Frank Braucci Professor Gratz ENG011 AC3 26 November 2011 Modern Masculinities In todays society, we often wonder what

boys are taught when it means to be a man. Does it teach to boys all the qualities it takes to make a good person or, instead, have a rigid structure that reinforces negative, more traditional, stereotypes of what it is to be a man? Cooper Thompson, author of the article Modern Masculinities, believes that society harbors a negative concept of what a man is. Thompson argues that men are taught, whether it be through movies or family, to solve their problems through means of violence, showing their emotions is a weakness, and women should be viewed less-than-equal to men. However, in a film called Zombieland, Thompsons concepts are brought to question. If a boy were to learn anything from Zombieland, theyd perhaps have a different view on what it requires to be a man. Zombieland shows that, while violence may be necessary under certain circumstances, it is not the cure-all to your problems. The film also suggests to boys that showing your emotions isnt bad; its actually healthy and can bring people together. Zombieland also shows that women are not only equal to men, but also more capable in some instances. When we think of two men arguing, what pops up to mind? Do we imagine a clashing of fists and splattering of blood everywhere or a calm debate over a hot cup of tea? Thompson thinks men are encouraged to use violence as an efficient way to solve their problem. Thompson

states, Violence is learned not just as a way for boys to defend allegations that they are feminized, but as an effective, appropriate way for them to normally behave. While this is a fair assumption, Zombieland depicts something different to Thompsons opinion. In a world crawling with zombies, sure it is necessary to use violence, but even under these most dire circumstances, Zombieland shows that a man can still use other means than violence to solve their problems. Columbus, a main character in the movie, displays this by using his wits, not strength, to survive. He had created a survival list in which to abide by; one item in particular being Dont be a Hero. By staying under the radar and not being a loud, rough, and violent man Columbus survives living in Zombieland. Another instance, when Columbus and his friend Tallahassee get car-jacked by two girls, Wichita and Little Rock. Guns are pointed everywhere, death nearing, Columbus shouts Hey, for fuck's sake, enough already! We are being chased by ravenous freaks. Like we don't have enough problems. Oh, they stole my hummer. Oh, we have trust issues. Well get over it! We can't just fucking drive down the road playing I Spy or some shit for two hours like four normal-ass Americans? Fuck me. Columbus managed to calm the group down and put their weapons away. He shows boys that issues can be solved through conversation, not violence. A boy may be seen as weak or effeminate if he shows his feelings. He is less than a man and, thus, a failure. At least this is what Thompson believes; Thompson views the world as heralding pride, confidence, and strength over compassion and nurturance. Thompson states [Men] are afraid of getting too close and dont know how to take down the walls that they built between themselves. In Zombieland, Columbus shows us that men can be compassionate, both to women and men. Columbus describes one of his biggest fantasies as stroking the hair across a womans ear and taking her home to meet his parents. This isnt what Thompson would consider

a typical mans fantasy. Columbus actually commits this fantasy to reality with Wichita, a female character, towards the end of the film. In another instance, Tallahassee, a seemingly traditional male character in Zombieland, starts crying over the loss of his son. During this scene, Columbus comforts him by rubbing his shoulder and admitting to himself his remorse of not knowing about Tallahassees son in the first place. I wonder what a boy would learn from this. Certainly not to mask ones feelings for the sake of being tough, maybe a boy would learn that in being a man it is not only okay to show your emotions but also smiled upon. Whether be it boys playing at recess or men working at the office, men are always around women. Do boys treat girls with the same integrity as other boys, and do men value women as important an asset as other men? Thompson seems to think boys are repulsed by the idea of being a girl and men do not consider women as competent and equal as men. Zombieland seems to give light to another opinion. Wichita and Little Rock are capable and intelligent women who outsmart Columbus and Tallahassee not once but twice. During their first encounter, Columbus and Tallahassee enter a grocery store, where they see Wichita asking the two for help with Little Rock who appears to be infected with the disease. Wichita asks Tallahassee for his gun so she can shoot her sister, but just as she takes the weapon, she points it at the two men and steals their car and weapons. Thompson argues that men do not appreciate women for their efforts, yet when Tallahassee and Columbus are walking down the street, Tallahassee asks Columbus You think there's two of us smart enough to come home with a car like that? showing a sort of melancholic appreciation of the two girls cleverness. A boy learning values from this film would not view women as subordinate to men as Thompson suggests. In fact, I think that boy would cherish the tenacity and creativity of women.

Society may be teaching boys a poor belief system on what a man is, but this most certainly isnt the case in Zombieland. If we follow Thompsons claims on society teaching boys to uphold the values of using violence to solve issues, masking their emotions, and undermining the capabilities of women it will fall short in demonstrating itself in Zombieland. In most cases boys will learn from films such as Zombieland, they will retain the idea that being physically aggressive isnt a necessity in resolving every problem. Boys will also understand and accept the frailty of themselves and other boys. Equality of gender, through whatever facet it may be, is embraced and appreciated. Maybe the concept of a man is shifting; maybe men are becoming less of a man and more of an individual.