So, this weekend I'm going on a mens retreat with other members of my church to a conference in Indiana, that is all about being a man. This is a really cool thing, and it will help me, not only to be more of a man, but also help me with my walk with God.
See, I'm a Christian man, and I try to do the right thing, to be an honorable man, and a respectable man. I also take in a lot of media. Video games, movies, television, and the like. Al of them depict what it is to be a man. What constitutes being a man? Is is physical strength, getting all the girl, beating up the bad guy, being a tough guy, driving the girls crazy, having lots of sex, being wealthy, having fine clothes, living in a nice place, owning it all? There's a lot of mixed messages out there, but being raised Christian, I have a code of my own that I follow.
Lately, there have been a few good pieces of media that have really stuck with me in portraying what it means to be a man. One of which being Captain America: The First Avenger starring Chris Evans. Comic books aren't really my forte, but Cap really stuck with me as a great character. I really like how he was a good guy first, and a man of action second. He did the right thing, always, no matter what was at risk or how dangerous it was.
Another depiction of manhood was John Marston in Red Dead Redemption. Sure, he may be a character in a game by Rockstar, which entails a lot of murder. However, John represented something noble in the lawless west, and stood out as a character, not only in video games, but also media in general. One of his major characteristics was his respect towards his wife. John Marston has the opportunity to get with many a lady of the night, but doesn't, because he's loyal to his wife.One other thing that I think is just the coolest thing about Red Dead Redemption, and John Marston, is the fact that there is an action button to say hello to passers by on the street. He's friendly to people that are on the street. Sure, he could murder them at any moment, as he is an outlaw after all, but he doesn't because it isn't in his character to do so. Murderous rampages are the norm for a Rockstar game, but it just feels out of place with Red Dead Redemption, and John Marston. John Marston can tear through an entire camp of bandits all on his own with unwavering accuracy and not feel a thing for the people he's killed, but he knows that he's killing the bad guys. He fights on their terms. John Marston isn't the best example of what it means to be a man, but he gets the job done, and he stands up for what he believes in, just like Steve Rogers.
I'm really looking forward to this retreat coming up. I plan to look over some of the media mentioned, as well as a few others to take a look at what I've built up in my mind as what it means to be a man, and then compare that to how God wants me to act as a man.
What are some manly characters that stuck out in your mind as something that was more than just machismo?
Great post, Scooter. I think it's hard to find a good portrayal of what actually makes a good man, or a man good for that matter. With our lowest-common-denominator, instant-gratification, and entitlement culture, we've really lost track of our humanity and the notion that being a good person, or a "real man," has nothing to do with "getting yours" and everything to do with making the world you live in a better place.
ReplyDeleteOn a side note, I couldn't help but think:
What man? Which man? Who's the man?
When's a man a man? What makes a man a man?
Am I a man? Yes, technically I am.