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Men Without Shirts: Bollywood, Bodybuilding and Masculinities in Pakistan

Year 2020, Issue: 14, 35 - 60, 15.11.2020

Abstract

Gujranwala is a city known for its wrestlers. Over the past few years, the traditional wrestling is transforming into an urban phenomenon of bodybuilding; though, the focus on male body has remained the same. Wrestling and bodybuilding are not mere sports in this city but rather an expression of one’s masculinity and dominance. A certain type of Bollywood movie culture, in which the hero is shown as a hyper-masculine, muscular and assertive man, have become very popular among the male audience in Gujranwala. This study aims at investigating the connection between the fast-growing gym culture in Gujranwala and such Bollywood movies, and how the hegemonic masculinity shown in these movies is being interpreted by the male Bollywood audiences in Gujranwala. Through Quota Sampling, and with the sample of a hundred bodybuilders, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted. The corresponding results showed that Bollywood movies were extremely popular in Gujranwala; gym-goers idealised heroes with particular hegemonic body types and behavioural patterns and believed that they inspired them to join gyms.

References

  • Aijaz, R. (2016, July 19). ‘Sultan’ Makes Rs 300m on Pakistani Box Office. Retrieved from The Express Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1144999/winning-streak-sultan-makes-rs-300m-%20pakistani-box-office
  • Ali, U. (2016, July 14). A Body Blow: The Deadly Practices Among Bodybuilders in Punjab. Retrieved from Herald: http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153619
  • Alsop, R., Fitzsimons, A., & Lennon, K. (2002). Theorizing Gender. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Bandura, A. (1971). Social Learning Theory. New York: General Learning Press.
  • Bandura, A. (2002). Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication. In J. Bryant, & D. Zillmann, Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research (pp. 121-153). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Carden‐Coyne, A. A. (2009). Classical Heroism and Modern Life: Bodybuilding and Masculinity in the Early Twentieth Century. Journal of Australian Studies, 23(63), 138-149.
  • Ciecko, A. (2001). Superhit Hunk Heroes for Sale: Globalization and Bollywood's Gender Politics. Asian Journal of Communication , 11(2), 121-143.
  • Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept. Gender and Society, 19(6), 829–859.
  • Dawn. (2011, September 04). Eid Films: Revival or Survival of Cinema? Retrieved from Dawn.com: https://www.dawn.com/news/656488/eid-films-revival-or-survival-of-cinema
  • Denham, B. E. (2008). Masculinities in Hardcore Bodybuilding. Men and Masculinities, 11(2), 234–242.
  • Deus, P. (2012, March 18). Whose Body Is This? Society's Ideal Male Body. Retrieved from Bodybuilding.com: https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par34.html
  • Dhar, M. (2013, July 25). Does 'Roid Rage' Really Exist? Retrieved from Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/38354-what-is-roid-rage.html
  • Dornan, J. (2004). Blood from the Moon: Gender Ideology and the Rise of Ancient Maya Social Complexity. Gender and History. 16 (2), 459-475.
  • Emery, M. (2003). Men's Bodybuilding: A Short History. Retrieved from Men's Bodybuilding: A Short History: http://www.bodybuildingreviews.net/Bodybuilding.html
  • Foss, S. K. (2008). Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc. .
  • Howse, C. (2012, November 01). 25 Characteristics of an Alpha Male. Retrieved from Chad Howse Fitness: http://chadhowsefitness.com/2012/11/25-characteristics-of-an-alpha-male/
  • Huesmann, L. R. (2005). Imitation and the Effects of Observing Media Violence on Behavior. Perspectives on Imitation: From Neuroscience to Social Science: Imitation, Human Development, and Culture.
  • Hussain, T. (2017, February 26). Pakistan’s Forbidden Romance with Bollywood. Retrieved from South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2072968/pakistans-forbidden-romance-bollywood
  • Indicine. (2013). Dabangg 2 Pakistan Box Office: Record Breaking Opening Day. Retrieved from Indicine: https://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/dabangg-2-pakistan-box-office-record-breaking-opening-day/
  • Juni, M. S. (2014). Impact of Bollywood Movies on Cultural Transformation among Pakistani Youth in University of Sargodha’s Students, Sargodha. International Journal of Research, 1(9), 107-200.
  • Kapoor, H. (2017). The Bechdel in India: Gendered Depictions in Contemporary Hindi Cinema. Journal of Gender Studies, 26(2), 212-226.
  • Kaufman, S. B. (2015, December 10). The Myth of the Alpha Male. Retrieved from Greater Good Magazine: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_myth_of_the_alpha_male
  • Kavi, A. R. (2000). The Changing Image of the Hero in Hindi Films. Journal of Homosexuality, 39(3-4), 307-312.
  • Keane, H. (2005). Diagnosing the Male Steroid User: Drug Use, Body Image and Disordered Masculinity. Health, 9(2),189–208.
  • Khan , S., & Taylor, L. D. (2018). Gender Policing in Mainstream Hindi Cinema: A Decade of Central Female Characters in Top-Grossing Bollywood Movies. International Journal of Communication, 12, 3641–3662.
  • Lakshami, R. (2014). A lesson from a Bollywood star on what makes ‘a real man’. Retrieved from Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/10/a-lesson- from-a-bollywood-star-on-what-makes-a-real-man/
  • Matusitz, J., & Payano, P. (2012). Globalisation Of Popular Culture: From Hollywood To Bollywood. South Asia Research, 32(2), 123–138.
  • Miller, T. (1998). Commodifying the Male Body, Problematizing "Hegemonic Masculinity?". Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 22 (4), 431–446.
  • Mills, J. S., & D'alfonso, S. R. (2007). Competition and Male Body Image: Increased Drive for Muscularity Following Failure to a Female. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(4), 505-518.
  • Mishkind, M. E., Rodin, J., Silberstein, L. R., & Striegel-Moore, R. H. (1986). The Embodiment of Masculinity: Cultural, Psychological, and Behavioral Dimensions. American Behavioral Scientist, 29(5), 545–562.
  • Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), 6-18.
  • O’Rorke, K. (2006). Social Learning Theory & Mass Communication. ABEA Journal, 25, 72-74.
  • Primus, M. (2014). Body Dissatisfaction and Males: A Conceptual Model. Scholarly Horizons, 1, 1-24.
  • Nagpal, P. (2015). 8 Bollywood Movies That Rocked The Box Office Charts In Pakistan. Retrieved from SchoopWhoop: https://www.scoopwhoop.com/entertainment/bollywood-movies-that-rocked-the- box-office-charts-in-pakistan/#.qmhzh7bus
  • PlanetBollywood. (2007). Retrieved from http://planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=112707023731
  • Rodgers, C. (1995). Elisabeth Badinter and "The Second Sex": An Interview. Signs, 21(1), 147-162.
  • Roy, A. G. (2010). Bhangra Moves: From Ludhiana to London and Beyond. New York: Ashgate Publishing .
  • Shandilya, K. (2014). Of Enraged Shirts, Gyrating Gangsters, and Farting Bullets: Salman Khan and the New Bollywood Action Film. South Asian Popular Culture , 12(2), 111-121.
  • The Indian Express. (2009, January 21). Forget Indo-Pak Tensions, Pakistanis Can't Resist Bollywood! Retrieved from The Indian Express: http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/forget-indopak-tensions-pakistanis-cant-%20resist-bollywood-/413535/
  • Verkaaik, O. (2013). Notes on the Sublime: Aspects of Political Violence in Urban Pakistan. South Asian Popular Culture, 11(2), 109-119.
  • Vetticad, A. M. (2016, May 31). The Changing Face of ‘Mardaangi’ in Bollywood: Men May Now be Gentle, Gorgeous and/or Gay. Retrieved from Firstpost: https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/the-changing-face-of-mardaangi-in-bollywood-men-may-now-be-gentle-gorgeous-andor-gay-2808174.html

