably my favourite video youve made so far, extremely insightful and now im gonna have to (more like get to) watch all these movies again.
Part of the problem is so many men think attacks on toxic masculinity are attacks on all masculinity. When in fact toxic masculinity is one of the biggest causes of unhappiness and uncertainty among most men, the idea that we shouldn’t show sadness or weakness just leads to men masking them rather than contending with them properly. Men should be the most interested in the destruction of toxic masculinity.
"Toxic Masculinity" is a fable constructed by man-hating Feminists. There is absolutely nothing "toxic" about masculinity. What they mistake for masculinity is simply assholishness, or narcissism, which women are also completely capable of, and feminists prove this daily.
Mike Doom you’re proving my point with your incredibly thin skin. You’re a fool if you think men aren’t put under a pressure to bottle up emotions and to conform to certain stereotypes and moulds. This is why the suicide rate for men is much higher than women but the rate of depression diagnoses for women is much higher. While the discussion of there being ‘no one way to be a woman’ has been going on for years it’s only just got under way for men, and this controlling and unhelpful ideal of perfect manhood is what people call toxic masculinity. Nobody is trying to attack you or take away the parts of masculinity that are unobtrusive.
Also if you think ‘feminists’ prove this daily you need to stop watching angry and insecure right- wing ‘alphas’ screaming at tweets from women with 4 retweets. Nobody thinks being a man is evil just like nobody really thinks Santa should be ‘genderqueer’. You’re being sold a line of horseshit by the worlds best salesmen.
Theres no such thing as "toxic masculinity" though. It's all just masculinity. Feminists and SJWs only use the term to isolate normal masculine traits they deem "dangerous" and vilify them. They want to neuter men. To emasculate men. Feminize them. So that they're not a threat. So that they can be controlled.
@@sergeantpickles4202 i'm a little bit tired of people that want to handle men the same as women. Even you must admit that there are differences in general, why can't men deal with problems differently than women? I know you are coming from a good place, but why is it always that a traditionally male way of doing something is wrong?
@@sergeantpickles4202 Thin skin? At what point did your psychological expertise determine that nonsense? I can't take you seriously when you assume and judge me based on nothing but your own self righteousness; this is typical behavior of feminists and the codependent losers that support them. How's that for a psychological profile?
Linklater is one of the most underrated writers and filmmakers. He's a creative genius (imo)!
That's all overthinking it.
If you look for initiation, you're already lost.
I'm probably not the best person to give advice, because people never could figure me out, and some have claimed that I wasn't even human.
I was up a creek with no paddle when I was a child. My parents separated before I was born, and my dad showed up one day when I was 4 years old, and I think it was about the time that divorce papers were finalized, and he told me I would have to be the man of the house. I struggled with every kind of violence and chaos for years after that. My mother tormented me with hardships to make a man out of me, but she was clueless. I had realized when I was a small child that my mother's begnine neglect and bad advice was no help to me. I was absolutely alone in the world, with no help, no one who cared, no friends, and no mentors. If I made mistakes I would die. No one would bail me out. And people were attacking me all the time. I wasn't older than about seven years old when I was stalked by a pedophile, so I went into a house other than my own, made my way toward the back door, while the pedophile was walking around the house and looking through the windows, and I went for a butcher knife in the kitchen, preparing to slash hjs throat if he attempted to come through the kitchen door. That's about how hard core I was by that young age, from having to fight for my life all the time.
Life makes a man out of you. You don't need ceremonies to do that. By the time I was a teenager, and other boys would challenge me with that sort of peer pressure: "Drink. be a man!" Or "smoke it, be a man!" I would laugh at them and mock them. They never tried that again. As I understood it, if you relied on anyone else to tell you who you were, you weren't a man.
The problem for me was my brand of masculinity scares the shit out of women, and they usually hate me. It scares most men too, and in groups, they act like women do in groups.
