The Notebook defies masculinity by going against the social norm in today’s pop culture.
For centuries, our movies have been filled with the overuse of power in masculinity. The guys that we manly always were the one to come out of the war alive or win the shootout in a dusty western town or pick up the most beautiful woman in the big city. You know, the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type of men. Men that were so tough, mean, dirty, and strong that no other guy in their right mind would mess with them. You all know the Dirty Harry’s, John Rambo’s, and Rocky Balboa’s. The men that are the ones you want on your team and definitely not on the opposing side. The men you want to walk with you down the dark and creep alley one your way home from work late at night. Hollywood has used these very men to base their bravely heroic stories around. The Notebook shatters the cultural norm and make viewers see the masculinity does not always win the battles.
For those that have not ever watched The Notebook, it is a story of a poor, scrawny young teenager named Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) falling in love with a beautiful, rich young girl name Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams). Due to a quick summer romance, Allie must leave the small town of Seabrook. With her parent’s disapproval, Allie never gets to see or hear from Noah for the longest time. Eventually, after significant change between the two’s lives, the finally meet back up again. Unfortunately, Allie is now engaged to a man named Lon Hammond (James Marsden). Lon is a significantly wealthy man that is what is considered to be a masculine figure. Thankfully, love subsides and after much turmoil, Noah and Allie and up together.
First, Noah Calhoun is seen as a good looking man. Although people would never consider him a super masculine figure, Noah still represents a good gentleman. He lacks in muscular size which is a huge break in the social norm. Noah is not the typical “macho man” stereotype when it comes to physical appearance. Whenever he was younger, the first time Allie and Noah met, Noah did not have a single facial hair. He was clean shaven and that also shows a break in the social norm. Noah also works in the local lumber yards and only makes around “seven cents an hour.” He is very poor and lives in a little house with his dad only. Without a mother, Noah and Mr. Calhoun make it day to day living off of laughter and love. Noah eventually leaves the small town of Seabrook and heads to the big city to find work. While there he ends up signing up for the war efforts and joins the United States Army. While in the Army, he lives the average life of a soldier. He does nothing outside of the courageous efforts that all the other soldiers are doing. He even loses his best friend. This goes outside the norm because although he was a warrior, he was nothing more than the average soldier. Eventually, as the movie goes on, Noah grows a beard and becomes more like a manly figure. He still is skinny and does not have much money. These all show breaks in the social norm since Noah ends up with the beautiful girl in the end.
Secondly, Lon Hammond is the more masculine figure. This is the man that Allie is supposed to be getting married to very soon. With the wedding already planned, the dress already picked out, Lon looks to have Allie right where he wants her. Lon is a larger figure, much larger than Noah and is wealthy to go along with it. Stemming from old money, Lon also joined the war efforts, but unlike Noah, was considered a war hero. He was wounded in battle and lived to tell about it. Lon is a big time lawyer that dazzles Allie with his charming looks, flashy attire, and wealthy lifestyle. These are all things that fit the social norm but it is still not good enough. Noah still subsides and wins Allie’s heart. This breaks the social norm in all the ways that Hollywood laid out before this movie. For the first time, the smaller, poor man is able to override the rich handsome man. Noah and Allie live long and happy after that.
In conclusion, the movie The Notebook shows a successful break in culture’s social norm. Like it was stated before, this was one of the only times the less impressive guy win the heart of a girl over the more masculine dominate man. The Notebook is a prime example of how society is changing overtime and how people look at masculinity as a whole. You begin to see a break in the stereotypes that most people see in masculinity and that is why The Notebook defies masculinity by going against the social norm in today’s pop culture.
For centuries, our movies have been filled with the overuse of power in masculinity. The guys that we manly always were the one to come out of the war alive or win the shootout in a dusty western town or pick up the most beautiful woman in the big city. You know, the John Wayne or Clint Eastwood type of men. Men that were so tough, mean, dirty, and strong that no other guy in their right mind would mess with them. You all know the Dirty Harry’s, John Rambo’s, and Rocky Balboa’s. The men that are the ones you want on your team and definitely not on the opposing side. The men you want to walk with you down the dark and creep alley one your way home from work late at night. Hollywood has used these very men to base their bravely heroic stories around. The Notebook shatters the cultural norm and make viewers see the masculinity does not always win the battles.
For those that have not ever watched The Notebook, it is a story of a poor, scrawny young teenager named Noah Calhoun (Ryan Gosling) falling in love with a beautiful, rich young girl name Allie Hamilton (Rachel McAdams). Due to a quick summer romance, Allie must leave the small town of Seabrook. With her parent’s disapproval, Allie never gets to see or hear from Noah for the longest time. Eventually, after significant change between the two’s lives, the finally meet back up again. Unfortunately, Allie is now engaged to a man named Lon Hammond (James Marsden). Lon is a significantly wealthy man that is what is considered to be a masculine figure. Thankfully, love subsides and after much turmoil, Noah and Allie and up together.
First, Noah Calhoun is seen as a good looking man. Although people would never consider him a super masculine figure, Noah still represents a good gentleman. He lacks in muscular size which is a huge break in the social norm. Noah is not the typical “macho man” stereotype when it comes to physical appearance. Whenever he was younger, the first time Allie and Noah met, Noah did not have a single facial hair. He was clean shaven and that also shows a break in the social norm. Noah also works in the local lumber yards and only makes around “seven cents an hour.” He is very poor and lives in a little house with his dad only. Without a mother, Noah and Mr. Calhoun make it day to day living off of laughter and love. Noah eventually leaves the small town of Seabrook and heads to the big city to find work. While there he ends up signing up for the war efforts and joins the United States Army. While in the Army, he lives the average life of a soldier. He does nothing outside of the courageous efforts that all the other soldiers are doing. He even loses his best friend. This goes outside the norm because although he was a warrior, he was nothing more than the average soldier. Eventually, as the movie goes on, Noah grows a beard and becomes more like a manly figure. He still is skinny and does not have much money. These all show breaks in the social norm since Noah ends up with the beautiful girl in the end.
Secondly, Lon Hammond is the more masculine figure. This is the man that Allie is supposed to be getting married to very soon. With the wedding already planned, the dress already picked out, Lon looks to have Allie right where he wants her. Lon is a larger figure, much larger than Noah and is wealthy to go along with it. Stemming from old money, Lon also joined the war efforts, but unlike Noah, was considered a war hero. He was wounded in battle and lived to tell about it. Lon is a big time lawyer that dazzles Allie with his charming looks, flashy attire, and wealthy lifestyle. These are all things that fit the social norm but it is still not good enough. Noah still subsides and wins Allie’s heart. This breaks the social norm in all the ways that Hollywood laid out before this movie. For the first time, the smaller, poor man is able to override the rich handsome man. Noah and Allie live long and happy after that.
In conclusion, the movie The Notebook shows a successful break in culture’s social norm. Like it was stated before, this was one of the only times the less impressive guy win the heart of a girl over the more masculine dominate man. The Notebook is a prime example of how society is changing overtime and how people look at masculinity as a whole. You begin to see a break in the stereotypes that most people see in masculinity and that is why The Notebook defies masculinity by going against the social norm in today’s pop culture.