Ron Swanson...The face of media masculinity.

Simon Hoying

Blog 4

The True Face of Media Driven Masculinity

The media always tries to project ways that men are supposed to act. When you're watching TV there always seems to be a code of which the men have to act to be truly looked at as manly. Many times these actions are very superficial, and don't represent actual men, but we as the viewers really eat it up when they act super gruff and manly. So who is the king of this superficial masculinity, who in the spotlight outshines everyone else when it comes to being that shining beacon of body hair and foul man stench? Just for the fun of it I would like to answer this question. According to our recent lecture, Tupac is the manliest of them all, but I beg to differ. Tupac's image only contains half of what it take to be manly on TV. He has the animalistic side, but lacks the suave subtleties of someone such as the Dos Equis Most interesting man in the world. Tupac can physically intimidate you, but he can't buy you your favorite flowers, and treat you to a nice dinner. I think there is only one man who can take the cake when it comes to being masculine in the media. One who rises above the rest in what it takes to woo the ladies and build a wooden canoe with his bare hands. That man, is Ron F***ing Swanson off of the TV show Park and Recreation on NBC. He as all the qualities it takes to be a man in today's media society. He's emotionally distant when it comes to his coworkers, not even taking the time to learn a majority of their names. Emotional detachment is key when it comes to fulfilling his gender code. He speaks little, but when he does, it's always something profound. An anchor for all who know him, keeping them from falling into the clutches of stupidity. He also has a way with women. Even with his emotional detachment he respects them and treats them kindly. Furthermore, he doesn't like Canada, perceiving them as unmanly, and not worth his attention. Also, he is a skilled woodworker, and his ability to use his hand separates him from lesser men. He lives alone, has substantial amounts of buried gold, and above all has a mustache that would make even the toughest of individuals quake before his masculine might. He is the ruler of his domain, his own man, no one tells him what to do. He is Ron Swanson, and according to Hollywood, the ideal man for any situation.