Ahh tell me about it. My step dad is harmless but he gets angry easily and throws up a tantrum looking like a kindergartener whilst also driving bit more recklessly as if it made him feel more powerful or mature. Thankfully he found a friend who, whilst not having the most clever or none-rude dictionary (his friend knows of his flaw and the problems it can cause so he, at times of need, works around it) helps him get more mature by rebuilding and fixing our house which showed a clear positive effect on my stepdad's mental health.
When it comes to me... My problem is very much the opposite. I my self am very peaceful and never get angry at anyone besides my mum (but that is quite ordinary or an older teen ... I just don't like when she has the need to explain everything as if I already didn't know... On things I do not do but she does... But anyway). I tend to be very passive which can cause problems... More to people around me than my self as they need to be told off sometimes :I ... Plus I still have a long way to work on my physical self and atleast half as mich on mental but atleast my spiritual self is very well for a teen (from what I encounter).
No need for Bible. My mental and spiritual self are very well. All I need is to work on my physical self
Read "The Way of Men" by Jack Donovan. It's a series of 3 books get them all as you need them to complete his full essay. Changed the way I think as a young man.
www.amazon.com/Way-Men-Jack-Donovan/dp/0985452307/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?keywords=the+way+of+men+by+jack+donovan&qid=1562296702&s=gateway&sprefix=the+way+of+men+&sr=8-1
Would this apply to females as well, should this not just fall under the umbrella of adulthood and the lack of modern adult hood right of passage where both men and women transition from being a kid under the protection of their parents to an independent adult now able to build his own family and survive in the world.
I have seen arguments that Females tend to be more mature earlier and that in a traditional sense, a female being feminine is being a mother under the leadership of a man, which in modern sense does not realy apply anymore and was never a sign of maturity in the first place since a women could and can as easily transfer the parental figure to her husband instead of being a independent link of the new familial structure. As example I present to you my father and his 2 sisters, raised in a family structure with a tyrannical father. Not only does my father still obey at the mere bark of his now senile father, so does his sisters. One of the sisters Became a Tyrannical Matriarch but the Other married a tyrannical patriarch and a full at home mom, when her husband cheated on her and dumped her like a use Kleenex, paying the kids into hating her, she finally started having her teenager rebellious phase at 40 and from what I can see, she is still lost in it.
So from this experience I must deduce that females do have the same problem, and I am ready to bet that it is too increasing most likely due to poor parenting cause by the sudden shift of social status with the industrial revolution which made dad's who were never there to show their kids how to become a man, and their mom over protecting the kids, or in the case of my father, just having a realy bad father
Yes, masculinity is a human universal, so it applies to females as well. Although generally, the masculine pole is more pronounced in males, and the feminine pole more so in females. It's seemingly also predominantly men who seem to be in a crisis in the modern world, although the meaning crisis touches everyone.
Thank you man, Love Linklater's films. We need more of this in today's world.
Thanks for watching!
Society without a father commonly known in the 21st century as "Parent Alienation".
Dude from “everybody wants some” looks like a white kawhi Leonard 😂
I have a degree in sociology. I do agree w this premise: my theory is because the West is evolving into matriarchy. All "don't harass people at work," was done for women. As i speak, nearly all top 10 songs are by women. We finally have a female VP. I'm not judging this change but it is difficult for us men
The reason west triumphed because it was built by men .
Strong men
Lincon, churchill , kennedy , washinton were not only leaders but were men strong men.
The cycle needs to be reboot.
@@newaryamen american was built by slavery. churchill isn't even american you fucking dope. "the decline of western civilization" talking points are the most neckbeard, brain rotted shit anyone could say. you're mom didn't hug you enough as a kid and now you're on the internet talking about how "strong men make good times", you're the weak man in that scenario. grow as a person, go find a therapist.
Great video man, thank you.
I love Dazed and Confused, it is a masterpiece.
I really liked Everybody Wants Some.
Now I am about to revisiting Boyhood, I don't remeber much of it, but I remeber it made a big impression on me, so I guess I will love it after a second watch.
