About Men : A Rhetorical Analysis About Men By Gretel Ehrlich

In Paul Theroux’s article “The Male Myth” Theroux makes a point that he does not like the stereotypes placed on men in today’s society. Theroux’s article is focused on exposing the stereotypes that men face and the reasons for their occurrence. He claims that writers and many others are directly affected by the expectations of masculinity that are thoroughly incorporated in America. The ideas of masculinity are deeply rooted in high school sports, in the view of the president, and in many other areas. Theroux attempts to prove that being a man in American is, “…pitiful, a little like having to wear an ill-fitting coat for one’s entire life.”

Steve Olson uses imagery, provides examples, uses tone, and gives counterpoints to help show that blue-collar men have made an impact in our everyday lifestyle. Steve Olson uses imagery as a rhetorical device. When talking about the blue-collar shirt men, he gives them a stereotypical image from the beginning. Olson states, “BCGs have been portrayed as beer-drinking, big bellied, bigoted rednecks who dress badly” (1). In our minds, it displays the image of a man with a big belly who does not dress to impress.

The saying “Guys will be guys” can be interpreted many different ways good and bad. In this article Barry explains both the good and bad habits that guys have vs the ones that men have. While “Guys vs. Men” by Dave Barry has strong use of pathos and logos overall it was not successful in convincing the audience to believe that there is a difference in Guys vs Men.

The idea or lifestyle of a cowboy can be perceived in different ways. Focusing on the book “All The Pretty Horses” a young man, John Grady leaves his home to live the life as a migrant cowboy, with his companion Rawlins. In the movie “The Searchers”, a man John Wayne goes on a journey to find his living relatives and is seen as a “cowboy”. The typical American cowboy can be stereotyped in numerous variations and romanticized. It is seen in “All The Pretty Horses” and “The Searchers” common themes and opposing ideas of the “cowboy” that can be found.

In Dave Barry’s reflection. “Guys vs. Men,” he introduces the idea that the term “man” presents more negative qualities, unlike the term “guy,” which gives males free reign to indulge in stereotypical characteristics. He characterizes “guy” as a gender that likes “neat unnecessary stuff, who engage in pointless competitions with each other, and lack moral and social graces.” Barry argues the idea that “Men” is a term that holds too much responsibility and unwritten expectations for guys-who function on less complex regulations. Dave Barry creates a humorous satire based on what it means to be a “guy,”combining common stereotypes and their everyday habits.

What is it that drives commercials towards their target audience? Commercials can be aimed toward certain age, race, along with certain gender groups. Pop culture has influenced minority groups and shed light on women 's rights or so it may seem. Lisa Shaffer a fellow student feels otherwise and believes that Pop culture has only defended traditional values and does little to challenge those who already have power . Commercials bring in gender norms and in Steve Craig’s article, “Men’s Men and Women’s Women” he speaks on four particular TV ads directed towards male and female audiences. Interestingly enough these tv ads deliver a false image of the opposite sex to the audience catering to their preferences. It is the image of what the audience wants to see that appeals to them. This is all in an attempt to sell products and take advantage of our desires and anxieties. Craig shows how commercials bring gender norms that produce the stigmas of a man’s man and a woman’s woman, which makes it apparent that he would agree with Shaffer because it promotes an old way of thinking.

Advertising has come a long way in terms of advancement with the enlightenment of the new technological age we live in now. In James Twitchell’s essay “What We Are to Advertisers,” the author explains that mass production means mass marketing, and mass marketing means the creation of mass stereotypes. Generally, the use of stereotypical profiling in our society not only exists in regards to race, social class, personality type, and gender but also holds a special meaning in advertising circles as well. To advertisers, stereotyping has become an effective means to pitch their products according to the personality profiles they have concocted for us and are most times eerily accurate. For instance, according to advertisers, the daytime