Üstsüz Erkekler: Pakistan’da Bollywood, Vücut Geliştirme ve Erkeklikler

Year 2020, Issue: 14, 35 - 60, 15.11.2020

Abstract

Gujranwala, Pakistan’da güreşçileriyle bilinen bir şehirdir. Son birkaç senedir, geleneksel güreş, vücut geliştirmenin kentlileştirilmiş bir versiyonuna dönüşmeye başlasa da, erkek bedeni üzerindeki odakta bir değişme söz konusu değildir. Güreş ve vücut geliştirme faaliyetleri Gujranwala’da sadece birer spor faaliyeti olmaktan ziyade erkekliğin ve baskınlığın ifade edilmesi için birer araç olarak kullanılmaktadır. Kahramanın hiper maskülen, kaslı ve kendine güvenen erkekler olduğu Bollywood sinema kültüründeki erkeklik tipi Gujranwala’daki erkek izleyici kitlesinde oldukça populerleşmiş durumdadır. Bu çalışma, Gujranwala’da hızlı gelişen spor salonu kültürü ve bahsi geçen Bollywood filmleri arasındaki bağlantıyı ve bu tarz filmlerde sunulan hegemonik erkekliğin Gujranwala’daki erkek izleyiciler tarafından nasıl yorumlandığını araştırmaktır. Yüz vücut geliştiren erkeği kota örnekleme yoluyla dahil ederek bir anket araştırması uygulanmıştır. Araştırmanın sonuçları Bollywood sinemasının Gujranwala’da oldukça popüler olduğunu, vücut geliştiren erkeklerin bu filmlerde sunulan hegemonik bedenler ve davranışlar örüntülerini idealleştirdiğini ve bu erkeklik temsillerinin spor salonlarına kaydolma konusunda erkeklere ilham verdiğini göstermektedir.

