The 2015 documentary The Mask You Live In, directed by Jennifer Siebel Newsom, uncovers the ways in which boys and men are affected by society's constant and narrow idealization of masculinity. The movie makes great use of rhetorical techniques such as audio tracks, expert testimony, implication, technical information, and pathos to shed light on the plight men have been cornered into and provoke a societal reflection. Emotional aptitude is heavily affected by the use of audio tracks. The filmmakers increase the impact of the visual and narrative facets by carefully selecting and applying simple yet effective music, which also helps to guide the audience's emotional response and intensify their engagement with the story being told. Throughout …show more content…
Michael Kimmel, in his discussion of the societal costs of upholding strict gender norms, cites studies showing that "boys who conform to traditional masculinity norms are more likely to engage in risky behaviors and have lower academic performance” even, “three or more boys take their own lives in the United States." This places quantitative evidence within larger societal patterns, showing how systemic issues affect individual behaviors and outcomes. The documentary makes good use of statistics to demonstrate the gravity and widespread nature of issues related to masculinity, providing expert testimony and firsthand accounts with a grounded, factual context. The personal narratives and testimonies of boys and men who have battled with the requirements of traditional masculinity are among the documentary's most powerful uses of pathos. These stories offer personal windows into the mental turmoil that a lot of people experience. Even from the stand point of a young boy, it described how it feels forced to adopt a tough, emotionless character, which resulted in feelings of loneliness and inner turmoil "I felt like I had to wear a mask all the time, pretending to be someone I'm not just to fit in. It was exhausting and