READ BOOKS, BUSHIDO, CHIVALRY, (I RECOMMEND THE VIKING WARRIOR SPIRIT BR JESSE WALTER) WORKOUT! NO FAP!!!!! EAT GOOD, SLEEP GOOD. READ ABOUT MYTHOLOGY!
Thank you for this. Makes me see things in a greatly needed perspective.
Yeah
"Now more than ever" well said man. Thanks for this video. It made my day👍🏻♥️☮️
Thanks for watching:)
Suddenly, President Trump and the Republican Congressional cowards make perfect sense.
By the the way, I always come back and watch this video ever so often. It made a huge impact on me. Helped me realize my childish ways.
Awesome!
This is one of my all time favorite film trilogies, this video's analysis, message, and editing blew me away. Thank you so much for making this
Thanks for the kind words, Travis, and thanks for watching!
This video really hit me to the core of me. I'll keep revisiting this now and then..Thanks.
Funny how you're talking about this inner hero in men, and boyhood's theme played at the end of the movie is 'Hero' which kinda says the same thing.. Great song btw (its by Family of the Year), and great video
they're nice films but they almost all neglect to show their female characters as human beings with anymore than something to be objectified
I reject this hypothesis. Men always decided for themselves what it meant to be a man. They still do. Taking the initiative and doing the right thing, something that you instinctively feel is right (as opposed to wrong/evil)- that’s all there is to it.
I feel this videos hypothesis fudges enormous numbers of unrelated concepts- aggression, responsibility, leadership, hero journey- these are just elements of choice for us to choose from.
There is no ideal, fixed “mature, initiated man.” We always decided what this was for ourselves.
Mgtow? :)
Best comment and response on this video. Nailed it. Men and women both go through these complexities. It's part of the human condition, if your awake that is. 😉
@Jet Brown: I actually appreciated this guy's analysis and got a lot out of the book he refers to when I read it several years ago. However, I also liked your rebuttal. Also, one thing that film school taught me (back in the 80s) was that critics love to pile on a whole lot of philosophizing that was never thought of or intended by the filmmaker. This is not speculation on my part. I heard it first hand from dozens of writers, directors, etc. who visited our classrooms.
Why do I feel like God didn't let me live my hero years?? Since I was 14 I have expericed more hardships then anyone I know. I am 21 now but I feel like an 8 year old little boy. I laugh at myself for having worthless accomplishments 😂
Goddamit man
You and your "slay your dragon"/clean your room contents are coming to a new, fresh, but still narratively-stylish form
Congratulations
Jordan Peterson is all about that
I'll defined meaning of masculinity. You never built a strong idea of true masculinity.
How can you so simply then compare it with something else?
good food for thought though
Its because it doesn't REALLY have a comprehensive definition.
Aaron Rainbolt assuming you're a man, dear sir - then you are already living the complete definition already. this might not be true definition but it would be your definition and would work for you.
the true problem with modern masculinity is the fact that we aren't allowed proper expression.
growing boys with new muscle growth, eager to try out their physical strength are looked down upon - because there is no proper release for them, they more often than not land themselves in bad situations.
similarily, when it comes to dealing with the opposite sex, men don't have open expression of their stance. Being submissive to the other side, or even dominating them - both, only lead to the man being characterized as a certain 'type', thus limiting the man's ability to further explore deeper depths of his personality.
when it comes to finding our place in the society - I'd just like to remind all dudes out there that never in history was a 'free' man given his space in society, it always had to be made.
Being a MAN is truly how you decide to do it. A man who likes painting and dancing all day is as much as a man as a soldier - although I'm pretty sure most people don't subscribe to such common sense.
Sincere deep thought towards how you relate to being a man and then consciously choosing how you want to make your space in this world is all you need to do to define YOUR masculinity.
*mic drop*
@@anonkiddo interesting. From your perspective then, are there men who are not masculine? And if so, how do they look like?
@@1000aaronaaronaaron does it need to? Why can't men just exist? Why does there need to be a definition or regiment to fall into? I genuinely don't get it
I just want to say thank you for this video. Issues of masculinity and men growing up are things that I feel very rarely get looked at too deeply. It’s really cool to see those themes explored and analyzed especially as well as you do. Bravo.
