Masculinity in JoJo's Bizarre Adventure

 Choose a TV show you're familiar with and discuss the way it handles depictions of masculinity. Include at least two of the "six modes of perpetuation" and be sure your discussion is grounded in the cultural studies concepts we've been using. If you'd like, check out TVTropes list of masculinity tropes and feel free to discuss your show in terms of tropes! Just make sure that you're still keeping the focus on how ideologies are used to either reinforce or challenge the dominant culture.

    Jojo's Bizarre Adventure is an interesting piece of media. It follows different generations of characters all named Jojo in some way. The series draws on the artist's inspirations from music, fashion, and any other media the guy is into. It started as a manga in the late 80s but has recently flourished in popularity with an anime. On the surface it looks toxic masculine, especially in the beginning (and not counting the female Jojo). The first character is so muscular that he's described as having thighs the size of tree trunks. While the character design has evolved to be more realistic over time, each character is fit like a marble god, and that's problematic. However, even though it started a while ago, in a country that's historically not so inclusive, the actions of each Jojo question the stereotypes of hegemonic masculinity. First off, the author loves the fashion world and an often praised part of the series is the poses the characters will often find themselves in. I see it almost as vogueing. Next, the actions of the main characters are often independent of their physicality, wealth, and super powers. Each main character is an intellectual who pursues their passions rather than solely benefiting from their gifts. The broodiest of all the Jojos loves dolphins and has a doctorate in marine biology. It's cheating being a manga, but men of all races are displayed as equals in terms of manliness with Whites. Each Jojo is good at fighting but often they don't enjoy it. While it's a trope in it's own right, each Jojo cries over the deaths of their friends. Males are allowed to be close and care about each other. They check in on their friends and have cares outside saving the world. There's a decent amount of homoerotic subtext that one can read into. The problems arise when it's not subtext and  homosexuality along with other traits seen as negative are given solely to villains. 

    Jojo's worst problem with masculinity is probably Othering. While the villains in Jojo's are often the most interesting they always posses the "bad" traits. Any outwardly lgbtq or overweight character is an antagonist. The bad guys abuse women, they hurt animals, and are otherwise uncouth or ungentlemanly, on top of being murderers. The bad guys have the bad traits and are the others. One could argue that the characters are made to be complex and given many traits, but when no "good" characters are fat it paints a pretty clear picture. One of the few fat characters, and I do mean fat because there's no in between in this manga, who one of the Jojo's cares about starts off as a greedy antagonist and is only an ally long enough to die to the main villain and cause a reaction. All in all it's a complicated show. It's progressive in some of it's portrayals of masculinity while simultaneously enforcing some of it's worst aspects.