Examples Of Masculinity In School Ties

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The movie School Ties, directed by Robert Mandel, captures the qualities and personality that are associated with the accepted version of masculinity. Mandel sets the movie in the 1950s, he uses an elite private school as the backdrop and presents a Christian view of the world with wealth and political connections strongly tied to the school's reputation. In making David Greene (Brendan Fraser) a Jewish boy from a humble home, Mandel is able to convey the message that Greene's masculinity exists despite his differences to the norms and behaviours of the private school in post war America. Mandel uses techniques such as special effects, editing, lighting and language to show the universality of the qualities traditionally associated with masculinity and masculine people. Specifically, Mandel focuses in on Greene's confidence, honesty and superior physical ability as the defining…show more content…
He never pretends to be from a rich family. Greene's friends are well aware of his humble beginnings and they accept him without question. Charlie Dillon (Matt Damon) even admires him for his humble beginnings saying that at least if he gets into Harvard it is because of his abilities and not his name. The director does this to reinforce the message that there is more to masculinity than just physical ability, he make sure this is clear by making the other characters who have physical ability on their side have to have honesty to be considered under the area of masculinity. Greene represents the alpha male who is unencumbered by family expectation and tradition. He is the boy who all the other boys want to be. He succeeds because of his own abilities and can be proud of his own achievements. The director mainly shows Greene’s honesty through the language he writes, making sure that he is humble and honest throughout the movie and not just in some parts/areas of the

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