In this week’s discussion we focused on masculinity in the mass media, particularly in the show The OC. However, while most of the discussion was based on the misrepresentation of women on the show and representing them as useless without a man in their lives, the truth is the OC is guilty of misrepresentation, but not of women instead of men. I believe the main goal of The OC is to send out the hegemonic message that every man needs to be the “ultimate manly man” with a physically fit body, a clumsy sidekick, and a beautiful girl at his side that he must save. The character of Ryan is the ultimate American dream of blonde hair, blue eyes, nerdy best friend, and the gorgeous girlfriend that is troubled and needs his rescuing.
While women are misrepresented as at times needing men to succeed, the message sent to men is that unless they are straight and masculine, success is not in your future. The character of Seth Cohen is constantly being saved by his best friend Ryan even up until the last season of the series showing that even if you get the beautiful girl (Summer) and the great college (RISDE) in the end you are nothing without a masculine man to save you. Clearly this message is just as damaging if not more to men than the message sent to women is.
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