(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent Power Book III: Raising Kanan episode will be found below.)
Kanan Stark is looking to be a man of his own in season three of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. A rift between him and his mother Raq led to him leaving the house and moving in with Famous in episode one. With the exit from Raq’s house, Kanan is now left to make a way for himself, and he successfully does that by establishing his name and presence in the streets in episode two. Elsewhere, a funeral for Detective Burke is held, Raq is presented with a task that doesn’t allow her to leave the streets, and Jukebox seeks Lou-Lou’s help as she looks to re-establish her music career.
When Will Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3, Episode 3 Come Out?
The third episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan season three, titled “Open For Business,” will arrive on December 15. The Michael M. Chang-directed directed episode will be available on Friday on the STARZ app starting at midnight EST/PST. The episode will later air on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT. Here’s a synopsis for “Open For Business”:
As paranoia sets in for Raq and Howard over the Task Force, Kanan and Famous launch their weed delivery business, Jukebox prepares for her audition, and Ronnie grows impatient with Unique.
New episodes of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ are available on the STARZ app on Fridays at 12:00 am ET/PT and on the STARZ TV channel at 8:00 pm ET/PT.
(WARNING: Spoilers for the most recent Power Book III: Raising Kanan episode will be found below.)
Kanan Stark is looking to be a man of his own in season three of Power Book III: Raising Kanan. A rift between him and his mother Raq led to him leaving the house and moving in with Famous in episode one. With the exit from Raq’s house, Kanan is now left to make a way for himself, and he successfully does that by establishing his name and presence in the streets in episode two. Elsewhere, a funeral for Detective Burke is held, Raq is presented with a task that doesn’t allow her to leave the streets, and Jukebox seeks Lou-Lou’s help as she looks to re-establish her music career.
When Will Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3, Episode 3 Come Out?
The third episode of Power Book III: Raising Kanan season three, titled “Open For Business,” will arrive on December 15. The Michael M. Chang-directed directed episode will be available on Friday on the STARZ app starting at midnight EST/PST. The episode will later air on the STARZ TV channel at 8 pm ET/PT. Here’s a synopsis for “Open For Business”:
As paranoia sets in for Raq and Howard over the Task Force, Kanan and Famous launch their weed delivery business, Jukebox prepares for her audition, and Ronnie grows impatient with Unique.
New episodes of ‘Power Book III: Raising Kanan’ are available on the STARZ app on Fridays at 12:00 am ET/PT and on the STARZ TV channel at 8:00 pm ET/PT.
In every family, there are stories that define and bind us—tales of triumph, of laughter, and of trials overcome. But too often, these stories remain untold, tucked away in the corners of memory.
Enter Storyworth, a remarkable service that brings these narratives to light, one question at a time, week by week. It’s more than a memoir service; it’s a year-long engagement that prompts your loved ones to share pieces of their lives, transforming fleeting memories into a beautifully bound book—a keepsake that ensures your family’s legacy is preserved for generations to come.
Signing up with Storyworth is like opening a door to the past with a simple click. Subscribe, and every week, Storyworth sends a question to your chosen loved one, nudging them to share stories and thoughts—each a step towards compiling a treasure trove of family memories.
After a year of storytelling, Storyworth weaves these shared moments into a tangible treasure: a beautifully bound book, ensuring that the laughter, lessons, and life’s pivotal moments are enshrined not just in heart, but in hand.
Karla W.’s Tale: Lessons from a Mother’s Life
Karla W.’s story is stitched together with threads of wisdom from her mother, taught through the lens of a life spanning from the Great Depression to the cultural revolutions of the 60s and 70s.
Each email prompt from Storyworth was a key, unlocking the rich history of a woman who believed “pretty is as pretty does” and that there’s no task too small when it comes to easing another’s pain—lessons Karla holds dear.
Through Storyworth, her mother’s teachings on the humble acts of gardening, the comforts of quilting, and the unwavering support through life’s dark moments are now tales bound for eternity, chronicled for future generations to cherish.
Larry D.’s Humor: Learning Through Laughter
Larry D.’s submissions to Storyworth testify to the belief that life’s best lessons often come wrapped in humor. Each prompt evoked a story sprinkled with wit—a reminder of when he learned the hard way that rocking chairs are for sitting, not standing.
From the folly of swinging on merry-go-rounds to the whimsy of believing grandpa’s tall tales, Larry’s anecdotes reveal a tapestry of a life well-lived and laughed through.
His chucklesome memories, now immortalized in print, underscore the joy of play and its richness to our stories, showing us that sometimes, the best advice comes with a hearty laugh.
