What Spider-Man, Luke and Dom Have to Do With Politics

New Study Shows What Young Men Want Out Of Our Hollywood Heroes

A recent report by NRG, called “Hero Complex: The role of the entertainment industry in tackling America’s masculinity crisis” has sparked a worthwhile conversation about masculinity in our fiction and how it intersects with our politics. The report is full of fun insights. For example, liberal young men like Good Will Hunting and view the characters as positive role models, while conservative young men lean toward John Wick. But overall it struck us that many of their insights showed that it’s the Left that better embodies what young men say they are looking for in their entertainment. The left can embrace and lean in to some of these values, and perhaps find better ways to communicate with young men, if we’re willing to.

With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility

In NRG’s survey, the top fictional role model for men aged 13-30 was Spider-Man. Obviously, the rest of us can’t save people by shooting spider webs from our wrists. But those who have power have an obligation to use it to help others. Spiderman famously is filled with guilt because he chose to ignore a robber, who later ended up killing his uncle.

Belief in the principle that having power demands we step up and use it responsibly undergirds a lot of the Left’s traditional policy positions. It’s why we have progressive taxation: the wealthiest should be expected to pay more to support those less fortunate. It’s why the United States has traditionally been a leader in global health and development to poorer countries: we’re the most wealthy, powerful nation on earth. We have the responsibility to help less fortunate countries. What would Peter Parker say about the U.S. cutting off HIV drugs to children in Africa?

In YMRP’s survey of men 18-29, the top quality that best describes what it means to be a man was “protecting your family” at 52%. The Left shouldn’t shy away from strength or power as attributes. Some people need protecting, and in those cases we need those capable of protection to step up.

A Hero’s Journey Includes Growth & Redemption

In NRG’s survey, asked what qualities are important in a fictional male role model, the top response for teens and young men, 13 to 30, and for Democrats and Republicans, was “They learn and grow over the course of the narrative.” This is a central tenet of the “hero’s journey”: the journey back can be seen in Star Wars, the Lord of the Rings, the Lion King, Batman and many more.

Some of the most dynamic Left-leaning leaders today–and perhaps not coincidentally some who are the most outspoken about the need for the Left to address young men–actually embody this narrative. Sen. Ruben Gallego has said that after his father left when he was in the seventh grade, “I was angry and also a little frustrated at that point just because I felt that things had gone very wrong very fast in my family." Similarly, Gov. Wes Moore–whose father had passed away–describes trying to run away from Valley Forge Military Academy when he was 12, saying “When I entered the school, I was very angry.…I felt very alone.” Asked elsewhere about what got him kicked out of school, Moore said, “That one was actually pretty justified. That was everything from skipping class to fights to there was an incident with a smoke bomb. It was bad.”

In YMRP’s survey of men 18-29, 64% agreed that “Guys can have their reputation destroyed just for speaking their minds these days.” Young men are afraid that if they screw up, they’re ruined for life. We need to allow them a path to redemption. If we demand purity, we could be losing out on other Gallegos and Moores.

Stronger Together

Asked what types of male characters they would like to see more of in film & TV in NRG’s survey, the top response for teens and young men 13 to 30 (at 52%) was “Men who have deep and meaningful friendships with other men.”

Men are thirsting for connection. But with the decline of military service, union jobs (and lifetime jobs that people considered families), school sports participation, and third spaces generally, men are lonelier than ever. Both in our politics and our civic life more broadly, we should be looking for ways to rebuild these “deep and meaningful friendships.”

When NRG asked about specific movies, they found that “Many of the titles that resonate among both liberals and conservatives feature men who believe in something greater than themselves, and who are willing to make personal sacrifices for those beliefs. In some cases, that means loyalty to a specific nation or place: Steve Rogers’ loyalty to America, for example, or Thor’s sense of personal duty to the realm of Asgard. But it can also mean loyalty to a specific concept, group, or individual. Maverick’s loyalty to his deceased friend Goose, for example, and the way that it informs his relationship with Goose’s son Rooster, is absolutely central to the emotional arc of Top Gun: Maverick.” The Fast & Furious franchise, another male-dominated action blockbuster, emphasized the importance of family above all else (generating some great memes).

Again, the Left has traditionally been the party that nurtured international alliances. The current Trump administration seems committed to the opposite of this team mentality and picking fights even with our friends (Canada, Mexico, Denmark and more).

The Bully Loses In The End

The NRG study didn’t get into bullies. But this is such a common archetype in movies that it’s worth mentioning. Biff in Back to the Future, Johnny in Karate Kid, the Greasers in The Outsiders- in each case the hero initially loses, goes through a phase of personal growth, and then eventually defeats the bully.

There are jerks in every crowd. But it’s worth President Trump and Elon Musk keeping this truism in mind.