Violence and Masculinity

I feel the articles we read and the movie we viewed both contained some interesting points on violence and how we view masculinity. It does seem undeniable that masculinity is often associated with a 'tough guy' persona, and thus is shown in tandem with violence in various media imagery. This can, and surely does, lead some men to have a warped view of what masculinity is, feeling they have to behave in a violent manner to gain respect and be thought of as a real man. From that standpoint, I do feel that it is cause for concern that so many boys associate violate behavior with masculinity. I think this is best fought, not by government regulation, but by more complex and honest media portrays, which can be very effective. The video gave a good example in Good Will Hunting, and as a movie buff, I can attest to the fact that film and television is taking a more complex look at what it is to be masculine.