Angela K.’s Wisdom: The Gift of Presence
Angela K.’s Storyworth entries are a tender nudge to embrace the present. Her advice to her great-grandchildren, woven through stories collected weekly, is a profound yet simple truth: be fully there for the ones you love.
In today’s fast-paced world, her reflections on missed laughs and conversations with her husband are a heartfelt reminder. They echo a universal yearning—to truly connect and live in the now.
Angela’s wisdom, captured and bound, becomes a timeless gift to her family, ensuring that her legacy of presence is felt for generations to come.
Tell Your Family’s Story
Gift your family the legacy of memories with Storyworth. Join the family of storytellers and keep the fabric of your heritage rich and vibrant. Subscribe today, and start capturing your history, one story at a time.
Teezo Touchdown announced new dates for his Spend The Night Tour, which will feature shows for fans all over the globe throughout 2024. Starting in March of next year, fans can catch the rapper across Europe and North America, supporting his recent debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night?.
Tickets for the newly announced headlining tour will go on sale this Friday, December 15 at 9 a.m. ET. More information about the Spend The Night Tour can be found here.
Continue scrolling for a complete list of tour dates.
Teezo Touchdown’s 2024 tour dates: Spend The Night Tour
03/21/2024 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg OZ
03/22/2024 — Zurich, Switzerland @ M4 Music Festival
03/25/2024 — Paris, France @ Bellevilloise / Cabaret Sauvage
03/26/2024 — Berlin, Germany @ Gretchen
03/29/2024 — London, United Kingdom @ Village Underground / Electric Ballroom
04/30/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
05/02/2024 — Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
05/03/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
05/07/2024 — Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
05/08/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
05/10/2024 — Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam
05/13/2024 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Ballroom
05/14/2024 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
05/16/2024 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
05/17/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
05/18/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
05/21/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
05/24/2024 — Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory OC
05/25/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
05/27/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
05/30/2024 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
05/31/2024 — Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
06/01/2024 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues
06/04/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
How Do You Sleep At Night? is out now via RCA. Find more information here.
The holiday season is here and with it comes myriad social gatherings, parties, get-togethers, and work functions. While the highlight of many of these events is heavy, savory food and indulgent, sweet desserts, you’d be remiss if you didn’t pair these heavy feasts and social engagements with a glass or two of a well-made, warming spirit. And while whiskey seems to get all of the love during the winter months, we believe another spirit deserves a chance to shine.
We’re talking of course about tequila. Whether it’s a flavorful blanco, a sweeter reposado, a nuanced añejo, or a complex, mellow extra añejo, tequila is a great choice during the holiday season. Not only it is a nice respite from the usual single malt whiskies, bourbons, and rye whiskeys but the roasted agave flavors and vanilla, oak, caramel, and spices of the aged expressions make it a great complement to seasonal fare.
To find some of the best sipping tequilas currently available, we turned to the professionals for help. We asked a handful of well-known bartenders, mixologists, and beverage directors to tell us their choices for the best sipping tequilas for the holiday season. Keep scrolling to see all of their agave-centric choices.
Codigo 1530 Origen Extra Añejo
Codigo
Jennifer Donegan, bar manager at Bar Pendry in Washington DC
I love a good reposado or añejo, personally. I got started on sipping whiskey, so it was an easy jump for me to aged tequila. if I want something smooth and mellow, I’ll go for Codigo Extra Añejo. Agave spirits have this naturally full mouthfeel when aged, and there is always something earthy on the nose.
Tasting Notes:
You get strong baking spices and caramel or a light cocoa. Even cinnamon ice cream because of some strong vanilla influence.
La Gritona Reposado
La Gritona
Alex Barbatsis, bar director at The Whistler in Chicago
I love La Gritona, specifically its reposado tequila. When drinking tequila neat, I like one a little barrel-aged to round out the bright agave notes, and La Gritona is rested for eight months in ex-bourbon barrels. This company exclusively makes reposado tequila harvested from eight to ten-year-old agave plants, so you know the quality is always going to be on point.
Tasting Notes:
This sipping tequila is known for its roasted agave, vanilla, earthy, memorable flavor profile. It’s sweet, refined, and flavorful.
