On the Media: EXTENDED VERSION: Michael Douglas Movies And The Crisis Of Masculinity

Hosted by Brooke Gladstone and Micah Loewinger, WNYC Studios' "On the Media" dives deep into the nexus of media, culture, and societal shifts. In the July 23, 2025 episode titled "EXTENDED VERSION: Michael Douglas Movies And The Crisis Of Masculinity," cultural critic and author Jessa Crispin discusses her book, What's Wrong with Patriarchy? The Crisis of Masculinity, and How, of Course, Michael Douglas Films Explain Everything. This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions drawn during the episode.

Introduction and Context

[00:37] Brooke Gladstone sets the stage by describing the hectic production week, emphasizing the sudden influx of news that required last-minute adjustments to the podcast. Amid this chaos, they decided to extend their interview with Jessa Crispin to provide a more comprehensive exploration of her book.

Brooke Gladstone: "We decided to give you a chance to hear the long version."

Origins of Jessa Crispin's Exploration of Gender and Society

[01:32] Jessa Crispin explains the foundational premise of her book, beginning with a historical perspective on gender and societal roles.

Jessa Crispin: "This was a moment we started to understand that women have a specific political, psychological, social reality that is based in their gender."

[02:14] She delves into the concept of hysteria, highlighting its roots in viewing women as inherently frail and the broader implications of limiting women's roles.

Jessa Crispin: "There was something else going on with them. And thus began 150 years or so of us trying to figure out, what do women want?"

Michael Douglas as a Symbol of Changing Masculinity

[03:36] Crispin introduces her central thesis: Michael Douglas, often perceived as a quintessential masculine figure, actually embodies a "male hysteric" in his films.

Jessa Crispin: "He was always wide eyed and waving his arms around and yelling about something or other."

[05:00] The discussion highlights how Douglas's characters, while seemingly supportive of traditional roles, reveal underlying insecurities and resistance to changing societal norms.

Jessa Crispin: "He conceptualizes himself as the center. He doesn't have to adapt to a changing world, the world should adapt to him."

Analysis of Iconic Michael Douglas Films

1. Fatal Attraction (1987)

[06:11] Brooke and Crispin examine Fatal Attraction, portraying Douglas's character as a man whose extramarital affair spirals into obsession and violence.

Jessa Crispin: "There's always been the disposable woman for the man who is successful."

[07:23] The film is critiqued for its depiction of gender dynamics, where the male protagonist ultimately asserts control by eliminating the disruptive woman.

Jessa Crispin: "A kind of masculinity that no longer exists that says, I can cheat on my wife and she can't really do anything about it."

2. Basic Instinct (1992)

[11:26] Basic Instinct is discussed with a focus on its portrayal of masculinity juxtaposed against femininity and vulnerability.

Jessa Crispin: "There's such a suspicion within Basic Instinct that the men have toward anything that is beautiful, soft, pleasurable."

[14:20] Crispin notes how the film reflects male paranoia in a world where women wield creative and economic power.

3. Wall Street (1987)

[16:11] The conversation transitions to Wall Street, where Douglas's character, Gordon Gekko, epitomizes the emergence of "casino capitalism."

Sharon Stone's Character: "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good."

[17:09] Crispin connects the film to real-world economic shifts, emphasizing the move towards speculative finance and its broader societal impacts.

Jessa Crispin: "This is why we don't have local newspapers anymore. No one faces any consequences for the bad decisions at the time."

4. Falling Down (1993)

[19:55] Falling Down portrays Douglas as an everyman facing unrelenting societal pressures, leading to his emotional and physical unraveling.

Jessa Crispin: "He goes on a rampage and everyone that he meets is essentially a representative of every scapegoat that right-wing politicians have been trying to use."

[22:25] The film is analyzed as a confluence of economic strain and racial anxieties, reflecting fears of changing urban landscapes.

5. Disclosure (1994)

[26:18] Disclosure is critiqued as a narrative where Douglas's character is victimized by a powerful female antagonist, reinforcing negative stereotypes about gender dynamics.

Jessa Crispin: "It is the 1990s, and out of every story that they could possibly tell, they are making a movie where Michael Douglas is victimized by his female boss."

6. The Game (1997)

[28:07] Contrasting previous roles, The Game is highlighted as an outlier where Douglas's character experiences genuine vulnerability, marking a nuanced exploration of masculinity.

Jessa Crispin: "It's the only movie that pushes him past hysteria or self-defensiveness."

Broader Themes: The Crisis of Masculinity

[30:06] Crispin connects the portrayal of male characters in Douglas's films to contemporary struggles with masculinity, emphasizing a loss of clear societal roles.

Jessa Crispin: "Now that's no longer really true. Just because you fulfill old expectations for what a man's life is supposed to look like, that doesn't mean you're automatically rewarded."

[32:01] The discussion touches on modern figures like Jordan Peterson, who advocate for men to maintain traditional identities amidst societal changes.

Brooke Gladstone: "How does he do that in the movie?"

Jessa Crispin: "It creates anxiety rather than excitement."

Conclusion: Reflecting on Patriarchy and Change

[32:47] Brooke Gladstone wraps up by distinguishing between Michael Douglas the actor and the roles he portrays, underscoring that the critique is aimed at the cultural narratives rather than the individual.

Brooke Gladstone: "Michael Douglas, we shouldn't confuse here the roles he played with the man himself, right?"

Jessa Crispin: "I appreciate his contribution."

[33:21] The episode concludes with a brief advertisement, signaling the end of the in-depth discussion.

Key Takeaways

1. Michael Douglas's Films as Cultural Mirrors: Crispin argues that Douglas's roles encapsulate the struggles and insecurities of modern masculinity, serving as reflections of societal shifts.

2. Patriarchy's Evolution and Men's Identity Crisis: The decline of traditional patriarchal structures has left many men grappling with their identities, leading to resistance and anxiety.

3. Economic and Social Pressures: Films like Wall Street and Falling Down highlight the impact of economic changes and societal expectations on male protagonists.

4. Gender Dynamics in Media: The portrayal of women in Douglas's films often reinforces negative stereotypes, contributing to broader discussions about feminism and gender relations.

5. Nostalgia for Traditional Masculinity: There's a pervasive longing among some men for the clear-cut roles of the past, which is exploited by certain media and ideological figures to resist change.

6. Support Systems and Societal Shifts: While women have built extensive support systems to navigate changing societal roles, men have largely neglected to do so, exacerbating the crisis of masculinity.

Notable Quotes

• Jessa Crispin:

  • "He conceptualizes himself as the center. He doesn't have to adapt to a changing world, the world should adapt to him." [05:22]
  • "There's such a paranoia about, am I gonna be mistaken for being a sissy, for being gay?" [15:00]
  • "Patriarchy used to tell men what the world wanted from them. Now that's no longer really true." [30:06]

• Sharon Stone's Character in Wall Street:

  • "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good." [16:31]

• Sharon Stone's Character in Falling Down:

  • "You don't even have the grace to learn how to speak my language." [21:07]

This episode of "On the Media" offers a compelling analysis of how Michael Douglas's characters encapsulate the tensions and transformations surrounding masculinity in late 20th-century America. By dissecting iconic films, Jessa Crispin provides a nuanced critique of gender dynamics, economic shifts, and societal expectations that continue to influence contemporary discourse on masculinity.