Sometimes we talk about dudes at Pink Raygun. Sometimes we even talk about them in a non-objectifying ways. That’s because we understand that men aren’t just pieces of meat that look great in leather pants or loosely wrapped towels. They have media imagery to struggle with, as well, and it looks like comic book heroes aren’t projecting the best image of masculinity.
Rather, comic book heroes as they’re presented in the movies. Let’s get to the quote.
Dr. Sharon Lamb says:
“There is a big difference in the movie superhero of today and the comic book superhero of yesterday. Today’s superhero is too much like an action hero who participates in non-stop violence; he’s aggressive, sarcastic and rarely speaks to the virtue of doing good for humanity. When not in superhero costume, these men, like Ironman, exploit women, flaunt bling and convey their manhood with high-powered guns.
The comic book heroes of the past did fight criminals, but these were heroes boys could look up to and learn from because outside of their costumes, they were real people with real problems and many vulnerabilities.”
Whoa. Let’s stop the doom train for just a second and examine something here. Obviously, I’m not a psychologist or mental health professional, but I do read some comics and have watched these movies and have a hypothesis of my own.
My hypothesis is this:
Dr. Lamb is full of crap.
We can’t honestly look at Iron Man, Batman, Spider-Man, X-Men, Punisher, etc and say that they have no problems or vulnerabilities outside of their costumes. These guys have nothing but problems and vulnerabilities when they’re not out fighting evil.
Let’s address Iron Man, the only superhero mentioned by name in the release. Yeah, Tony Stark is a drunk and a womanizer, but you know what else he is? A genius. In and out of the armor, Tony Stark is a genius who makes his living off his brilliance. Come on, the guy built his first suit in a cave, out of scraps, a fact that drove Obadiah Stone to incredible frustration. The only reason Tony Stark is a superhero is because he’s smart.
That’s a worthwhile attribute, right?
That said, I’d like to read the rest of the study because I read a lot about how media imagery effects girls, but not a lot about how it effects boys. The release leaves it very vague, but I can’t imagine that superhero movies offer the greatest macho influence on boys. Surely, there are numerous factors in play including video games, music, television, and even their own families. And, of course, there are plenty of other movies that feature the same action-packed, explody, wisecracking fare as the superhero movies at which Dr. Lamb points her finger.
I’m also curious as to the ideal. If current stereotypical imagery is a negative presentation of masculinity, what’s the ideal? Is it Joseph Gordon-Levitt’s character in (500) Days of Summer? Is it the Old Spice guy? (He is, after all, on a horse. That’s pretty manly, right?)
Where is the line and who gets to draw it? While you’re mulling that over, here’s Tony Stark without a shirt.
And here’s the other side.
I know I’m not helping.
Lisa Fary is a graduate of the creative writing program at Florida State University and holds an advanced degree in Special Education. Her earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She’s angry that it’s 2010 and she still doesn’t have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram.
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Lisa Fary's earliest influences are Princess Leia, Rainbow Bright, Astronaut Barbie, and her 6th grade teacher, Ms. Palmer. She's angry that it's 2011 and she still doesn't have a hovercraft, but will accept a jetpack as consolation. That jetpack had better be pink with a rhinestone monogram. 
I need to hunt down her study to really see how this was done, but it sounds like her conclusions are based on a lot of talk and not a lot of science. I agree, Tony Stark is an incredibly well-rounded character with daddy issues, woman issues, etc. Christian Bale's Batman has been great too, as was Ed Norton's Hulk. I don't know what movies she's actually talking about!
Rosalind
Girls Are Geeks
I've poked around looking at other reporting on the study – some of them have further quotes from the Dr., but in all of them, the only hero she names by name is Iron Man, who she says is cool because he shows off his money and exploits women. I'm not sure if this is her summation or something she heard numerous times from kids. And I thought it was the armor that made him awesome.
When not in superhero costume, these men, like Ironman, exploit women, flaunt bling and convey their manhood with high-powered guns.
There seems to be a comprehension error on the Doctor's part here. She talks about these things as if Stark is rolling around like In Like Flint or something, when in reality those activities that Stark participates in are cast in a negative light (especially in the second film). At first all seems good, but when Stark can't stop partying or drinking he loses respect and people close to him–like Pepper and Rhodey.
You're right on in being being confused as to the ideal. Basically, you can't be aggressive, but you can't be passive because if you are aggressive you are a meat head and violent and if you are somewhat passive, you are feminine. You can't be too muscular because again you will be a meat head, but if you are too skinny you are a nerd. If you are really dumb, than you are stupid, but if you are too smart you are a nerd(it is insane that people see a problem with being too smart). You must be sensitive to the needs of others, but not sensitive in terms of inner emotions(because then you are a wimp). You have to drink beer because well, I don't know I can't answer that one. Basically you need to be mediocre I guess.
It's pretty sticky. I'm sure there's a similar list of things like this for women.