Fortaleza Reposado
Fortaleza
Ricardo Flores, bar manager at Hot Tin in New Orleans
My personal favorite is Fortaleza Reposado Tequila. Fortaleza Tequila is known for its exceptional quality and craftsmanship, making it a great choice to drink neat. Crafted from 100% blue Weber agave, it boasts a smooth and rich flavor profile. The tequila is produced using traditional methods, such as stone ovens and copper pot stills, which add to its unique character. When you drink it neat, you can fully savor the intricate layers of flavors. It’s worth giving it a try if you enjoy savoring the pure essence of tequila.
Tasting Notes:
Fortaleza Tequila is known for its rich and velvety profile, featuring hints of caramelized agave, toasted oak, and a touch of citrus. These elements harmonize to craft an enjoyable and well-balanced experience.
Quintaliza Reposado
Quintaliza
Alli Torres, operating partner and head bartender at Freehold in Miami
What’s the best tequila to drink neat and why? I’ve always been a big advocate of reposado expressions for a neat tasting. It shows how the tequila opens up and what it’s capable of evolving into when aged further. For this, Quintaliza Reposado Tequila has been top of my list with its multi-dimensional journey of soft coffee notes, to hints of more peppery boldness on the backend.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, you definitely pull out a bit of those bolder tones mentioned – pepper, leather, and fireplace vibes. On first sip, it’s smoother than you’d anticipate revealing hints of chocolate and coffee. As you allow that sip to settle, a bit bolder flavors coat the back of your mouth and that’s the pop of pepper I touched on earlier. It truly makes such a well-rounded cocktail with this profile combination.
El Tequileno Platinum is my pick. El Tequileno Platino is made from 100% estate-grown agave in the Highland of Jalisco. It is left to mellow in American oak for a minimum of fourteen days before it is bottled.
Tasting Notes:
Aromas of cooked agave, herbal, delicate nuances of anise and black pepper. There is slight spiciness on the palate.
The delicate spirit of Gran Patron Burdeos Añejo is a taste from the gods. It’s aged in a combination of French Limousin and new American oak barrels for four years.
Tasting Notes:
It’s a rich mahogany color and tastes sweet yet has a complexity of cooked agave, vanilla, and earth. The nose is fruity with black pepper and charred oak. I love to sip this slowly and neat feeling the flavors change in my mouth.
Don Julio 1942 Añejo
Don Julio
Richie Barrow, general manager and food and beverage at Tribe Hotels Group in Nairobi, Kenya
The tequila category has so many new and old tequilas to pick from. Unfortunately, here in Kenya, we do not get as many of these newer or smaller batch tequilas. As for Don Julio 1942 Añejo, I will slip this into the category of tequilas to try for those new to the category. Overall, a very easy drinking and sippable tequila.
Tasting Notes:
On the nose, rich caramel, chocolate, roasted cashew nuts and warm spices. The palate is the notable spiciness of tequila, white pepper, dark chocolate, and caramel, with a semi-sweet finish with woody notes.
El Tequileño Gran Reserva
El Tequileño Gran Reserva
Matthew Thurber, general manager at Sandbox in San Antonio
When I am drinking tequila neat, I prefer quality. El Tequileño Gran Reserva is by far the best-tasting and most accessible. The Grand Reserva is hard to beat for its price point and its nice blend of tequilas.
Tasting Notes:
There is no fake taste, and you get the true taste of vanilla, caramel, salinity, and citrus. Competition tastes like extract, while this is derived from its time spent in oak casks. Due to it being a blend, you do get the best of all the ages.
Don Fulano Añejo
Don Fulano
Diego Livera, bartender at The Cabinet in New York City
When sipping on tequila neat, I reach for Don Fulano Añejo tequila, with its 100% agave all-natural fermentation process from a 5th generation family-owned distillery.
Tasting Notes:
Aged in French Limousine Oak casks with no sugar/color added, it finishes nice and dry without any harsh tequila notes. It has a nice spice character, with notes of baked banana, roasted coffee, light chocolate, and a bit of a floral nose.
I love most tequilas that are unaged with no additives. Get me as close to the still as I can get. For this, I tend to love the old family-owned brands that still make these things in traditional ways like G4. G4 stands for 4 generations of family distilling and makes some of the best tequila out there.
Tasting Notes:
It’s exceptionally smooth and brings out that cooked agave, pepper, and minerality that you tend to expect in an exceptional tequila.
Teezo Touchdown announced new dates for his Spend The Night Tour, which will feature shows for fans all over the globe throughout 2024. Starting in March of next year, fans can catch the rapper across Europe and North America, supporting his recent debut album, How Do You Sleep At Night?.
Tickets for the newly announced headlining tour will go on sale this Friday, December 15 at 9 a.m. ET. More information about the Spend The Night Tour can be found here.
