Bromances: Radical Idea or Reality?

Two weeks ago, Hollywood released I Love You, Man, (right) which was generally well received by critics and audiences. The movie follows two straight men who forge a close friendship, a theme that is not new and has been documented countless times in movies such as Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and Men in Black. However, this movie stands apart from the rest because it establishes male friendship as an offbeat development, making the movie a high-concept comedy. A reality show that fits into this same vein is Bromance, which aired six episodes on the MTV network between December 2008 and February 2009. The series consisted of competitions in which the male contestants would express their devotion for Brody Jenner, who previously appeared on The Hills, which also airs on MTV. While it is not a typical dating show, where participants vie for a romantic relationship with the protagonist, the production is still heavily steeped in sexuality. Certain behaviors and practices are deemed appropriate for males by Jenner, and consequences happen to those who deviate from what is constructed as suitable. Even in its the promotion, Bromance was pushed as being representative of the "changing times" surrounding masculinity and male relationships. The program did not enjoy much popularity with audiences, probably because the drama that typically accompanies female-centered programs is replaced with subtleties of male communication and sporadic expressions of aggression. However, it is still valuable to examine how Bromance serves as a litmus test of what existing as a "man" entails and follows in this new tradition of showcasing male friendship as new and original.

In the press surrounding the premiere of Bromance, one interview seems to embody the attitude of the coverage that existed on other media entities. Brody Jenner told Kelley L. Carter of USA Today that "the trend in movies is like these awkward guy moments. So I thought it was a great time for this." He also claimed to be "totally comfortable with my sexuality and showing my affections with my guy friends" when asked about the changes in how male, heterosexual relationships are becoming common conversational fodder. His quotes are representative of the idea that the show was produced to conform to the changing media representations of heterosexual male relationships. I admire the attempt the show makes to challenge the outgoing male ideal. Nonetheless, the show fails to deliver on this claim. In another interview with Marc Malkin of E! Television, Jenner recognized the homoeroticism in the show when he said, "It's kind of homoerotic and I love people saying that." He recognizes the difficulty of gathering a group of men, gay or straight, and avoiding any homoerotic references. This is quickly countered, however, with the statement "I'm cool with my sexuality and the gender that I like and I have a beautiful girlfriend," establishing the show and himself as heteronormative. A piece that ran in The New York Times took issue with this blatant coding of heterosexuality behavior, saying the show branded straight men as superficial. Ginia Bellafante wrote, "what do you have to do to become his consigliere, his sidekick, his mandate? You have to find as many good-looking women as you can and show up at a party with them."

Bellafante was not unfounded in her disdain of the show. The incident that she refers to, in which the contestants (left) are challenged to find two girls to bring to a lingerie party in a limited time period, occurred in the first episode. The heteronormativity in this activity is blatant, obvious, and followed by many more like activities. A "bro-athalon," where the contestants complete a variety of physical strength tests, suggests that a man, thus anyone eligible to have a "bromance" with Jenner, must be physically apt. These physical tests are followed by others in future episodes, including challenges such as wrestling, biking, camping, and dancing. If these activities and portrayals say that able men must be active and strong, what do they say about women? One does not have to think too hard for the solution to this question because Jenner is able to provide the answer in the prizes he provides his potential "bros." For one challenge, the winning boy is rewarded with five bikini-clad girls waiting in a bathtub waiting to wash him off. For another competition, the winner is awarded time to spend in a hot tub with two Playboy playmates. Women are rendered to be the prize of hard work and physical strength, obviously fueling the masculine ideal that the show is depicting.

In the more downplayed segments of the show, the contestants are seen bonding with each other and Jenner. They speak candidly about their life experiences, which lead some to tears. Jenner appears comfortable with the emotions, even going so far as to hug his "bros," and the others follow suit. The show did promote male bonding, and it delivers. The problem, however, lies in how these relationships are framed. The males all display a dislike of wearing what they consider to be "women's" clothing, praise womanizing, and place value on physical strength. By encouraging a separation and differences between men and women, the contestants are encouraging a double standard for the sexes. These sentiments are misogynist, idealistic, and fall into the binary model of gender which establishes innate differences between the male and female genders. This model supports the idea that the innate differences encourage a gender hierarchy, that somehow behaviors deemed appropriate for women are somehow belittling and below men.

Despite the male chauvinism promoted in the series, the show does reflect the shift in media in the portrayal of the males. The show promotes open communication between men, widening the sphere in which men are allowed to feel comfortable and doing away with the narrow macho ideal that has been so commonly portrayed. Bromance and I Love You, Man may not be perfect in their portrayal gender roles, but at least they question those roles. In the constant struggle to portray something other than the male archetype and demonstrate fair/accurate images of non-binary gender, Bromance at least made a small impact by showcasing male friendship and communication as acceptable and desirable. Hopefully, one day a television show or movie will not need to market this idea as novel.