Exploring Earp and Katz Tough Guise thoery!!

Jackson Katz and Jeremy Earp, media educators and activists, have a really interesting theory that holds huge relevance to our project called the "tough guise" theory. They talk about how masculinity is not something men are simply born with but something they perform in response to social expectations. A funny thing is how a lot of the things in our movie are connected to a mask. I explained before how the word "Makhota" means "mask" and then how the mask plays a double role as the mask of the antagonist and the mask the father is wearing. The word "guise" also means "mask," suggesting that many men adopt a tough, aggressive persona to fit cultural ideals of what it means to be masculine.

From the start men are pushed into wearing this mask, to believe they must be dominant, emotionally controlled, and physically strong, while vulnerability is often labeled as weakness.

This theory is still very applicable today, especially in the era of social media, when concepts of masculinity are continuously propagated and reinforced. The image of the "alpha male," which emphasizes dominance, emotional detachment, and control, is frequently promoted by platforms like TikTok and Instagram, mirroring the rough façade Katz describes.