Men Don't Cry

Stuart Hall states that "masculinity and femininity have been historically and culturally constructed not only in our society, but in Nature itself" (90). Each gender is given a role at birth and expected to fulfill it throughout his or her life. The media reinforces these roles in the texts that it produces. One text that is built around these norms is the song and music video “The Truth” by Jason Aldean. The video and lyrics show a man completely tortured by a break-up. He is obviously embarrassed by his feelings and begs his ex-girlfriend to lie for him to all of his friends and family. Men are always the hegemonic group over women (Lull, 61). In society, it is both normal and expected that the woman be distraught and heartbroken over a break-up. The man is always thought to be the one who dumps the woman and moves on with his life quickly and pain-free. Mass media creates this hegemony through creating texts that reinforce male dominance over women (Lull, 62). Many songs by female singers are about heartbreak and needing a man, while male artists tend to sing about sex and money.

 In a way, this music video both relies on and contests the norm. It shows a man that is hurt by love. This representation is abnormal in mass media. It proves that media representations are selective and incomplete (Powerpoint). On the other hand, the man recognizes that his feelings are not in accordance with the norm and feels ashamed. This music video supports the norm and relays to men that any feelings of heartbreak are not acceptable in society. As a consequence of this music video, the stereotype of a dominant, heartless man is reinforced. The music video gives men a representation of what a relationship should be (Mayne, 161).

Mayne states that, “Representation can function both to reinforce oppressive standards of feminine behavior and to imagine possibilities not typically available to women” (163). This music video happens to give power to the ex-girlfriend that is not typically seen in mass media. The man is seen pleading with the woman to lie for him. His ex-girlfriend is the only person who knows the truth about what the man is going through and has the power to either embarrass him or make him look good. This usage of representation creates a utopia, where the woman has control and the man is subjective to her actions (Mayne, 163). The man, of course, expects the woman to brag about how good his life is going, and to hide the truth from everyone. “Tell ‘em I'm out on the west coast where it don't ever rain… Tell em I'm out on the road with some old rock and roll band, living like a gypsy king.” (Jason Aldean).

Sexism is not explicitly portrayed in the music video, but I would definitely say that there are implicit hints of it shown. It is a common ideology in society that men are not allowed to show weakness (Hall, 89). This is reinforced over and over again in the music video. The guy cannot even share with his own family what he is going through. That just shows how strongly this man believes in the norm.

The music video features several representations that support the “norms” in society. Jason Aldean recognizes that his feelings stray from what is expected of him as a man. He immediately is ashamed of himself and disappears. He could not possibly bear for his family and friends to find out how “pathetic” and “woman-like” he is. Gender roles play an important part in society and are constantly reinforced through mass media. “The Truth” by Jason Aldean is just one more text that strengthens these roles.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0z1eXbslSbU

Brown, Adriane. Hegemonic Femininity in Popular Culture. 2011.

Brown, Adriane. Racializing Masculinity in the Media. 2011.

Hall, Stuart. "White of Their Eyes: Racist Ideologies and the Media. "Silver Linings: Some

       Strategies for the Eighties. Ed. G. Bridges and R. Brunt. London: Lawrence and Wishart Ltd., 1981.

Lull, James. “Hegemony.” Media, Communication, Culture: A Global Approach. Columbia

University Press, 1995. 

Mayne, Judith. “Women, Representation, and Culture.” In Reading Women’s Lives.