Masculinity In The Full Monty

A common theme across the films studied throughout this module is individuals or groups of people being held back in some way, sometimes due to social constraints and other times due to discrimination and bigotry. This theme is integral to multiple character arcs and contribute towards the audience’s understanding of issues presented by the film.

One such film is The Full Monty (1997), which follows a group of former steel factory workers who are struggling financially. As a result of this, they formulate a plan to create a show wherein they strip to be fully naked in order to make money. Despite the film’s overall comedic tone, it does not shy away from important issues such as body confidence, or in Dave’s case, a lack of body confidence.

This presents masculinity in a way that is not generally explored in film, as men are typically depicted as ‘macho’, which includes traits such as confidence and exaggerated physical fitness. By presenting masculinity in this manner, it allows the film to make commentary on masculinity in the 1990s – more specifically, how masculinity was viewed in relation to the male striptease act. The time period of the film is once which still has homophobic attitudes present, with names such as ‘poof’ and ‘queer’ being viewed as degrading to a man’s masculinity. These insults were frequently used in relation to male strippers, therefore are also aimed at the main protagonists throughout the film. The film succeeds in depicting changing ideals and

The issue of gender is explored in tandem with identity as the film focuses on LGBT+ characters, the majority of whom are depicted as being proud of their sexuality. The film is centred around the key theme of ‘solidarity’ and features a group of main characters who are proud of their identities as part of the LGBT+ community, and so they encourage others to stand with them in solidarity as a show of their support. Despite the main theme of the film being pride in one’s identity and people of all backgrounds supporting each other, the female characters in Pride are somewhat side-lined as more focus is placed on male characters. Ironically, the group’s name – Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners (LGSM) – places females at the forefront of the cause they are fighting for, but actual female representation is minimal throughout the film. This is perhaps most apparent through the character of Steph, who proclaims herself to be “the ‘L’ in LGSM”, yet her screen time is minimal in comparison to the male members of LGSM. Whilst the argument can be made that the lack of screen time is the result of sexist attitudes that are still present in society, I would argue that it is instead reflective of sexism in the 1980’s. This is because Steph