Channing Tatum

Channing Tatum has won the official 'Sexiest Man Alive' contest that People Magazine hosts. Im sure the people from People Magazine saw every man alive in order to narrow decision for a vote. In seriousness though what is going on? Could this be a masculine movement to "princess culture" or is this another way the media is shaping hyper-masculinity? I would argue this competition is a movement toward the princess culture while maintaining hyper-masculine characteristics. The twitter feeds are going crazy with Channing Tatum parasocial madness! "Sooo Channing Tatum is from Alabama?! Ummm I love you #dreamguy #sexiestmanalive" and "sexiest thing about the sexiest man alive? hes a loyal, good, real husband to his wife @channingtatum #sexiestmanalive." Just as girls are obsessed with princesses and the culture created, Channing Tatum in this case is the 'prince charming' most of the princesses are looking for. In People's article when talking about his wife states, "Her Alabama-bred heartthrob of a husband is also a sculptor who quotes Edgar Allan Poe, loves to give her massages and can't wait to start their family." This is not what is leading the movement to the princess culture. On the web page for People Magazines Sexiest man alive, some quite comical categories unveil the movement. Headliners such as, "25 Sexy Chests to be thankful for", "Hollywood's Sexiest Family Guys", "The United States of Sexy"and "The Sexy Man Tool Box." A large contributor to the narcissistic princess culture is the competition for Miss America and other beauty pageants. Welcome to Mr. America everyone. The United States of Sexy web page has a "sexy" man from each state and a small blurb about them. These men are hyper-masculine princesses. Instead of the make up compact they have a "tool box" for sexy men. Instead of Ms. America, they have sexiest man alive. The way men maintain hyper-masculinity within the princess themed competitions is interesting then. In women's competitions there are no headlines for Sexiest Family Woman, and 25 Sexy Chests to be Thankful for has a completely different meaning! Superficial values such as tan skin and bulky builds are in place but the interesting thing to look at here is why is this competition not held the same way. Unlike the public broadcast of the Ms. America pageants, a magazine hosts the competition and audience participation then is completely different. Values that get expressed in Ms. America pageants are consumed here by the value of a 'family man' that is tall dark and handsome. The masculine non-verbals posed in all of the photographs help maintain masculinity. This acts as guide for men that want to be sexy because that is what sexy looks like. Ultimately what makes this seem to be a hyper-masculine situation is the constant reiterations of going to the gym, giving your wife massages, being from Alabama, whatever makes the females heart throb and the males eat their heart out.  One other interesting question is why are celebrity males considered to be  the only men alive in this case? Society as a whole should ask themselves one question why do we do this, allow this, and call it entertainment? 


http://www.people.com/people/package/article/0,,20315920_20647632,00.html