With reference to your own detailed examples, explore the ways in which Men are represented in the media today.

For many Video Games, the audience controls a male protagonist who must battle against the odds in order to save civilisation, Earth or a woman. The game Bioshock Infinite takes this cliché to an extreme length.

In Bioshock you play as a male protagonist named Booker. Your objective is to find and save the mysterious Elizabeth from captivity, then escort her to safety. The whole game is a giant escort mission for this one female, she doesn’t aid by shooting enemies down like you, but she does occasionally throw you some ammo. This game paints you as the female’s only saviour, a man who can fight and win, regardless of the odds. Although the ‘Saviour’ Male protagonist you play lacks facial hair, he still follows a lot of stereotypes that men are associated with in video games.

In Commando, John Matrix must use his ex-special unit training, almighty strength, and witty one-liners to combat the evil forces of thugs who have kidnapped his daughter! The protagonist is played by Arnold Schwarzenegger who achieved Mr. Universe at the age of 20. He is a regular body builder and is chosen to act in films due to his muscular physique.

Once again in this media text, the male is portrayed as the ‘saviour’ who has to win in an against-the-odds battle versus the baddies. It also re-enforces the ideology that men fight for revenge, this can be seen in various other films; e.g. Gladiator.

Alex Reid, both an Expert MMA fighter and a cross-dresser. What many believe to be opposite ends of the ‘traditional masculine activities’ spectrum. He has a very muscular physique, and sometimes dresses like a female. He appears on the frontpage of many newspapers dressed like a woman, it is not part of any staged act. Alex takes Queer Theory to the extreme, challenging gender stereotypes to the point of visually dressing like a female. As well as challenging masculine stereotypes, he also challenges ideologies, such as; Men should not pamper themselves.