RYAN WILLMAN
Arrow Lakes News
Tough Guise 2 was presented at the Bonnington Arts Center on Sunday April 19 in conjunction with Prevention of Violence Against Women Week and National Victims of Crime Awareness Week. The movie offers an analysis and deconstruction of the notions of masculinity through a sweeping critical look at race, gender, class, ethnicity, politics, literature, media and social networks.
Based on the research and theories developed by Jackson Katz, Tough Guise 2 argues that a cultural normalization of violence, alongside a perpetual indoctrination of outdated ideas of manhood, has fostered an epidemic of aggressive and destructive behavior in North American men. Katz challenges his audience to reconsider preconceived notions of power and masculinity while taking a critical look at the very controversial and difficult question of why, that is inevitably asked after horrific events such as mass shootings.
The movie screening, along with the following discussion and reflection, was orchestrated through Arrow and Slocan Lake Community Services (ASLCS), hosted by Carlee Hughes and Debbi Pitaoulis. Working together, Hughs and Pitaoulis have collaborated on a number of projects designed to engage the community and spread conversations about violence and gender inequality in our society.
“The goal of our group of co-workers,” Pitaoulis explains, “is not to make this area a healthy community, but to make it the healthiest.”
After the movie, the discussion revolved around the proliferation of media in the home and the profound influence it has on the development of our youth. Drawing on specific examples such as truck commercials and even an anecdote about the sexual politics of big horned sheep, the audience expanded on the themes of masculinity and media literacy in our community. Hughes and Pitaoulis helped guide the thoughtful reflection and encouraged the audience to initiate discussions in the community.
“There was about 25 people here tonight,” Hughes reflects, “and if one person leaves and is even just changed a little bit by the way they view things and sparks a conversation that changes someone else’s mind, that would mean this was worth it.”
The group of ASLCS co-workers plans to continue to engage the local community with their educational campaigns and is working on a healthy relationships curriculum to bring to the elementary school.