Will Craig's form of masculinity become parody in years to come?

Absolutely_Cart · January 2015

Culture changes over time. Fat men used to be seen as wealthy and elegant. Now fat men are slobs. Big penises today are coveted, but many years ago they were seen as silly.

Today, Craig seems to represent the modern-day aspirations of what the average guy wants to be. Stylish, clean, well-groomed, six-pack abs, fresh car. Hard, tough as nails, emotional tortured soul. Is a bad-ass that could break steel but is tender enough for a woman's true love. He's the kind of guy you'd see on an AskMen.com advertisement selling you Cellucore dietary supplements or expensive watches.

Part of what makes him so popular is how convincing he plays the role of Bond. In years to come will he be seen as a fading ideal, as women might tend to favor more down-to-earth, laid-back and subtle guys?

Gassy Man · January 2015

I think it's inevitable that he will be parodied (as he is right now by some). However, since Bond represents classic male traits across most cultures, I'm not sure it will last. The next Bond will have some of the same qualities, but either more or less. Which direction they go and how successful they are at it will determine how silly by comparison Craig will seem.

Absolutely_Cart · January 2015

Gassy Man wrote:

I think it's inevitable that he will be parodied (as he is right now by some). However, since Bond represents classic male traits across most cultures, I'm not sure it will last. The next Bond will have some of the same qualities, but either more or less. Which direction they go and how successful they are at it will determine how silly by comparison Craig will seem.

With someone more moderate, down-to-earth and tame like Brosnan or Moore, sure they may not be seen as sex symbols forever, but I can't say they'd become parodies either.

It's possible that Craig's emphasis on trying so hard to be the top alpha male will backfire. We might see him as the 16 year old kid who posts a pic of himself shirtless on myspace.

broadshoulder · February 2015

Absolutely_Cart wrote:

With someone more moderate, down-to-earth and tame like Brosnan or Moore, sure they may not be seen as sex symbols forever, but I can't say they'd become parodies either.

.

Brosnan and Moore were parodies anyway. Did either of them try ro "act" James Bond

AlphaOmegaSin · February 2015

Every Bond has been parodied to a large extent, except Dalton who has been largely left alone -{

Thunderpussy · February 2015

Also no matter what you do, you can be parodied.

it's nothing
To be frightened of.

M 'n' M · February 2015

Agree with TP that everyone gets parodied one way or another. I think the point with Craig's Bond is that it'll either need to loosen up or change style. You can't keep intensity going for too long (as the Bourne films showed). That's not Craig's fault, but the style that was chosen by the producers and I think Skyfall showed that they were trying to make things a bit lighter.

At the end of the day it's a question of where the producers want to place the Bond movies - as action / entertainment (all the Moore / Brosnan films + Goldfinger onwards for Connery) or thriller (OHMSS, Dalton and Craig). The books allow both readings.

Overall, though, the audiences have preferred the entertainment - which Connnery, of course, balanced brilliantly with tension / excitement and class. I know people will argue that Craig's films have been huge successes, but I'd still make the case that this was buoyed by i) his portrayal ii) the time being right - critics WANTED to love Craig, which the reviews of Skyfall proved

so - a serious Bond without someone of Craig's ability could bomb and maybe the producers know it, which is why they're letting things like the "Black Bond" stories keep running to maintain interest. After Lazenby's failure they knew they had to get a star to keep things running. After Moore's time it was clear they needed to get younger and fitter. After Dalton's time they knew they needed to showboat again and after Brosnan's dreadful DAD they knew they had a chance to reboot (partly because every other super hero was doing it).

Next time - - maybe they just don't know

Thunderpussy · February 2015

Only my opinion, of course but I thought DC's Bond had loosened up quite a bit
In SF. The jokes with Moneypenny, and M. Even the byplay with Silva etc.
He was smiling in many scenes, and the swagger was back in his walk. I thought
The "getting away from it all" may be there to explain Bond's new less intense
Take on life ?
As I've stated, I may be wrong but that's how I explain it to myself.

and expect
More "Banter" with Q and Co in spectre.

Absolutely_Cart · February 2015

Yeah, Skyfall was a bit lighter, and Spectre should be a bit a lighter too.

Will Craig's form of masculinity become parody in years to come?

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