new thread
as some posters have probably already pointed out, the current negative stereotypes of Men with long hair is perpetuated in the media.
you seldom see any male characters with long hair playing roles of successful businessmen/attorney/F.B.I/C.I.A agent or the "good guys" in general.
let's examine two contemporary television series.
one, is the show Ringer starring Sarah Michelle Gellar.
while every female on the show has long hair, not one male
appears on the show with anything other than a close cropped
haircut or shaved head.
on the contrary, the show "Sons of Anarchy" has a few actors with long hair and beards, but these guys are not portraying anything positive imho and convey the message to the sheeple that Men with long hair are either criminals, druggies or just cannot be trusted.
Personally, I would prefer to see some long haired guys portrayed in a positive view as heroes in modern times, but unfortunately the producers of these shows care more about $$$$$$$$$ and catering to their sponsors and appealing to the masses than changing things.
so guys, if you are considering taking up acting as a career and want to keep your long hair you may have to play some undesirables such as the occasional dirt-bag drug dealer unless you choose to have your locks shorn to play those "good guy" parts because until the people wake up this will continue!
the only alternative are historical type films which go back to an era when Long hair on Men was the cultural norm in society.
It makes sense that a longhair has never portrayed a government official, to a degree. If you work for the CIA, and you want to be discreet and surreptitious, would you rather look like a biker or like every other schmoe walking the streets?
Hi(gh)!
...but there are branches of US government authorities where long hair at least would not be completely out of place - what about NASA?
Yadgar
Well, I do know that having a full beard and shoulder-length-ish hair is basically a uniform for computer programmers. Along with thick-rimmed glasses wherever applicable. Just look at Richard Stallman (pictured above)!
Of course I know - I'm an amateur programmer myself (under Linux of course)! And, yes, I already experienced people taking me for a programmer by appearance!
See you in Khyberspace!
Yadgar
Reading this makes my decisions eaiser than taking candy from a baby.
Reminds me of when I was watched the season premiere of "Once Upon a Time". Imagine my utter disappointment when seeing that prince charming had a buzz cut... I mean, really?
There was one show where a guy with long hair
was portrayed in a good light. (He was a cop on The Closer?)
I think that is the only "positive" example I can think of.
Another case of a long haired male portrayed on TV in a good
light would be Sebastian Bach on the show Gilmore Girls.
How about every male in the Lord of the Rings.
That's fantasy/historical. I think Neo Viking is talking about portrayals of men in modern reality.
I don't watch TV so I can't really contribute but I'm interested in what others say. How about on British TV? Anyone?
Damon
High!
What about that computer whizkid in "Contact" starring Jodie Foster (I cannot say which character exactly, as Linux refuses to play the DVD and my Windows laptop is too slow)? O.k., his hair is not exactly waist-long, but still much longer than the corporate norm! On the other hand, although he is one of the good guys, in all his nerdiness, he is portrayed as slightly mad...
See you in Khyberspace!
Yadgar
Hi Yadgar,
I've never seen that film. Sounds like the kind of film I'd enjoy but I see it's 14 years old now.
Damon
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"Contact" is a science-fiction movie about an ambitious young radio astronomer (Jodie Foster), who by chance detects the signal of an alien civilization... it's after the the same-titled novel by Carl Sagan! Yes, it's from 1998...
They can't be trusted ~ they will *steal* a girl's heart! ;)
True, at least initially. However, if you catch one they will certainly be more faithful than those phonies with unnaturally close-cropped hair.
It's all prejudice. Stereotypical men in 2011 has either the 'eminem' close-crop, or the 'pop-star' shaggy.
Ashton Kutcher's long hair certainly fits him well. (He's on the current cover of Men's Health BTW.) While his hair doesn't qualify as really long, it's certainly much longer than the norm for TV sitcom characters. I kind of hope he'll continue to grow it out on the show.
(As an aside, I really didn't like Charley Sheen enough to watch the show previously, but Ashton is fun to watch.)
--Dale