Blog 3: Southern Pride and Masculinity on Display
Do you know what also struck me while watching? How much the movie connects masculinity to Southern culture. Much of Ricky’s behavior comes from traditions around religion, pride, and stubbornness.
The dinner table prayer to “baby Jesus” is a perfect example. Ricky refuses to let go of that childish image because it fits what he wants. His children also act wild and disrespectful at school, and he treats it like proof they are strong. Even refusing to try French food becomes a joke about how resistant the culture is to anything new.
Charles Cornett points out that the movie is not just being random. It is showing how “hegemonic masculinity” works. That means society pushes one idea of what being a man should be. In this case, Southern identity and pride reinforce Ricky’s worst traits.
By exaggerating these cultural habits, the movie shows masculinity is not only about the person. It is about the environment that keeps rewarding certain behaviors.
Alt text: Two young boys spraying water into a window and yelling “Anarchy!” .
Drop your thoughts in the tags: is the movie being fair to Southern culture, or does it lean too hard into stereotypes?
