The first documentary exclusive to CNN digital subscribers released Friday. Ask yourself: Did Woman on the Verge really need to see “The Masculinity Campaign”? Of course not, but here we are.
Like other news organizations, CNN must adapt to shifting consumer preferences. On this score, I credit them for jumping into the world of original short-form documentary films, or flash-docs, as the network calls them. Ask yourself: Does Woman on the Verge find it ironic that “The Masculinity Campaign” is a short-form doc? Basically, yeah.
Regardless, I agree with CNN’s thesis that masculinity has always been on the ballot—even when a woman is running. In this way, nothing about “The Masculinity Campaign” is surprising.
Still, CNN presents three different masculine archetypes, then illustrates each with three different examples. Thus, Ronald Reagan, Theodore Roosevelt, and George W. Bush exemplify the Alpha man. Truman, Carter, and Biden reflect Everyman, while JFK, Clinton, and Obama represent the Charmer.
Given two of these nine also won Nobel Peace Prizes (Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama), let’s pause for a minute to consider peaceful masculinity. Thank you, Jesus.
More to the point, Democrats lead CNN’s overall masculinity campaign doc. And Democrats are cementing the masculinity campaign via Joe Biden, Tim Walz, and Doug Emhoff, who all stand by and stand with Kamala Harris.
But there are way more than three kinds of masculinity! I can think of at least three more:
Artistic masculinity could include RuPaul, Luke Combs, and Al Pacino, among many others.
Healing masculinity might give us Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, and Hippocrates. And intellectual masculinity could showcase Ta-Nehisi Coates, Salman Rushdie, and Niall Ferguson, to name a few.
Masculinity is neither monolithic nor unchangeable. Take Christopher Reeve or Bruce Jenner, for instance. Both were known for physical strength and professional achievement in their respective fields. That a tragic accident forever altered Reeve’s life while a gender transition did the same for Jenner proves that masculinity is always changing.
In fact, one of my favorite documentary films so far this year is this tearjerker:
I was able to catch this closing-night film at the Nantucket Film Festival in June. When I tell you tomorrow marks 20 years since Reeve died, you may be caught off guard. But believe me when I say you will embrace “Super/Man.” Critics give it a 100 percent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, while general audiences give it 99 percent.
“Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story” is playing at the Regal MGM Theater in Springfield.
What does Woman on the Verge want?
Where to begin? I want men to understand that “the masculinity campaign” is a direct appeal to your humanity.
Masculinity is not toxic. Brute force and boorish behavior are. Obviously, Donald Trump’s crybaby antics and direct threats to homeland security represent real danger; however, his tortured masculinity is beyond the scope of this column.
Just know that he is not a strong man at all. In fact, Donald Trump is nothing if not the weakest link in our democracy right now.
Know also the Proud Boys and their absurd concept of “Western chauvinism” are sick jokes.
Men have nothing to fear but fear itself when thinking about a female president. Mexico has had one for 10 days and the sky has not fallen.
Finally, “The Masculinity Campaign” is a nine-minute doc. It is a conversation starter, much like this recent New York times guest essay about other kinds of masculinity.
To all the men I love, thanks for being who you are.
