Jerry Seinfeld feels that masculinity is diminishing due to changing modern views on gender dynamics, making it less dominant. He says he misses dominant masculinity. (Also read: Duke University: Students walk out of convocation ceremony due to Jerry Seinfeld’s speech)
during an appearance Sincerely with Bari Weiss PodcastIn the film, Jerry reminisces about the 1960s and his childhood, and talks about the changing meaning of masculinity and his directorial debut, Unfrosted.
“I like real men”
On the podcast, Jerry expressed some nostalgia for the 1960s, as there was “an agreed-upon hierarchy” at that time, compared to the “totally vaporized” state of the present day.
“Today we have no sense of hierarchy. As human beings, we don’t really feel comfortable with that. It’s part of what… if you want to talk about nostalgia, it’s part of what makes us who we are [the 1960s] “Looking back, it’s quite fascinating,” he said.
Jerry continued, “Another thing, as a man… I always wanted to be a real man. When I was in that era, it was JFK, Muhammad Ali, Sean Connery, Howard Cosell. That’s a real man! I wanted to be like that someday. Well, no. I never really grew up. You don’t want to be that as a comedian because it’s a childish thing. I miss a dominant masculinity. I understand the toxic stuff… but I still like a real man.”
She also cited actor Hugh Grant, who stars in her new film, as the perfect example of a “real man”. She insisted he “knows how to dress, knows how to talk, is charming, has stories, is comfortable at dinner parties, knows how to drink wine”.
about his film
The Netflix film, Unfrosted, tells the fictional origin story of the Pop-Tart and takes place in Michigan in the 1960s. It also stars Melissa McCarthy, Jim Gaffigan, Amy Schumer. In addition to directing, Jerry also co-wrote the screenplay with Spike Feresten, Barry Marder, and Andy Robin.
