Masculinity in Avatar: The Last Airbender - What Makes a Man?

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avatar and masculinity.

SOCIAL MEDIA

SOURCES:
The Social Construction of Gender - Judith Lorber
How Can I Get Through to You? - Terrence Real
The Myth of Masculinity - Joseph Pleck
The Making of Masculinities - Multiple authors
The Will to Change - bell hooks
The Reproduction of Mothering - Nancy Chodorow



MUSIC:
The Call
Nascence
Yue
Zuko Beach
Death of Walter
Queen's Gardens
Iroh's Speech
Embracing the Light
Safe Return

#avatarthelastairbender #atla #cartoon

[SagesRain]

Avatar Generations and The Hegemon's Folly are available now on iPhone and Android— download it today!

[dtay]

Rest. Because everyone knows, a man needs his rest.

[NauticalCoffin]

Being masculine means being a really buff guy.

Someone like Toph Beifong.

[StardustSaiyan]

Uncle Iroh was one of the architects of my view of masculinity. He’s kind, patient, powerful, virtuous, humble, and wise. He’s not perfect, but he learns from his mistakes. He knows when to be serious and when to chill or goof around.

His natural instinct is to guide and mentor. Men like Iroh are needed for young men like Zuko when men like Ozai fail them. Like Jiraiya (from Naruto), he didn’t seek or want leadership roles, but he was instrumental in raising the next generation of world leaders and setting them on the right path.

I think Uncle Iroh is the ideal end result of a man who is receptive to their mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual growth and has found a sense of peace and balance with his masculinity and overall identity. Men like Iroh have a positive impact on the people around them and make the world a better place.

Also need to give credit:

Sokka: Despite his humorous exterior, he bears a great sense of responsibility when he doesn’t need to, and he just rises to the occasion every time. Respect.

Zuko: I don’t think I’ve ever seen character growth done as well as his. No words. Legendary. Restored the f*** out of his honor.

Aang: I’m often reminded about what Kuwabara said in Yu Yu Hakusho. Something along the lines of “when men do what they’re supposed to do, it’s not always about what they want”. Aang faced the pressure of having to save the entire world when he was just a kid. He understandably ran away at first, but came back and selflessly did the work to restore balance. And he stuck to his pacifistic morals by working to find new solutions, which I think is worthy of respect. He’s a hero.

*Sorry this is so long but it’s like you read my mind! I was just thinking about how accurately masculinity was portrayed in this show and then here comes your video lol

[guilhermeteodosio]

Sokka's the absolute chad, dude's just a regular guy chilling with the Fire Lord, the Messiah, the first metal-bender and the last southern waterbender and still manages to stand out as a character, mf learned respect for women, invented aircraft, lost a rap battle, used drugs, designed the first submarine, mastered swordmenship, self-love and clapped cheeks all in a spam of 6 MONTHS!!

[wattsnottaken]

All young men secretly know that Uncle Iroh’s masculinity type is the kind that we know we should strive for. For real we all know it

[tuckerhanna]

Anyone else shed some tears. Cause this was the guidance I needed

[mitchy]

I'm a woman and this video made me tremble. I'll never experience the "being the man experience, " so I'll never fully understand it. But how I empathize with you guys. Thank you for everything

[SpammytheHedgehog]

In a way, Sokka and Zuko were the polar opposite of each other.

- Sokka came from the poor Southern Water Tribe and Zuko came from the rich Fire Nation.
- Sokka left the Southern Water Tribe to travel all across the world with Aang and Zuko was banished. Force to return home if he captures Aang.
- Sokka had always known of his destiny and Zuko had taken a long time to figure out his destiny.

[TrevieTrev]

That’s why ATLA is the goat series. All of these men shaped my view of masculinity and how we strive to be men of quality and kindness. I was a lot like Sokka in my approach but I learned the benefits of being empathic and controlled with my emotions.

[SpammytheHedgehog]

Zuko proved that you don't need to please people to follow your destiny.

[sabashukvani]

As a young child, this show taught me a plethora of invaluable lessons. Its profundity and wisdom are not to be underestimated. ATLA will always be my favorite show of all time.

[freddogrosso]

Ozai: So your uncle convinced you?
Zuko: Yes, he did.
That moment. That small pause and faint smile. And Ozai is super pissed after that.
Man, what a show.

[WhenIsItUs]

I think before we decide what to do as good men or good women, we should focus on what it means to be a good person.

Edit: Awesome video once again, by the way!

[SpammytheHedgehog]

Zuko and Sokka had a great life changing field trip.

[samuellaakso]

"Choosing Iroh's version of masculinity" is also the moment that changed the future of Fire Nation. Zuko broke the chain. By choosing the complete opposite of what he's been thought his whole life he saved himself and his nation, without nessesarily realising it himself.

[raralovely]

This video brought me to tears multiple times and I am a girl! I think I identify with most of the characters of this show mostly because how "human" they are. They don't feel different from me whether it's a male or female character. Yet now I understand even more why this show is ever so graceful. Why its characters always feels so endearing and loveable.
Thank you for this wonderful video! ❤

[stickthelanding]

When I was young my mother would often tell me to stop acting like a girl or to be a man whenever I cried or was weak when doing something.

This made me repress a lot of things making me aggressive and quiet. Hell the reason she does this was that her father had said similar things to her as a child.

These traits could carry over for generations if left unchecked.

[EstoyPensando]

Your mention of Zhao’s attitude towards Zuko sparing him during their Agni Kai reminded me of his death. How he would rather die than accept the help of a coward, or someone he sees less than a man. Maybe even anyone’s help, as he would see that as a failure on his own part as the leader of this whole siege

[alwayseverythingg]

I always really loved how although Aang is the most powerful man and person in his world, he is a soft and gentle spirit. He can fight, and train, and perform some of the most “masculine” things like defeating the fire lord. But he can also cry, and care, and put flowers on his head, and praise and uplift women.