Masculine identity and the projection of ‘male images’ in mass media : towards a pastoral hermeneutics in theory formation
Date
2013-02
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch University, Faculty of Theology
Abstract
Human identities in general - including gender and sexual identities – have recently
become more diverse and malleable. This is to a great extent because of the
pervasive influence of the mass media and popular culture, which proposes to offer
important tools to help men (and women) adjust to contemporary life. Some parts
of popular culture are reasserting traditional forms of masculinity, whilst others are
challenging them - telling men what they are now ‘supposed to’ look like, act like, be
like.
Media representations can be viewed as influencing our socialised schemata of
interpretation for gender identities. This is also applicable to theological schemata
of interpretation concerning commercialised men and masculinities. We drew upon
work in variety of disciplines, such as cultural and media studies, sociology, theology
and psychology, in order to examine issues concerning masculinities within this
information era, influenced by the prescriptive role of mass media. In this way more
insight was gained in terms of the dominating discourses reflected by images of
men and masculinities in the global mass media, and how this can be investigated
critically, from a pastoral hermeneutical perspective.
Magazines were also viewed as crucial media to analyse in order to understand male
identity in a more comprehensive way. Therefore we chose our own South African
cultural context within which we suggest the critical assessment of the influence of
certain mass media representations – particularly displayed in magazines - on various
expressions of masculinity. This was suggested in order to promote and co-create
men and masculinities that focus on life-giving intimacy, vitality and human dignity.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://ngtt.journals.ac.za/pub
CITATION: Van der Watt, J. S. & Louw, D. J. 2013. Masculine identity and the projection of 'male images'. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53(3&4):353-368, doi:10.5952/53-3&4-274.
The original publication is available at http://ngtt.journals.ac.za/pub
CITATION: Van der Watt, J. S. & Louw, D. J. 2013. Masculine identity and the projection of 'male images'. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53(3&4):353-368, doi:10.5952/53-3&4-274.
Keywords
Men -- Religious life, Men in mass media, Masculinity -- Social aspects
Citation
Van der Watt, J. S. & Louw, D. J. 2013. Masculine identity and the projection of 'male images'. Nederduitse Gereformeerde Teologiese Tydskrif, 53(3&4):353-368, doi:10.5952/53-3&4-274.