Compelling Newsweek article about how the pendulum has swung away from adoration of the alpha male and toward the beta male (presumably the opposite of the alpha). In Hollywood, Beta Males Best Alpha Dogs – Newsweek Entertainment – MSNBC.com
Interesting premise: Hollywood is portraying more male heros and stars as “beta” males – guys who aren’t concerned with climbing the corporate latter the fastest, being the wealthiest or really even being competitive at all.
- Take Jim Halpert from NBC’s “The Office” for example. “He’s a guy who isn’t concerned with status,” says Justin Spitzer, a writer for TV’s “The Office.” “He’s more concerned with getting through the day and not engaging in a pissing contest with the alpha males around him.”
Reasoning: The article make the argument that the country is tired of chest-pounding alpha males that have gone too far and are embarrassing us as a nation. It cites:
- President George W Bush
- Don Rumsfeld
- Don Imus
- Mel Gibson
- Steve Carrell’s character on “The Office”, Michael Scott
- Stephen Colbert’s pseudo alpha-male character from the “Colbert Report” on Comedy Central
- President Bill Clinton (while he was serving as president)
And references Al Gore, present-day Bill Clinton and Jim Halpert from “The Office” as successful “beta” males.
this is probably a result of the primary demographic (for the ultimate phase of the medium) getting older and realizing that their lives are over but still wanting to believe that they’re somebody. as long as they’re on-screen, they become the object of value so of course they’re going to support them.