This is an American problem.When I lived in Mexico there was no issue with masculinity.
What did Mexican men do different? Was it something to do with society? I have a successful father and my family is upper middle class but I feel lost and without purpose despite being given opportunity..
sayit8ntso Mexicans have a harder life since the government doesn’t support its people so it’s up to the man of the family to work hard and to show their young boys a hard work ethic since they can talk.As Mexicans we also have a very traditional view of a man,and women are for the most part very feminine and traditional since they grow up helping their mom around the house.We learn to appreciate every small detail in life,McDonald’s is a luxury to most of us,What a McDonald’s worker gains in a 8 hour shift,my uncle has to work a whole week in construction.
i'm not sure how women being useless to society is a positive thing.
@@androphile Out of interest. Where does he say that women are useless?
This isn't just in America. I can confirm from Europe.
I'm 29 and I still dont know what I'm doing with my life and that's ok.
No its not. Get your shit together.
Yea get that shit together
This way of thinking is dangerous. It's the kind of stuff that gets people to their 60's without a clue of what's happened and what's going to happen. I suggest you try to change it, I will.
@@mtarkes What are you, this guy's wife? Why do you feel the need to tell another man how he's supposed to live his life, when it has nothing to do with you and doesn't affect you at all?
No one knows what they are doing in their life. They just find something they are good at, stick with it, and wing it.
The "high school girls" line is creepy in retrospect.
Tell me about it
It was then too lol
@bb77077 Dude... Really?
Yeah because also at age 18 like magic you become unattracted to any girl under 18
You are both hopeless, or teenagers, but I repeat myself. Alas, you miss the point of his statement completely.
Wow man, awesome interpretation explaining many of today's pitfalls for young men and men in general. Loved it.
Thanks Kevin!
At exactly 12:10. I don't think that Pioneer turntable is raised high enough off the top of that Marantz amp, not enough room for air, the amp is going heat up. Just some spacers under the turntables mounts would help, at least another inch for more airflow.
Jordan Peterson has entered the chat
Fuck yes, love that dude. I see people that are interested in entrepreneurship always touting Rich Dad Poor Dad, but in the philosophical sense Peterson would be Man Dad to someone's Boy Dad.
@@fauxdauteur I think it's great that he guides men into a productive, independent and self sufficient direction, I just wish his views on women were a bit less... right leaning/anti feminist.
Peterson is just the opposite of Linklater. Linklater shows the importance of an individual finding his own path, even by trial and error. Peterson preaches that everybody should follow the path HE believes is best. That's why I like Linklatrer and don't like Peterson. As a psychologyst,
I think that following gurus recipes, seeking help in self-help books and trying to fit a stereotypical mold promotes a great risk of developing a false self that masks the true self. Without living their true self, people can't be mature nor satisfied with life. False self is a commom characteristic of narcissists, who live concerned about what others think of them and act accordingly instead of being who they really are.
@@Lexrezende Peterson operates in archetypes, just like Linklater. He absolutely does not push a singular path with no individuation. I like but don't love Peterson, thinking he doesn't know the difference between psychology and philosophy, like a lot of Western intellectuals who worship individualism. But to say he pushes everyone to live behind a universal and identical mask is wrong, and saying that Linklater is doing anything different is doubly wrong.
Patreonson is a demented fraud.
I don't think that being carefree is the issue, the real issue of today's men is lack of confidence, submitting to group mentality instead of having your own opinion. Having no moral rules and not believing in something. Just because someone chooses to be forever young and free doesn't mean he is not a masculine man and that he should be something else because "society needs them different" how is that being a true man if he just blindly accepts what people (society) tell him to be ? What do you get after you do all that's expected from you ?
Also it's pretty convinient to tell men what to be, because otherwise they will be called "a boy" - that is how you manipulate people into doing whatever you need them to do.
