Today, what does it mean to be a man?

Growing up I have seen images on television, magazines and in the media in general that answers that question for me. It paints a picture of masculinity that makes me ashamed to be a man.

Whether it’s the Axe body spray ads where smug men use their products and women follow in a zombie-like state, or it’s the hip-hop songs where cars, jewelry and sex are life’s only goals, it paints a disgusting picture of our sex that I have always rejected.

On the other hand, the whole sensitive-guy thing is just as dumb.

In my high school years the whole “Emo” cultural phenomenon was at its peak.

As someone who considers himself sensitive and a big rock music fan, it made me just as mad to see the ridiculous fashions, the whiney music, and the strange competition to prove how deep you were, as the super aggressive Axe display of masculinity.

I would just look at the ridiculous haircuts, listen to the stupid cliche lyrics and I know they didn’t ever feel the pain they were singing of, that they were just trying to get girls.

The worst part of it was seeing how quickly the teenagers and young men around me would pick up these stereotypes and let that be who they are. I spent my high school years looking around wondering if there was an original soul around me.

I look at college-aged adults now and nothing really has changed. “Emo” is now “Indie” and the same guys seem to think that Axe will somehow get them women.

I only use the example of manhood because it’s what I know.

Every person in America is sold  into these ideas of who to be.

I just have a hope that people would define themselves outside of pure imitation.

If people would define themselves outside of what they see on television, I can’t help, but think that people would be more interesting, and that our music and movies would be better, every artist from John Lennon to Vincent van Gogh had to be an original thinker to make great art.

We need to remember that most of the stuff we see in media is trying to sell us something, whether it’s a product or lifestyle.  I think we should define ourselves beyond the sales pitch.

It really is quite easy to step away from all the messages that we are fed each day.

Just the simple fact knowing that it’s a sales pitch can make it less effective.

I know, it’s worked for me. The person that I considered myself to be has changed a lot over the years, but I’ve always known that I came up with it, that it was based on something inside myself.

It’s a great feeling knowing that I am always my own person.  I’m not saying you can’t have heroes that inspire. I’m not saying you can’t have a group you identify with.

I guess I just want people to be original and have something new to say.