Preliminary Thesis and Annotated Bibliography

Johnny Quizhpi
ENG 101.0800
Prof. B
November 19, 2010


Thesis: A man is defined by who he portaits to be whether it be a gentleman or a beast, what he chooses to be will deine the way he acts towards the other sex.

Bordo, Susan. “Gentleman or Beast? The Double Bind of Masculinity.” The Male Body: A New Look At Men in Public and In Private. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1999. 242-264. PRINT.

In this chapter Susan bordo explains the double bind that men have to face daily. The double bind being caught between two choices that often contrast each other. The manner in which the male acts with his partner let it be gentleman like or beast like.

This source is relative to my thesis in which case it is excellent to use. The way in which a man expresses his masculinity is in his choice either beastly or gentleman, all to show the rest of society who he is.

My personal thoughts about this "double bind" is that a man can be one or the other, its just that society will label him as to aggressive (beastly) or to much female like (gentleman) a right mix of both is just right. This all brings up the story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde a good man bad guy kinda thing.


Hancock, Louise. "Mike is a BEAST." Sunday Mirror 29 Feb. 2004. 1 March. 2004. WEB.


In this article it explains ex-champion Mike Tyson life to the moment. He is broke and filed to the bank he was bankrupt. But before that he was a beast for boxing and in a relationship with his lady Luz. She claims him to be romantic, caring extremely loving.

This source is relative to my thesis of the double bind of masculinity because if what his lady says is true, "big Mike being a romantic, loving guy" this relates heavily on the topic at hand.

I see a connection between this and the double bind of masculinity. We all know Tyson was a big time boxer and bit off an ear once this shows us he was a beast, clearly without a doubt. With his lady he is one type of masculinity and with the press and other male boxers he is clearly and animal (beast)


Billen, Andrew. "Brian and the beast" The Times (London) 16 Sept. 2002. 16 Sept. 2002. WEB.


In this atricle, Brian Warner (lead singer of the band Marilyn Manson) has said to be in many relationships involving both men, women. His artistic mind has lead his to growl heavly on stage with one persona, while on the other hand wear ladies undergarments offstage (perhaps even on). His experiences with women has been cheated, lied too, and even one who concieled that she already had a son.

This source is relavent to my thesis that men are what they choose to be, either gentlman or beasts because of the situations he was and how he was treated throught many relationships. Juggling heavy dark rock music with relationships. THis article relates to the Susan Bordo piece by having this man be too much of a gentleman thus society viewing him as a feminine male, BUT he can also be a beast.

When I first saw this I thought to myself "I knew this guy was interesting but he just took it to a new level." He is an artist and well sees thing in a new perspective and he is just an interesting individual that has his own meaning of masculinity towards his females an males.