Continue scrolling for a complete list of tour dates.
Teezo Touchdown’s 2024 tour dates: Spend The Night Tour
03/21/2024 — Amsterdam, Netherlands @ Melkweg OZ
03/22/2024 — Zurich, Switzerland @ M4 Music Festival
03/25/2024 — Paris, France @ Bellevilloise / Cabaret Sauvage
03/26/2024 — Berlin, Germany @ Gretchen
03/29/2024 — London, United Kingdom @ Village Underground / Electric Ballroom
04/30/2024 — Charlotte, NC @ The Underground
05/02/2024 — Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club
05/03/2024 — Philadelphia, PA @ Theatre of the Living Arts
05/07/2024 — Toronto, ON @ The Phoenix
05/08/2024 — Detroit, MI @ Saint Andrews Hall
05/10/2024 — Minneapolis, MN @ Amsterdam
05/13/2024 — Denver, CO @ Cervantes Ballroom
05/14/2024 — Salt Lake City, UT @ Soundwell
05/16/2024 — Portland, OR @ Hawthorne Theatre
05/17/2024 — Vancouver, BC @ Hollywood Theatre
05/18/2024 — Seattle, WA @ Neumos
05/21/2024 — San Francisco, CA @ The Independent
05/24/2024 — Santa Ana, CA @ Observatory OC
05/25/2024 — Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theatre
05/27/2024 — Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom
05/30/2024 — Dallas, TX @ House of Blues
05/31/2024 — Austin, TX @ Come and Take It Live
06/01/2024 — Houston, TX @ House of Blues
06/04/2024 — Atlanta, GA @ Masquerade
How Do You Sleep At Night? is out now via RCA. Find more information here.
Reneé Rapp is gearing up for her silver screen debut as Regina George in the upcoming movie-musical adaptation of Mean Girls. And on top of her incredible acting — which she’s displayed in the stage adaptation of Mean Girls and on the hit TV series, The Sex Lives Of College Girls — she also released her debut album, Snow Angel.
Rapp is keeping the music coming ahead of the movie. This coming Friday, she will release her new single “Not My Fault,” which features Megan Thee Stallion.
The two revealed the collaboration today via social media, and the cheeky cover art drew some reactions in Rapp’s Instagram comments: Tate McRae commented, “omg,” and another user wrote, “THIS COVER PHOTO IS CRAZY.”
While Rapp has shown to be incredibly talented in both acting and music, her first love has always been the latter. Mean Girls will provide an opportunity for her to showcase both. As Regina, who was originally played by Rachael McAdams, Rapp hopes to make the character personable, while still maintaining her “b*tch” elements.
“I think especially for a character like Regina, you need all those nuances so that you don’t hate that character,” said Rapp in an interview with Teen Vogue, “because she is a b*tch and you have to make her likable so that’s like a task in and of itself.”
Megan Thee Stallion is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
If you’re on a quest for wellness, you’ve likely heard about the latest buzzword in hydration: hydrogen water. It’s not just a trend among health enthusiasts; this cutting-edge concept is gaining traction for its remarkable health benefits.
Enter the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition, a frontrunner in this revolutionary movement. The Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition takes hydration to a new level, infusing water with hydrogen and promising a plethora of health advantages. It includes everything you need to both drink and breathe molecular hydrogen in one amazing machine.
In the next few paragraphs, we’ll dive into how this innovative, lab-tested, and certified machine is not just quenching thirst but is transforming daily wellness routines as we uncover the unique benefits that set the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition apart in the world of advanced hydration.
You know staying hydrated is key for feeling your best, but not all water is created equal. The Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition is like the superhero of water, taking hydration to a whole new level.
How? Infusing water with hydrogen delivers hydration that’s more effective than your standard H2O. This means your body gets more of what it needs to function at its peak, both physically and mentally.
Imagine feeling more alert, energetic, and ready to tackle whatever comes your way – that’s the power of enhanced hydration. It’s not just about drinking water; it’s about drinking water that works harder for you.
So, whether you’re crushing it at the gym or powering through a workday, the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition has your back, keeping you hydrated and on top of your game.
In a world where purity is paramount, the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition stands out with its commitment to delivering water in its purest form. This isn’t filtration; it’s transformation.
Through a sophisticated process that steers clear of harmful chemicals and metals, this machine ensures every sip you take is clean and safe. It’s like having a personal water guardian ensuring that what you drink contributes positively to your health. This commitment to purity means you’re not just staying hydrated – you’re nurturing your body with water that’s as safe as it is rejuvenating. Engineered and hand-built in Japan, it utilizes superior polymer technology and is BPA and BHPF-free. Best of all, no plated/coated metals, chemicals, or lye are used to produce hydrogen.
