Hyper Masculinity Through the Years

Obviously the portrayal of hyper-masculinity in the the media is not a new phenomenon. Throughout the years the consumers of film and television have not changed what they want to see, but the avenue through which they see it has evolved. Two types of hyper-masculinity that have been portrayed in film throughout the twentieth century are the hard-boiled gangster in noir films of the 40's and 50's and the quiet killer in the western. The hyper-masculine gangster/rapper is a direct descendant of the hard-boiled noir gangster. These two share characteristics of crime, rebellion, lack of emotions, lack of empathy for victims, greed, and pride. However, something that the classic noir gangster has less in common is his view toward women. I believe that the typical western lead-character is more in line with our contemporary gangster and specifically the ideas set forth by Tupak Shakur.  At time it seems that Tupac objectifies and abuses women and others without a thought, but he later revealed that he has his own moral code that he adheres to in his compassion for the single mom, the poor on welfare, and others. Similarly the classic western lead-character (except the sheriff) kills without a thought, robs, and kidnaps others while maintaining a certain moral high ground when it came to women and the poor.