Author: Scott Wolf
What
do
a
fashion
doll
and
a
physicist
have
in
common?
They
are
both
protagonists
of
movies
that
explore
different
aspects
of
masculinity
and
how
they
cope
with
their
insecurities
and
frustrations.
Ken
from
the
Barbie
movie
and
Julius
Oppenheimer
from
the
Oppenheimer
movie
are
two
fictional
characters
who
represent
contrasting
examples
of
masculinity
in
their
respective
movies.
They
both
have
their
own
insecurities
and
frustrations,
but
they
deal
with
them
in
very
different
ways.
Ken
is
more
compassionate
and
humbler,
while
Oppenheimer
is
more
ambitious
and
arrogant.
Their
different
coping
strategies
have
different
consequences
for
themselves
and
for
others.
Ken:
A
Doll’s
Journey
to
Self-Discovery
Ken
is
a
fashion
doll
who
lives
in
Barbie
land,
a
feminist
utopia
where
women
are
empowered,
and
men
are
supportive.
He
is
in
love
with
Barbie,
the
most
popular
and
successful
doll
in
Barbie
land,
but
he
feels
insecure
about
his
role
and
identity
in
their
relationship.
He
wants
to
be
more
than
just
an
accessory
to
Barbie,
but
he
doesn’t
know
how
to
express
his
feelings
or
find
his
own
purpose.
All
he
can
do
is
“Beach”.
That
dosen’t
seem
very
productive
or
worthwhile
does
it?
He
copes
with
his
insecurities
and
frustrations
by
leaving
Barbie
land
and
discovering
the
real
world,
where
men
are
dominant
and
powerful.
He
tries
to
emulate
the
stereotypes
of
masculinity
that
he
sees
in
movies
and
media,
such
as
wearing
fur
coats,
riding
horses,
and
building
a
Mojo
Dojo
Casa
House.
He
also
tries
to
impose
his
newfound
authority
on
the
other
Kens,
who
follow
him
blindly.
However,
he
soon
realizes
that
his
actions
are
not
making
him
happy
or
fulfilled,
and
that
he
is
alienating
Barbie
and
the
other
Barbies.
He
eventually
learns
to
accept
himself
as
he
is,
and
to
respect
Barbie
as
an
equal
partner.
He
also
discovers
his
own
passions
and
talents,
such
as
singing
and
dancing.
Ken’s
journey
is
a
satire
of
the
traditional
gender
roles
and
expectations
that
society
imposes
on
men
and
women.
It
also
shows
how
men
can
be
vulnerable
and
sensitive,
and
how
they
can
overcome
their
insecurities
by
being
true
to
themselves
and
by
respecting
others.
Oppenheimer:
A
Genius’s
Struggle
with
His
Creation
Oppenheimer
is
a
physicist
who
leads
the
Manhattan
Project,
the
secret
program
that
develops
the
atomic
bomb
during
World
War
II.
He
is
a
genius
and
a
visionary,
who
believes
that
his
work
will
end
the
war
and
advance
science.
He
is
also
a
complex
and
conflicted
man,
who
has
a
troubled
marriage,
an
affair
with
a
communist
sympathizer,
and
a
history
of
depression.
He
copes
with
his
insecurities
and
frustrations
by
dedicating
himself
to
his
mission,
by
collaborating
with
other
brilliant
scientists,
and
by
seeking
guidance
from
his
mentors.
However,
he
also
faces
moral
dilemmas,
political
pressures,
and
personal
attacks
from
his
enemies.
He
struggles
with
the
consequences
of
his
creation,
which
unleashes
unprecedented
destruction
and
changes
the
course
of
history.
He
eventually
becomes
a
victim
of
the
Cold
War
paranoia,
which
accuses
him
of
being
a
traitor
and
strips
him
of
his
security
clearance.
Oppenheimer’s
story
is
a
tragedy
of
the
human
condition
and
the
ethical
implications
of
scientific
progress.
It
also
shows
how
men
can
be
ambitious
and
arrogant,
and
how
they
can
face
their
insecurities
by
handling
their
actions
and
by
accepting
their
fate.
Ken
and
Oppenheimer
are
two
portraits
of
masculinity
in
movies
that
show
different
aspects
of
masculinity
and
how
they
cope
with
their
insecurities
and
frustrations.
They
both
have
their
own
insecurities
and
frustrations,
but
they
deal
with
them
in
very
different
ways.
Ken
is
more
compassionate
and
humbler,
while
Oppenheimer
is
more
ambitious
and
arrogant.
Their
different
coping
strategies
have
different
consequences
for
themselves
and
for
others.
Both
of
these
movies
are
not
only
entertaining
but
also
thought
provoking,
as
they
challenge
the
stereotypes
of
masculinity
that
are
often
portrayed
in
media
and
culture.
They
also
invite
us
to
reflect
on
our
own
identities
and
relationships,
as
well
as
on
the
social
and
ethical
issues
that
affect
our
world.
Original Story on AVFM
These stories are from AVoiceForMen.com.
(Changing the cultural narrative)