Select ONE of the following movies to view and write about: A Better Life OR first two episodes of UPLOAD
They are both available via Netflix.
UPLOAD (first two episodes): https://www.amazon.com/Bring-Your-Dad-
WorkDay/dp/B087CGQSWT/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=upload&qid=1589829228&s=instant-
video&sr=1-2
A Better Life: https://www.amazon.com/Demian-Bichir/dp/B005IHRBX4/ref=sr_1_1?
crid=D1UBAGNFBZIE&dchild=1&keywords=a+better+life
+movie&qid=1589829276&s=instantvideo&sprefix=a+better+life%2Cinstant-video%2C142&sr=1-1
The topic of the essay is “masculinity.” Write 500 words total that answer the following questions:
[Please note that essays that are 100 words below word count will receive a 10-point deduction right off
the bat.]
Both of these productions have strong male leads (the father and son in A Better Life – Carlos Galindo and
Luis Galindo, respectively – and the lead character in UPLOAD, respectively).
Based on the production that you viewed, what are the different ways that the concept of “masculinity”
manifests itself? And how does the concept of “masculinity” shape the plot?
Please provide examples from the production that you viewed.
What are the ways that the production's plot challenges the traditional construction of masculinity? (The
traditional construction of masculinity is that men should be strong – emotionally and physically; that they
should be unemotional and powerful in the family and in one’s profession).
Please provide examples of how the production you watched offers contrasting examples of “traditional
masculinity,” i.e. masculinity that is not exclusively based on physical power and domination.
Now that you have read these two questions, let’s all get on the same page about “masculinity.” These two
online articles both define masculinity and present the difficulties of its social construction, and the
burden they impose.
“Redefining masculinity,” American Psychological Association, June 2012,
https://www.apa.org/monitor/2012/06/masculinity
“The boys are not alright,” The New York Times, Feb. 21, 2018,
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/21/opinion/boys-violence-shootings-guns.html
Sample Solution