Since the emergence of advertising in American culture one thing that has remained constant is the visible truth that men and women are portrayed differently. In consideration to the evolution of man kind gender roles have evolved immensely throughout time, although advertisements have not kept up with this process of evolution. Companies to this day use their tactics and skills to reach out to specific genders such as pretty fonts with a stylish message, while advertisements towards men portray the character as strong and intimidating. The typical viewer can easily spot the difference in the portrayal of genders. Men are portrayed this way because the viewers look up to these characters, they want to be

Hello my name is Ray, today I will be discussing the novel we have been studying; Larry Watson's 'Montana 1948". Watson's stereotype of a 1940's housewife is depicted through the characters Enid and Gail. The reader is shown throughout the text of female characters re: to take the backseat in relationships and that their place is in the home. Merce County during the 1940's, this idea is shown to the reader constantly by Larry Watson in the novel. Watson presents this stereotype as one that can be tested; only if first the character chooses to do so. Both Enid and Gail have the power to push these limits and be heard only when they free themselves from the stereo type in question. It is very hard not to

Men are the clear target of the marketing of trucks. This direct marketing is beginning at an age much younger than ever before. Eric Schlosser writes how advertising aimed towards children has changed and grown to include, “…phone companies, oil companies and automobile companies…” (1) and as young boys grow Schlosser points out that “During the course of a year, he [or she] watches more than thirty thousand TV commercials.” (4) Masculine images throughout childhood has an impact on what is considered normal in the eyes of the typical consumer of a truck. According to MarketingSchools.org, “…truck ads speak directly to the experience of being a workingman. They appeal to any man that has wanted to get his hands dirty, flee the city,

Contemporary visual media contributes to the social construction of gender in that the way that men and women are portrayed in advertising is vastly different.

On television commercials, billboards, the radio, public transportation advertisements, planes, the internet, and almost everywhere people go there is always directed broadcasting of advertisements for companies to sell their product; a product that is never promoted for all of the general public to use, but instead to emphasize on specific categories of consumption . Whether it may be categorized in the decadent, the money saving, health, cleaning, cooking, automotive, or whatever sub category it may be; and bigger roles that play in to commercialism are gender roles . Men and women have very different lifestyles, what they buy, do, consume, and produce. As stated in Gender Role Behaviors and Attitudes, “Popular conceptions of femininity

Marilyn Monroe, Marlboro Man, Hugh Heffner, Pamela Anderson, and The Rock are all examples of the society of idols whom the American public has looked up to in various media forms. In today’s society there are many gender and social stereotypes that remain a prevalent part of the advertising tactics of the media. In the particular ad that I have chosen are examples of gender stereotypes that I would like to analyze and discuss using Douglas Kellner’s article “Advertising Images”. Kellner states that the tobacco industry in both the past and present use subliminal messages with the intention of portraying lifestyles and choices to the American public. Cigarette ads in particular, Kellner argues, “contribute to identity formation in

The roles of males and females in society have significantly changed, as opposed to the predominant roles in our history. In the modern culture of today, women have begun to break out of the mold that which society has placed her in. This much can’t be said when it comes to modern gender representation in mass media advertising. It can be safe to state that woman are seen as sexual, fragile, exotic—whereas men are portrayed as tough, in control, and aggressive. This trend can be one seen as an inhibitor to the advancement of our culture, because especially for women, it is hard to pull away from the stereotypes that are continuously represented. As examples of the given trend, the following

There are several different forms of stereotyping that media commonly attends to. First, one of the most popular forms of stereotyping involves being male or female. During a Sunday during the fall and winter, most sports fanatics like to watch the National Football League and root for their favorite team. During this time, most commercials are geared towards men with products such as men’s razor blades, body wash, or vehicle advertisements. For example, in the Chevrolet truck ad, “My Truck”, several men are interviewed about how their Chevrolet truck is useful to them. The majority of these men are portrayed as being rough and tumble outdoorsmen who need a reliable truck to get them through the work week. None of the people interviewed were women. A man who earned a living as a cowboy, Ronnie Lee Osterholt, said, “Hot, cold, blizzards- the only thing that has ever outlasted this truck is the license