Are men idiots?

[CrazeeEddie]

Also, how many men are skimpily clad when totally unnecessary compared to women? I'm sure that's fine with the men, though.

Do you count topless as skimpily clad? Because this is actually quite common on TV, in print, etc.

[August1991]

On a semi-related note, the majority (if not most) of shows are centered on male characters. In action or drama shows, you tend to have the show centered on a male character with a number of highly positive characteristics, and often a few flaws as well. For sit-coms, the show is still centered on male characters... but the character tends to be flawed in ways that the viewer is intended to find amusing.

I have noticed this too - at least in the case of movies.

If you look at the main credits of most movies, men are more preponderant than women. I bet that male actors get (far?) more speaking lines than female actors. Even in a James Bond movie, there are a few sexy girls but the antagonist and his various henchmen are always male. Maybe some grad student has done an analysis of imdb.

I always explained this by the logic that women prefer to watch men, and men prefer to watch men - with a few sexy women around. Dunno.

-----

A google search later.

Women may make up 51% of the population, but actresses nabbed only 29.9% of the 4,379 speaking parts in the 100 top-grossing films of 2007, or so says a new study released by University of Southern Californias Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism, which was conducted by professor Stacy L. Smith.

Link Edited April 25, 2010 by August1991

[Michael Hardner]

10 years ago, I was working on a play I had written in Toronto. Returning from rehearsal on the subway, the lead actress and I discussed this topic and her take on it was that most stories revolve around men because men lead more interesting lives than women. It would stand to reason, then, that this situation would change as the world changes.

I just finished watching the 5-season TV series 'The Wire' and one of the things I liked about it was that there was no lack of female characters or stories, but a reluctance to show 'romantic' storylines. Women, like men, are rightly shown as part of the daily struggle - however that plays out.

[Guest American Woman]

I always explained this by the logic that women prefer to watch men, and men prefer to watch men - with a few sexy women around. Dunno.

Don't know about what men prefer to watch, but I don't buy the "women prefer to watch men" explanation. Of course I like to watch men, but I don't prefer it as I like to watch women, too. Some of my favorite shows/movies have had women in major roles: Sex and the City, Desperate Housewives, Gilmore Girls, Charlie's Angels, Legally Blonde to name a few. Some of those are just plain fun, which I prefer over blood and gore. But then there's the classics such as Gone with the Wind, which is about Scarlett first and foremost.

If men hold more major roles, I believe it's because it's still more of a man's world. Most scripts are still written, cast, directed, and produced by men.

[Argus]

the really SHARP END OF OCCAM’S RAZOR…

they mix SKEPTICISM with ATHEISM…

KABOOM…

Now I want you to listen to this little f*cker...

I think you are confused by the topic title. It was not asking men who are idiots to come and self-identify.

But thanks for playing.

[kimmy]

10 years ago, I was working on a play I had written in Toronto. Returning from rehearsal on the subway, the lead actress and I discussed this topic and her take on it was that most stories revolve around men because men lead more interesting lives than women.

I think a lot of the stories we tell-- from ancient myths about fighting monsters to modern stories about soldiers and adventurers-- tend to be quite male in nature. Attempts to put female characters into these stories often seem forced and lack a sense of authenticity. A lot of attempts to create female characters that fit into this sort of arena result in a character that Alan Moore once called, "yet another Tough Bitch With A Disintegrator And An Extra 'Y' Chromosome". Mediocre action stories are littered with this sort of character.

I think a lot of ensemble cast stories tend to be centered on a male character because the male character is the senior character and the leader (lots of things from CSI to Star Trek, really) and I think writers tend to feel most comfortable with a male character in that role... it jives with our experience, it seems authentic, and female leaders often come across as grating or unsympathetic or just not believable.

As pertains to sit-coms and the male bumblers JerrySeinfeld was complaining about... I think that it's probably just much easier to create a flawed male character that people will like than a flawed female. The exceptions I can think of.. Roseanne Barr... Sara Rue... I guess being overweight is a key. Ugly Betty had braces and ridiculous glasses. hmm.

-k

[sleepyguy1]

I think a lot of the stories we tell-- from ancient myths about fighting monsters to modern stories about soldiers and adventurers-- tend to be quite male in nature. Attempts to put female characters into these stories often seem forced and lack a sense of authenticity.

Exceptions to the rule do exist. Only one thing I can think of at the moment is the movie precious.

[Smallc]

Yes, we are...I've proven it to myself again.

Edited May 22, 2010 by Smallc

[Wilber]

It's just a marketing ploy, for the target audience.

Everybody knows, real men don't eat Danone

On the contrary, real men eat anything.

[Hobble]

Men may rule the world, but women rule men...