In both independent and mainstream cinema, viewers and critics are usually most aware of how females are represented and portrayed. However, it is also important to consider how men are represented. There are many different types of masculinities within our modern society, but one hegemonic idea still reigns supreme. The films of Todd Haynes challenge the idea that there is only one accepted masculinity and prove that there is in fact a hierarchy of masculinities. Haynes’ films, such as Poison and Dottie Gets Spanked, show how, while not as widely accepted, there are more kinds of masculinity than straight, white, middle-class man. Through his lense, he shows the audience various types of masculinities and the world of queer cinema. In his 1993 short film Dottie Gets Spanked, Haynes tells the story of a little boy named Stevie who does not quite fit into the ideal masculinity that his father wants him too.
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The way he dresses and his hobbies are a stark contrast to the other boys his age in the film. At school, while they rough house on the playground, Stevie sits on a bench in saddle shoes and earmuffs and longs to be able to join into the girls’ conversations about The Dottie Show. At home, he sits just inches from the television while watching the show in a trance-like fascination. He also spends much of his free time drawing Dotty.
There are two distinct parts to the cinematic code of Dottie Gets Spanked: Stevie’s reality and Stevie’s dreams. In his reality, he is ridiculed by his classmates and feels rejected by his father, but in his dreams, he is the king on top of a tall throne that is in control of everything. He has power instead of being powerless. It is also his reality that rejects his developing sexuality, including his fixation on Dotty and his neighbor being spanked. However, in his dreams, he is able to explore the idea of spanking both through the girl’s father spanking her and Dotty spanking
The way he dresses and his hobbies are a stark contrast to the other boys his age in the film. At school, while they rough house on the playground, Stevie sits on a bench in saddle shoes and earmuffs and longs to be able to join into the girls’ conversations about The Dottie Show. At home, he sits just inches from the television while watching the show in a trance-like fascination. He also spends much of his free time drawing Dotty.
There are two distinct parts to the cinematic code of Dottie Gets Spanked: Stevie’s reality and Stevie’s dreams. In his reality, he is ridiculed by his classmates and feels rejected by his father, but in his dreams, he is the king on top of a tall throne that is in control of everything. He has power instead of being powerless. It is also his reality that rejects his developing sexuality, including his fixation on Dotty and his neighbor being spanked. However, in his dreams, he is able to explore the idea of spanking both through the girl’s father spanking her and Dotty spanking