Introduction: Of Masculine, Monstrous, and Me

Abstract

Imagine that you’re sitting in the movie theater waiting to watch Terminator Salvation. You’ve bought your slightly overpriced movie ticket. You’re juggling your severely overpriced bucket of soda and barrel of popcorn. At this point, you’re tolerating the pre-programming, all the dross that precedes the trailers. Included in this lackluster cavalcade are some of the same commercials that come at you on television. Imagine that one of these advertisements manages to break through the clutter, probably because it’s on the big screen, to capture your attention. In commercial terms, this advertisement is epic in scope and, despite its obviously inferior production value, cinematic in ambition. It’s an advertisement for the National Guard.