Well, thats a semanitics thing. We have different understandings of 'macho'.
We clearly agree, though. I'm not condoning retarded behaviour - getting drunk and picking fights, sexism or any willfull stupidity.
I'm saying, as you are, the current male image is very poorly defined, lost, innefectual, bumbling, apathetic and worse. To me a part of 'masculinity' is the self assurance, capability and assertiveness that is the opposite of that, and what 'men', if that they are, seem to be presented as and are turning into in our society.
A show of strength can be many more things, and much more forcefull than a punch in the face that your 'macho' type would use! (though I'm no pacafist, but thats yet another topic!).
For sure, society has seen a slow emasculation of the male figure. It even goes so far that we are becoming more and more sexually redundant as women are more than capable of being impregnated without the male sex organ - whereas we are wholly dependant on the female reproductive systems.
There is undoubtably a poor representation of strong typically alpha male figures in society these days. At least, in the way we might initially believe. But the problems of apathy, bumblingness, loss of direction etc effect both genders. We just haven't seen a 'male-empowerment' movement as we did with women - both politically and culturally (through mediums such as 'Sex and The City').
When I questioned 'macho cliches' in metal - I meant exactly that: cliches. I don't have a problem with men being men, that's what we are meant for. There seems to be a pervasive culture around some parts of metal where it is little more than a pissing contest to see who is the most hardcore - read the other thread on Zakk Wylde. Wow, you didn't wash your jacket for 90 days :roll: That's the mentality that I'm talking about.
Yeah, I don't need to wash. Lets drink beer and press weights!
-If you want to, that is fine. But if you are only doing it because all those who went before you did it, then you're exactly the same as the next indie band with the Wella Shockwaves and the hair-straighteners.
Now, that's a gross oversimplification and I apologise for being facetious, but that's part of an attitude I've seen around many metal bands. Fighting, being as muscley as you can - hell, even so far as burning churches - it all seems to be part of some ego-fuelled display of masculinity.
It's OK to be angry, but you have to have a reason, a cause. I will forever love Fugazi because they were as angry as anything, yet they had reason and an argument. A lot of metal bands I used to listen to were angry either for no apparent reason, or for reasons (such as the church) that a true man would accept another person's right to think differently, and walk away.
Some metal is great. Don't get me wrong. But as I say, some of it just gets a little too close to being a characiture that I struggle to enjoy it.