Is it really what we need in todays society ? A man who works himself to death because that's what should be done for others ? Not having a life because it means being selfish and childish ? I'm far from being a 40 year old dude riding a mustang and picking up teenage girls but man, you only got one life. And from my experience noone gives a fuck about what you've sacrificed for others (unless they benefit from it directly)
THANK YOU!!! This is exactly what I was thinking. When I hear "be a man", I hear: "Do for others at the expense of yourself and be the way we want you to be....be expendable, be strong enough to protect but weak enough to do as you're told and expected to do."
Yes, finally someone who also talks about the brilliance of "Everybody Want Some!!" alongside "Dazed and Confused" and "Boyhood."
Linklater philosophy on time and life, for me, are amongst the greatest learnings, realizations, and accuracies I ever had in my life.
Glad to see you included that specific quote that Jake says in "Everybody...":
‘Just accepting whatever comes my way, you know?
Good, bad, doesn´t matter.
What matter is just getting in that groove, where the whole world kinda goes away,
and I’m just doing what I’m supposed to be doing.’
Greatest fucking line ever said
The totality of the human condition is far worse than you're letting on. Trying to simplify it makes sense, but in doing so, you've foregone innumerable facts and figures for the sake of proving your own narrative correct. This wasn't good.
Your whole analysis is based on a fundational mistake: a predetermined role in an invariable structure mode of production in society. Unfortunately, this is not so anymore. Women and machines take on the role of masculinity more avidly than men, not because men have failed but because the role has changed within society itself. Families do not comply with the fordist or taylorist rule, because fordism and taylorism are no longer leading work paradigms.
Regardless it’s not natural. Examine the social/family/relationship issues it produces. I have chosen to go my own way. I still incorporate women, however they play a small role and aren’t around long. I have strong will and opinions. And ultimately who would want a 2020 American woman. I’d prefer running out in traffic. Don’t need to hear their liberal drivel/brainwashing bullshit. They don’t know how to cook, don’t clean and contribution to a relationship is nonexistent. Guess what, bringing only sex to a male isn’t worth the headache. More and more men are waking up to this reality.
@@nordicpride9708 It seems you invoke the "warrior side" of masculinity, however, be careful not to play the shadow role of it.
@Afrodisiac in the end men will always have the last laugh if they continue on their purpose:self fullfillment either monk mode or as a bachelor.
@Cintia de Castro Santos you are mistaking his point here, he is referring to the fact that women have absolutely nothing to contribute in a relationship now. A while back in the society men made the money, bought expensive gifts and did romantic gestures and inturn women fed them and loved them, now, men are still doing the same things but women are not. The reason is women don't have to cook or clean or take care of the household, mostly because of people with your outlook but also because of the marketing from big corps. Women are not filling in the things that make men happy, thereby making men unhappy and going their own way.
Very timely analysis. I think you're doing almost a public service here. Thanks.
Thank you for making this! It's super insightful and it was really interesting to consider the three films through a mythopoetic men's movement lens. Keep up the good work!
Grow a beard, don’t be ashamed of drinking commercial beer, work hard, play hard and set a good example for your kids. Also, stop paying someone else to mow your damn lawn. Don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty.
nothing beats the feeling of downing a couple of ice cold beers, after mowing the lawn on a hot summer day.
I like the video, but I gotta say I disagree about the ending of Dazed and Confused as you put it as "a boy refusing to grow up."
I think it's about escaping the clutches that real life holds on you as a teenager and refusing to let any adult figures, like the coach make your life up for you. The whole movie is about them stuck in a circle and at the end they're escaping that circle. I love Dazed and Confused and I just don't see it as a bad ending as you described it to be for the main character.
I don't think we really disagree on that. In the first chapter I explain how Dazed & Confused is indeed a celebration of the freedom of the emergent individual. A victory over the clutches of conformity and authority. I have no doubt this was also the direct intent of Linklater himself. However, when looked at retrospectively (after watching Boyhood) through the lens of the modern day crisis in masculinity, you can see the Pink's story as a potential refusal to grow up (obviously we don't know what will happen after, so it's up to imagination). Linklater is an intuitive filmmaker, he tries to be as true to life as possible, and so the crisis of masculinity is inherently captured in his films (whether consciously or not). I hope that makes a little sense.
