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Breaking Bad Article

Article from Wired by Laura Hudson: Die Like a Man: The Toxic Masculinity of Breaking Bad

"Maybe Walt wants to die like a man"

"Walt decides he's going to get power and respect through whatever means necessary"

"Walt - Heisenberg; maps Walts journey from being a "*****" to being a "man"

"Good job wearing the pants in the family" Jesse to Walt

"Jesse goes from being a "man" to a "*****" - The exact opposite to Walt, shows the differences in the two characters

Theories

Medhurst - Jesse turns into a more rounded character as the seasons go on. He goes from being a drug dealer who is going nowhere, to a man who cares for his girlfriend and her son.

Uses and Gratifications - Personal identity, there may be people who watch Breaking Bad that would want to be like one of the characters on the programme. 

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This is England

2006 British film directed by Shane Meadows

Shaun - Bullied at school but then find his identity when he meets Woody and his friends

Combo - Goes from being a typical skinhead to a man who cares about Shaun

Woody - Turns from a skinhead to someone who cares about Shaun

Theories

Uses and Gratifications - Personal identity, people may want to strive to be like one of the characters from the film

The montage at the start of the film could be what is making the characters believe what they do.

Medhurst's Theory - Woody turns into a more rounded character

Fragmented Identities - Lacan - Identities are fluid, flexible and changing.

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The Walking Dead

Rick shows masculinity through his power. 

He deals with the news that his best friend is having and affair with his wife.

Rick becomes the leader of the groups that he is apart of

Theories

Uses and Gratifications - Personal identity, people may want to strive to be like a character from The Walking Dead

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Lost Article

Jack Shepard has to take control of a group of survivors who he has never met before

"Recurring themes of ethical masculinity and wounded white manhood"

Sawyer, the damaged bad boy

Jack, the traditional and sexually active white male

Jack - heroic action and sacrifice of life

Ethical manhood and religious importance

Jack goes from a wounded white male to a hero and represents renewed, responsible white masculinity

White male depicted in a state of social and emotional upheaveal due to factos such as absent fathers

Theories

Uses and Gratifications - Personal identity, people might want to be like a character

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