Hegemonic masculinity, as observed in today’s society, impacts the lives of both men and women. This concept has been widely studied across various fields of research, and this article focuses on the hegemonic masculine figure and the subordinate men portrayed in the film The Book of Life (2014). The study unearths the present hegemonic masculine figures in the film and their effect on subordinate men. Using a qualitative approach, this article utilizes scenes, instances, and dialogues to study hegemonic masculinity. This study concludes by showing that certain traits of hegemonic masculinity, such as physical performance, bravery, power, strength, stamina, aggressive behavior, and cultural dominance, affect Manolo and his emancipation from ancestral and cultural conditioning. Bullfighting being the Sanchez family tradition, Manolo is forced to pursue it rather than his musical interests. Through Carlos Sanchez, Manolo’s father, and Joaquin Mondragon, Manolo’s friend, the film emphasizes the hegemonic masculine characters. This article concludes that individuals regain their innate identity by breaking away from the patterns of hegemonic masculinity in their lives and society. The article also sheds light on how the acceptance of the hegemonic masculine figure plays a major role in helping subordinate men to attain acceptance within their society and culture.
A et al. (Fri,) studied this question.