TLDR: Yes the films are optimistic, but when looked at through the context of the masculinity crisis, they can be seen to mirror this crisis.
All this comes from jungs work. How was he not mentioned once? The hero is the hero archetype. This is all jungs work. Individuation. This is all of jung!
Moore and Gillette are Jungians, so yes
relate to others more fully by allowing your own individuality. agree.
"It's only when we've lost everything are we free to do anything". No Order=Chaos
There's a film called Skateland that has a great moment between two brothers where the older gives a passage to his younger brother the scene feels real and captures a passage into manhood.
Never seen a linklighter film. But your explanation of the hero energy spoke to me in a profound way. Thank you.
I was very disappointed with Everybody Wants Some and Boyhood compared to his movies in the 90s. Dazed and Confused is a true classic.
Surprised that Linklater's SubUrbia was not included in this
I'm typing a comment just to take part on this, as previous ones made my exact reactions. I'm so thrilled to not be alone. I completely agree with your take on this crisis. War always gave us men something to fight for, which means something to sacrifice for, and that's the whole point: finding purpose. A purpose worth striving for, self-evident in times of global crisis but elusive and personal in modern times. Each one of us has to acknowledge that this era will mark a long and uncertain time period in which surviving becomes exponentially easier thanks to globalization and technlogy, and that comes with great cost: the lack of usefulness, which turns to lack of meaning. To make things worse, the only war I see in modern times is the war against men themselves, by radical feminism. These are light times and that, ironically , makes men get lost and fade away. As many young adults here, I'm trying to make and effort and I'm scared, but as my psychologist always said "Do you have anything better to do?". I choose to sacrifice for something rather than live for nothing. Good luck to everyone, I'm here with you.
If people choose to fight and die for war constantly then there is no exact meaninhlg only false meaning that idiot mem like you project to other men. This is how nihilism and other philosophy related to nihilism came to be.
Partly no one wants to die. There no afterlife and god so why throw your life away?
@@user-ti6ix5tn2o You have no point but to undermine what I said, which is exactly the video's explanation. Calling me an idiot isn't helping men from your part, either. You seem to misunderstand nihilism and that's why you associate my comment with that philosphy.
@@dario.gonzalez war creates meaningless. I read many jewish philosophers books about war and realization that there is no god to save them but themselves. There are people who find meaning in war like heroism for example but all are temporary while on the other side there are people who founnd life as meaningless, godless and hopeless because of war and these ideas are not temporary but a forever realization of the fact
@@dario.gonzalez and do we have to live with a masculine identity? Does it even exist? It is just an abstract idea. No use in real life. Rationality is the only philosophy that is worth to live for and live by. Rationality helps us realize that our belief might be silly and has no practical use just like masculinity identity.
Strength is not measured in physique but rather in the mind of the individual, the control of emotions and care for ones surroundings.
Good video. I find myself agreeing with most points you made in this video.
Michael Lewis so
@@TonyMacroni633 So I found a video about masculinity that does not boil down to be a woman or be a bro. That impressed me. So I decided to let the creator know.
Michael Lewis fair enough
@@TonyMacroni633 what did you think of the video?
The difference between Dazed & Confused and Boyhood is D&C is actually a good movie and it doesn't suck.
Interesting video, you did a really good job of describing what Linklater's thesis is with his work, but you didn't really share how exactly you feel about it: Whether you feel he is right in the there is a masculinity crisis or if that is just a good inspiration for storytelling/film making. Personally, I think the idea of a "Masculinity crisis" is a complete farce, the idea of masculinity has changed A LOT over the course of history and will continue to change into the future.
