What A Man's Gotta Do: The Masculine Myth in Popular Culture

by Antony Easthope

What is masculinity? Drawing on psychoanalysis and an understanding of ideology, Easthope shows how the masculine myth forces men to try to be masculine and only masculine, denying their feminine side. In an original contribution to the understanding of gender, he analyzes masculinity as it is represented in a wide range of mass media --films, television, newspapers, pop music, and pop novels. Why are two men in a John Wayne western more concerned with each other than with the women in their lives? Is aggressive male banter a sign that men hate or love each other? Why does a jealous man always have to see his rival? Written in lively, witty, and accessible style, What a Man's Gotta Do is certain to become controversial but essential reading.

Genres: Nonfiction

180 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1986

Reviews

[Oliver Wood]

A fun and articulate look at masculinity as presented in sports and film. Worth picking up if only for the chapter on male bonding featuring Terry and Arthur from Minder as the case study. This was the 80s of course, so there wasn't much available to discourse outside VHS tapes and 4 channels of TV. Should be at least something in there to be worked into an essay or pub quiz, though its coffee table days are sadly past.