The Concept of the Making of Male - Essay Example

? BOYS WILL BE BOYS: THE MAKING OF MALE In the lecture, Warner examines the existing thread that links modern machismo and ancientmyths. He argues that ideas about masculinity are not always naturally inculcated. From her point of argument, the reader may question whether warrior ethic manages to fit the needs of the current or contemporary society. The story explores and tends to find out why the current generation that believes in scientific and medical intervention still coexist and cling on a determinist philosophy on human gender and nature. The main components of the speech are myth and monsters. This essay will explicitly and analytically explain and answer the posted questions in reference to the story. The first information that the author of this story gives much concern is on the growing popularity of video game industries with unique and definite characteristics and features. Such characteristics are mainly fantasies comprising of mythical stories and monsters. For instance, the author begins this article by flashback; she remembers the day when she made a decision to attend the Future Entertainment Show that was held on the previous year at Olympia. Other newly introduced features of the video shows are 3-D simulation, and interactive play. These two features, according to the author, were triggered by the late ergonomic joypads with aims of keeping it beeping, blasting, crashing, bursting into flames, and starting up again (Warner, 1994 p 27). She also brings the idea of women not attending the show. In the first paragraph, Warner talks of herself being the only woman in the train. She goes ahead to investigate and outline the relationship between myths and monsters. One main relationship is that myths are stories, mainly imaginary, with characters most of whom are monstrous, in nature. In the same section, she explains the fundamental roles of myth in the society. She tells the readers that even monsters have historical backgrounds in various societies. Warner makes her allusion to Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, which was published in 1818 and is about the man Frankenstein whose intellectual ability in genetics drives him to make a creature of his own image. After making it successfully, the being grows wild and he fears that something strange mazy happen and thus the creature might kill him. However, man’s ability to make images or creatures of their own likeness is faced with one main problem that they may not be able to handle or take care of these creatures. This is typically the same case with Frankenstein. The creature threatens him and Frankenstein goes ahead to bow before him and use biblical words in making appealing and praises to him so that he does not harm him, in any way. In this context, the author of the book brings the readers to the light that there are many people who use their intellectual abilities in the manipulation of genes and come up with creatures similar like them, but they fail to manage them. The article mainly handles the issue of genetic manipulation and the effects. It claims and backs up the claim that monsters, in the today’s world, have resulted from genetic manipulation. The artificially made men have turned out to be rapists and killers. She finally argues and states that masculinity must always follow its example. She talks of the impacts of father in a family. Boys who are brought up fatherless use violence as compensation to the absence of guidance from their fathers (Warner, 1994 p 29). Some societies make boys monstrous through the expectations of them to become unflinching warriors. According to Shelley, monsters are always made, not given. Since they are made, there is a possibility of unmaking them. Warner has employed and used fairytales and myths in the lecture in various ways. First, she has used the two as means of references to provide qualification or back ups to her arguments concerning her beliefs and thesis. This method is referred to as allusion. For instance, she supports her argument that mythological stories are always associated with the explanation of the origin of a certain phenomenon. She says that the presence of monsters has marked the beginning (origin) of nations. She uses the myth, St. George and the dragon of the Cadmus in the making of this explanation. The story goes that the George and dragon sowed the teeth belonging to the dragon in order to build the people Thebes. In some circumstances, she supports the myths and fairytales, especially when they relate, in concept, to her argument. In other circumstances, she criticizes them using her own evidences to disapprove the concepts of the stories. In order to defend and support her definition of the word, ‘myth,’ she refers to the tale of mythical heroes such as Jason, Oedipus, and Orestes. The three illustrate her definition of myth serving the role of issuing warning to the people. The three characters have common traits such as pride, knowledgeable, matricides and infanticides. She uses fairytales to incorporate gender issues and equality in her discussion concerning monsters and myths. She uses a popular Greek fairytale, Achilles and Hercules, to elaborate on the fact that monsters are always involved in fairy tales, and thus any form of a story of film that involves them are mere fairy tales. The author has also used tales and myths in her illustrations on how changes have taken place in the fantasy world. She also elaborates on the origin of fear in men using mythical stories and fairy tales. She says that fear has grown in men due to aggression that includes sexual violence that defines inevitably the various characters of young men (Gilmore, 2009 p 56). She uses myths in her effort to explain the shadowing of contemporary concept of the nature of male, that is, the intruder could be a possible rapist. Garner uses this to show the possible features of man-made men. An important point of her speech is to identify her main theme or core reason why she gives out the long speech. Analyzed, she intends to inform the people on the changes that have taken place in the film and movie industry, from the content to the attendants, as well as, the booming and increased profit margins. She finds it easy to use historical concepts, such as myths and tales to make clear and convincing comparison to her listeners. Besides the above, she uses the two to create humor, and get rid of some unnecessary details. She also uses them to give the time and geographical setting of some of the occurrences. She also uses them to reveal her emotions and stand concerning her speech. Garner, in her speech, used certain references in order to underscore on some of her points or stand. The first and the most applicable reference that she used is Mary Shelley’s novel, Frankenstein, which was published in 1818 (Warner, 1994 p 29). The novel has become the contemporary parable for the perverted science. However, Garner’s reading somehow overlooked Shelley’s urgent message. Mary grasped the likelihood and possibility that a man may decide to make a monster looking similar like him. However, they prove incapable of taking care of, or having full control of the creatures, which they have created themselves. The creator, in this case, is Victor Frankenstein. The creature approaches him and shuns him. Frankenstein responds by beseeching him using the archaic word, ‘thou’ that is always used when referring to God. Garner uses this excerpt from Mary Shelley’s book to ensure that she convinces her listeners on her claim that monsters are either men or man-made. In this case, she stresses the point that monsters never emanate from nowhere other than from men themselves. She clearly brings it to her listeners, using Frankenstein’s story. The element of culture that is evident in this reference is that of high culture. High culture, unlike popular culture, is always a refined and educated one. The concept on the origin is not easy to comprehend by everybody. The other reference used in the speech is that of the Greek mythical heroes, Jason, Oedipus, and Orestes. Garner uses these to illustrate on her point that monsters are dangerous creatures and people should cautious and be warned on it. The story of the three heroes is known almost in every part of the world. It has been mainly passed to other generations through oral tradition. Therefore, it represents the popular culture, in the speech. I agree with Garner’s assertion that monsters are men or are man-made. From the definition of monsters in the Oxford dictionary, that is, “fictional creatures that are common in horror fictions or legends, and are normally hideous and may sometimes cause physical harm to people even through their appearances.” Most monsters, from Garner’s argument, have human attributes. Relating her reasoning, it is undoubtedly cogent that monsters originate from human beings or are made by men. It is succinct that Garner, as a public speaker, has lucidly explored the topic on the origin of monsters, as well as, their relationship with myths. She has used several examples of stories to elaborate on this. References Edwards, E, 2004, Myths and Monsters, Parris, frances lincoln ltd. Gilmore, D, 2009, Monsters: Evil Beings, Mythical Beasts, and All Manner of Imaginary Terrors, Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Press. Warner, M., The Reith Lectures 1994: Boys will be Boys: The Making of the Male, New York, NY, SAGE Publishers. Read More