References

  • Aijaz, R. (2016, July 19). ‘Sultan’ Makes Rs 300m on Pakistani Box Office. Retrieved from The Express Tribune: https://tribune.com.pk/story/1144999/winning-streak-sultan-makes-rs-300m-%20pakistani-box-office
  • Ali, U. (2016, July 14). A Body Blow: The Deadly Practices Among Bodybuilders in Punjab. Retrieved from Herald: http://herald.dawn.com/news/1153619
  • Alsop, R., Fitzsimons, A., & Lennon, K. (2002). Theorizing Gender. Cambridge: Polity Press.
  • Bandura, A. (1971). Social Learning Theory. New York: General Learning Press.
  • Bandura, A. (2002). Social Cognitive Theory of Mass Communication. In J. Bryant, & D. Zillmann, Media Effects: Advances in Theory and Research (pp. 121-153). New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Publishers.
  • Carden‐Coyne, A. A. (2009). Classical Heroism and Modern Life: Bodybuilding and Masculinity in the Early Twentieth Century. Journal of Australian Studies, 23(63), 138-149.
  • Ciecko, A. (2001). Superhit Hunk Heroes for Sale: Globalization and Bollywood's Gender Politics. Asian Journal of Communication , 11(2), 121-143.
  • Connell, R. W., & Messerschmidt, J. W. (2005). Hegemonic Masculinity: Rethinking the Concept. Gender and Society, 19(6), 829–859.
  • Dawn. (2011, September 04). Eid Films: Revival or Survival of Cinema? Retrieved from Dawn.com: https://www.dawn.com/news/656488/eid-films-revival-or-survival-of-cinema
  • Denham, B. E. (2008). Masculinities in Hardcore Bodybuilding. Men and Masculinities, 11(2), 234–242.
  • Deus, P. (2012, March 18). Whose Body Is This? Society's Ideal Male Body. Retrieved from Bodybuilding.com: https://www.bodybuilding.com/fun/par34.html
  • Dhar, M. (2013, July 25). Does 'Roid Rage' Really Exist? Retrieved from Live Science: https://www.livescience.com/38354-what-is-roid-rage.html
  • Dornan, J. (2004). Blood from the Moon: Gender Ideology and the Rise of Ancient Maya Social Complexity. Gender and History. 16 (2), 459-475.
  • Emery, M. (2003). Men's Bodybuilding: A Short History. Retrieved from Men's Bodybuilding: A Short History: http://www.bodybuildingreviews.net/Bodybuilding.html
  • Foss, S. K. (2008). Rhetorical Criticism: Exploration and Practice. Long Grove, IL: Waveland Press Inc. .
  • Howse, C. (2012, November 01). 25 Characteristics of an Alpha Male. Retrieved from Chad Howse Fitness: http://chadhowsefitness.com/2012/11/25-characteristics-of-an-alpha-male/
  • Huesmann, L. R. (2005). Imitation and the Effects of Observing Media Violence on Behavior. Perspectives on Imitation: From Neuroscience to Social Science: Imitation, Human Development, and Culture.
  • Hussain, T. (2017, February 26). Pakistan’s Forbidden Romance with Bollywood. Retrieved from South China Morning Post: https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/society/article/2072968/pakistans-forbidden-romance-bollywood
  • Indicine. (2013). Dabangg 2 Pakistan Box Office: Record Breaking Opening Day. Retrieved from Indicine: https://www.indicine.com/movies/bollywood/dabangg-2-pakistan-box-office-record-breaking-opening-day/
  • Juni, M. S. (2014). Impact of Bollywood Movies on Cultural Transformation among Pakistani Youth in University of Sargodha’s Students, Sargodha. International Journal of Research, 1(9), 107-200.
  • Kapoor, H. (2017). The Bechdel in India: Gendered Depictions in Contemporary Hindi Cinema. Journal of Gender Studies, 26(2), 212-226.
  • Kaufman, S. B. (2015, December 10). The Myth of the Alpha Male. Retrieved from Greater Good Magazine: https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/the_myth_of_the_alpha_male
