How Dead Poets Society Redefines Masculinity // Video Essay
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- čas přidán 23. 07. 2023
- In this video I explore how 1989's Dead Poets Society allegorizes the queer experience and redefines what it means to be a man.
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While it is not neccesarily important for the context of this video, I want to clarify that while I believe Knox Overstreet's side plot was intended to show how tenderness can be an admirable trait in a man (and thus still proves my points presented), I do not condone his actions in the film or the book adaptation. I acknowledge that those actions were a product of what was acceptable at the time of filming, and do not believe that they should be praised. In addition, I know people will give me flack for saying Charlie Dalton is one of my favorite characters, so I wanted to clarify that I also do not condone the racism shown by him in the film. We must remember to acknowledge the harmful things presented by this film, along with the positives, so we can continue to do better in the future.
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Stock footage provided courtesy of Videvo.
Captures of the film were found on CZcams. - Hry
also the scene with pitts and meeks dancing together and meeks doesn't even have headphones- he can't even hear the music- but they're just kids, they're just boys, they're just dancing and having fun....this movie makes me FEEL THINGS
oh the simple pleasures of youth. It's so poetic in a way!!
I’m glad that this movie was able to redefine masculinity. I think Dead Poet Society and Fight Club are essential for men to watch. They might seem like two completely different movies, but both are addressing the problem with the crisis masculinity is facing today. Men aren’t making their own way anymore, conformity and nihilism has taken a lot of men’s meaning away. I think the issue is people aren’t hearing “what will your verse be?” For me, I wished I watched this movie when I was younger. I did exactly what Society expected of me and nearly had destroyed me. I joined the military and went to go gather resources for my community and returned a Nomad. My experiences have even estranged me from myself. I did what Society expected of me and my experiences can best be described as a mixture of Das Boot mixed with Chernobyl. It disgusted me that that’s what Society expects of us. It truly made me ask what happened to lead us to this. We shouldn’t have to go through Radiation and Chemical Burns to be viewed as men. If anything, it destroys character and we shouldn’t have to be treated as Machines. We should have the right to define masculinity in our own way. I wish more people could see these two movies and find the deeper meaning that Society has oppressed in all of us and find our own way. We have to come at terms with ourselves instead of the other way around. It’s what’s truly makes any one of us great. I’m glad you’re able to find your own way and I hope you show others can be themselves as well.
INCREDIBLE comment, thank you so much for sharing your story!! You have some great insights here and I really value your input ^^
The sweaty tooth mad man scene!!! This movie was a formative moment in my 14 year old mind.
I first watched it at age 19 and it was just as formative for me. Incredible how it can be so universally impactful across generations!
So I’ve only seen this film once, and while I adored it for the exact reasons you mention here, I did feel like it was, in some ways, still very much a product of its time. Specifically I felt the portrayal of women was very dated, as seen eg in the relationship between Knox and Chris. Because regardless of Knox’ own sensitivity and vulnerability, which of course is lovely and refreshing, the trope is very old and, honestly, slightly predatory, because Chris really does just function as a goal for his character, as something to chase after. And I know that this film very much centers the experience of boyhood, and that the objectification of women is part of that (realistically speaking, especially when this story takes place), but it still felt uncomfortable for me to watch at times. That was my only gripe with it, though. As a queer person I obviously enjoyed it hugely, as it really does speak to some very universal experiences surrounding queerness, if you choose to watch it through that lense.
I completely agree with what you said here about Knox/Chris! I wish I had taken a bit more time to properly discuss his character arc, since while it’s a controversial opinion, I feel like his character is often misunderstood and overhated. Predatory and uncomfortable, yes, but still misunderstood by the majority of the fanbase. I agree that the film could have benefitted from some more strong female characters, even if it was a parent or sister of one of the boys. Either way I’m pleased with the film as it stands, because as I said in the intro, film is but a vessel for conversation, and here we are, doing just that!
To be honest I really get that yearning for the boyhood I never had from that film. I’m nonbinary (somewhat genderfluid), which means while I get that feeling of wanting to be a guy, it’s out of reach for me, so seeing this portrayal of male adolescence is in a way really painful for me.
I still love this movie with all its possible interpretations, thoughts and wisdoms it entails. And really liked your analysis
what a beautiful analysis! thanks so much for. this, i loved what you said about the importance of vulnerability to masculinity. you have a new subscriber from me :)!! ❤❤
Thanks so much!! I’m glad you enjoyed 💖
I just love how American wokish yt'er try thier best to make everything about queers and LGBTQ++ allegory.. when it is a simple flim set in 59
Thanks for your comment! I like to hear from people with opposing views because it levels the playing field and lets everyone’s opinions be heard.
I totally respect that you don’t see the film in the same way I do! At the end of the day it can be interpreted however we want, as I said in this video, “film is but a vessel for discussion.”
As an “American wokish” youtuber as you call me (I’m actually Canadian, btw), I can relate the themes of this video to my own experiences as a queer person. But I totally get not seeing that if you haven’t had those same experiences. Thanks again for your comment!
There were gay people in the 1950s... also you do know that an allegory is a HIDDEN meaning, right? The explicit meaning of the movie is not about queer relationships, BUT there is a point to be made about the subtle aspects within the movie that hint towards queer relationships within the movie. Art is allowed to have a deeper meaning than what is immediately obvious.
@@krypto-s-olusits just annoying to see everyone interpret smiles between male friends as lust.
@@niclasjohansson5992 I can see how reading into things can be seen as annoying. I don't see it as lust between the two characters, but a love that could potentially extend beyond friendship. With a lot of romantic relationships there is a bit of a blurred line between the friendship and the romantic and I feel like Neil and Todd fall somewhere there. In the movie they seem to be a lot closer than the rest of the group, but in a way that feels different from typical friendship, but this is of course just from my perception, if you see it differently that's okay too
@@krypto-s-olus you said it perfectly. why do people think that if you fall in love with someone you stop being "friends"....that isnt how healthy relationships should be at all. and its so funny to me because if characters like neil and todd were a man and a woman instead of the same gender, people would automatically assume and interpret their relationship as potentially romantic, no analysis needed etc
Yeah, um no.