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Abstract
This thesis sets out to fill a gap in understanding how Hollywood considers depictions of cis-men, the most dominant figures on screen. A large body of work has examined representations of women and gender-queer individuals in media, leaving a lacuna in the research on how men and masculinity are considered and depicted, except regarding how dominant males impact others. Gender is inter- and intra-relational; how men and masculinity are portrayed in film and television is vital to attaining equitable diversity and representation in the media and beyond. Through ethnographic research, this thesis examines how popular film and television writers, directors, and producers engage with men and masculinity within the larger discourse of representation, diversity, and inclusion. When creators consider how they represent their male characters, it is primarily in reaction to how they create and depict female characters. When interlocutors were asked how they consider gender when creating a project, they primarily responded with how they represent women. When asked specifically about how they consider men, answers often fell along the lines of what one director said: “I don't know how to answer that question.” Under-examined male representation leaves male characters in the hegemonic position of the baseline person, above and beyond gender. Unfortunately, it also pushes men to the sidelines of efforts to reimagine gender representation and stereotypes. The (r)evolution of gender representation cannot be complete without radically reimagining how males and masculinity are represented.