  • Kavi, A. R. (2000). The Changing Image of the Hero in Hindi Films. Journal of Homosexuality, 39(3-4), 307-312.
  • Keane, H. (2005). Diagnosing the Male Steroid User: Drug Use, Body Image and Disordered Masculinity. Health, 9(2),189–208.
  • Khan , S., & Taylor, L. D. (2018). Gender Policing in Mainstream Hindi Cinema: A Decade of Central Female Characters in Top-Grossing Bollywood Movies. International Journal of Communication, 12, 3641–3662.
  • Lakshami, R. (2014). A lesson from a Bollywood star on what makes ‘a real man’. Retrieved from Washington Post: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2014/11/10/a-lesson- from-a-bollywood-star-on-what-makes-a-real-man/
  • Matusitz, J., & Payano, P. (2012). Globalisation Of Popular Culture: From Hollywood To Bollywood. South Asia Research, 32(2), 123–138.
  • Miller, T. (1998). Commodifying the Male Body, Problematizing "Hegemonic Masculinity?". Journal of Sport and Social Issues, 22 (4), 431–446.
  • Mills, J. S., & D'alfonso, S. R. (2007). Competition and Male Body Image: Increased Drive for Muscularity Following Failure to a Female. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 26(4), 505-518.
  • Mishkind, M. E., Rodin, J., Silberstein, L. R., & Striegel-Moore, R. H. (1986). The Embodiment of Masculinity: Cultural, Psychological, and Behavioral Dimensions. American Behavioral Scientist, 29(5), 545–562.
  • Mulvey, L. (1975). Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Screen, 16(3), 6-18.
  • O’Rorke, K. (2006). Social Learning Theory & Mass Communication. ABEA Journal, 25, 72-74.
  • Primus, M. (2014). Body Dissatisfaction and Males: A Conceptual Model. Scholarly Horizons, 1, 1-24.
  • Nagpal, P. (2015). 8 Bollywood Movies That Rocked The Box Office Charts In Pakistan. Retrieved from SchoopWhoop: https://www.scoopwhoop.com/entertainment/bollywood-movies-that-rocked-the- box-office-charts-in-pakistan/#.qmhzh7bus
  • PlanetBollywood. (2007). Retrieved from http://planetbollywood.com/displayArticle.php?id=112707023731
  • Rodgers, C. (1995). Elisabeth Badinter and "The Second Sex": An Interview. Signs, 21(1), 147-162.
  • Roy, A. G. (2010). Bhangra Moves: From Ludhiana to London and Beyond. New York: Ashgate Publishing .
  • Shandilya, K. (2014). Of Enraged Shirts, Gyrating Gangsters, and Farting Bullets: Salman Khan and the New Bollywood Action Film. South Asian Popular Culture , 12(2), 111-121.
  • The Indian Express. (2009, January 21). Forget Indo-Pak Tensions, Pakistanis Can't Resist Bollywood! Retrieved from The Indian Express: http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/forget-indopak-tensions-pakistanis-cant-%20resist-bollywood-/413535/
  • Verkaaik, O. (2013). Notes on the Sublime: Aspects of Political Violence in Urban Pakistan. South Asian Popular Culture, 11(2), 109-119.
  • Vetticad, A. M. (2016, May 31). The Changing Face of ‘Mardaangi’ in Bollywood: Men May Now be Gentle, Gorgeous and/or Gay. Retrieved from Firstpost: https://www.firstpost.com/entertainment/the-changing-face-of-mardaangi-in-bollywood-men-may-now-be-gentle-gorgeous-andor-gay-2808174.html
There are 41 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Philosophy, Sociology, Creative Arts and Writing
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Amna Nasir This is me 0000-0001-7981-7192

Publication Date November 15, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Issue: 14

Cite

APA Nasir, A. (2020). Men Without Shirts: Bollywood, Bodybuilding and Masculinities in Pakistan. Masculinities: A Journal of Identity and Culture(14), 35-60.