Yeah but what if you’re stunted at the hero part and refuse to become a mature father because you know it’s not your place? I know damn well that I’d make a terrible father. Is it wrong for me to refuse fatherhood? I’m too broken for all that lovey dovey stuff. I can only offer my service but I’m not capable of being selfish and wanting my own family. I just want others to be able to thrive in their lives through my work. That’s more than enough of a reason to live on for me. It brings me joy. But I refuse to become a father or a husband for that matter. Getting the approval of a woman just feels like too much of a competition and quite honestly it hurts more than it’s worth in my opinion. I’d rather live alone and focus solely towards betterment of humanity through my work. I don’t like being vulnerable. I’ve accepted that I’m too broken for that kind of life. All I’ve got left is what I can offer to those who will never know me. I don’t care if society forgets me after I’m done. As long as I know I made a difference then that’s all that matters.
get out of these comments, find a therapist.
I think im probably dealing with the enternal hero a bit, however i think getting rid of this feeling can be defeatist if you also conform to out current society, which needs to change, id be fine with simply living and becoming a “man”if it meant the world i was in was in need of change that i could help with.
Of course though i could be misunderstanding the idea the essay puts forward, but at the very least this is what i see in the men in my family and those ive seen throughout my childhood, complacent old men who cared about themselves and their immediate family but disragarded the plights of everyone else, becoming another cog in the machine and all that
Edit: scratch the caring stuff, a lot of the family ive seen havent really cared either. Theyd say they did, but ultimately a lot of them were controlling to a toxic degree, and didnt let me or my cousins be who we needed to be throughout our childhood
It's a self-fulfilling cycle. To become a mature man, means you need to take responsibility for your kids, teaching them how to be men. Based on this idea alone, the kid will eventually rebel, and this is required to become a man.
So in a way, it's supposed to be that way...where rebelling is a part of that cycle. However, most boys grow up without a father, and most boys end up not reaching enough maturity/courage/confidence to rebel against their parent to go and live their own lives.
Today, its hard to become a man because of all the societal pressures that prevent you from leaving the comfort of your family oriented life....Rent is STUPID high, It's harder to get and keep a good job, it's harder to learn practical things because everything is so technological (For example : A father usually teaches their kid on how to fix cars...except cars are now basically computers...and your father doesn't know anything about computers.) and sometimes, our parent(s) need our help financially to stay alive...which means you might be required to stay with your family, rather than building your own.
So now, our society is filled with more and more immature men, struggling to be mature, responsible and strong confident men, which now perpetuates a feedback loop with their children. So the feedback loop becomes more negative and it gets EVEN HARDER for the new generation to become real men.
It's sad because I've learned enough to understand this, and yearned for a father figure my whole life...someone to teach me how to shave my face properly, how to fix cars, how to be confident, but i never got those things. Instead I had a mother that was overly protective. It felt like i was a prisoner in my own head and home, and I realized that it was time to change things as i left college, and i went soul searching across the country...I really tried to make it on my own, but i couldn't do it...and i eventually had to come back. I was so close too.
But i've learned alot since then and i know what my current responsibilities are. I'll get there one day, just when? Who knows.
I think more young men should go to canyons and take a heroic dose of mushrooms. That's an initiation into adulthood if I've ever seen one.
If done as an initiation and not as a party experience, it will undoubtedly set the stage for transition of boy into man.
Rolo agreed. all tribal societies.had similar rituals in nature. we will come.back to this.
That's fucking dumb. There's no better ritual for manhood than sending your 18 year old good for nothing to the military. Even if he still acts like a spoiled brat, the army will make sure to whoop that out of him in a year.
That or kicking him out of the house.
Mushrooms.... Get the fuck outta here with that shit... What are you 12?
This boi never did rebellious stuffs like them, too bad my gnarly man hero spirit energy is trapped in my pelvis
the fact that I am just now finding this channel is a disgrace. Wonderful content.
I have some constructive criticism. Don’t write in excessive language and cliches, you don’t have to say “the transitory period from childhood to adolescence” its self evident that such a period is transitory. Moreover it could be said in the phrase “teenage years”. Your message is too good to be cheapened by this!
I agree. I liked the video, but unnecessarily wordy. I think the most effective video essays get to their point and are very clear in their statements.
Watch Jordan Peterson much?