In the long run, this means fewer health worries and more peace of mind because when it comes to your well-being, the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition doesn’t just meet standards – it sets them.
Diving into the heart of the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition, we find a treasure trove of technological marvels. The machine boasts the MFPM (Multi-Layer Fibriform Polymer Membrane) Film Technology, a mouthful to say but a breakthrough in producing hydrogen-rich water.
Think of it as the secret sauce that makes this water so potent. Then, there’s the NEMCA Effect, a technological gem that amplifies the health benefits of hydrogen water, boosting its antioxidant properties and giving your metabolism a leg-up. It’s like a high-tech wellness lab in your kitchen, quietly working to supercharge your water. These aren’t just fancy terms; they’re the cogs in a machine designed to revolutionize your health, sip by sip.
Embracing the Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition isn’t just a win for your health; it’s a victory for the planet, too. This machine is a testament to eco-friendliness, reducing waste and environmental impact compared to bottled hydrogen water.
But that’s not all. It’s also kind to your wallet in the long run. Think about it: investing in the Hydrofix is investing in your health, potentially cutting down future medical costs. Plus, the durability and efficiency of this machine mean you’re not just saving money, you’re also making a sustainable choice. It’s a holistic approach to wellness that takes care of you and Mother Earth – now that’s what we call a smart investment!
The Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition isn’t just about advanced hydration and health benefits; it’s also a champion of convenience. Designed with user-friendliness, this machine is a breeze to set up and even easier to maintain. It’s like having a personal hydration assistant that doesn’t take up space or require constant attention.
Versatile enough to fit into any lifestyle, whether you’re a busy parent, a fitness enthusiast, or just someone who loves their water extra healthy, the Hydrofix slots into your daily routine without a hitch. It’s the kind of convenience that makes healthy choices effortless, proving that taking care of yourself doesn’t have to be complicated.
The Lourdes Hydrofix Premium Edition is more than just a hydration solution; it’s a wellness revolution. From peak performance to unmatched purity, cutting-edge technology, and ultimate convenience, it’s redefining what water can do for you.
Ready to transform your health game? Dive into the Hydrofix experience and see the difference yourself. Click here to visit their website today and get ready to elevate your hydration!
It’s not rare to see powerful and high profile men overcome with emotion at times, but when they do, it’s usually met with some form of criticism or seen as a display of weakness. Simply put, in today’s world boys and men are simply not expected to display vulnerable emotions like sadness and grief. (But anger is usually A-OK!)
When we think of the founding pillars of “manliness,” we think of strength, bravery, and stoicism, and we often assume that it’s just always been that way. After all, ancient Greek warriors didn’t cry! Medieval knights didn’t cry! Men just don’t cry! It’s, like, biology or something! Right? Right?
Well, actually…
A couple of historians recently took to Reddit to debunk this myth once and for all.
A user named Sassenacho prompted the thread on the r/AskHistorians subreddit with a simple question: “Today, there are voices that call for (much needed) acceptance of men’s emotionality, but it is still kind of taboo. I was wondering when and why this changed in western society.”
The explanations that ensued were fascinating.
Cassidy Percoco, a curator and historian at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association and author of “Regency Women’s Dress” kicked things off, explaining that “masculinity and tears have not always been at odds.”
Those rough and tumble medieval knights with their shiny armor and big swords? Percoco says they were actually expected to weep on occasion.
“In the Middle Ages there was a trope of masculine weeping being a mark of religious devotion and knightly chivalry; by the sixteenth century it was well-established that a masculine man was supposed to have deep emotions and to show them — in some cases, through tears.”
It was a part of the whole chivalry thing and a sign of religious devotion.
As far back as Biblical times and in the age of Greek and Roman heroes, crying out of grief or sadness was just something men were expected to do.
From there, Percoco jumped forward to 17th and 18th century England. Hundreds and hundreds of years later, men crying and sharing their feelings — a gentlemanly trait known as “sensibility” — still hadn’t gone out of style.
“A gentleman was to be courteous to women and other men, to talk problems out, to keep from bursting into loud displays of anger or drunkenness. You might think that that would also put the kibosh on weeping — giving way to feelings of all sorts — but this was not the case. Another gentlemanly trait of the eighteenth century was sensibility, which today sounds like it ought to mean “rationality” but is actually being aware of and susceptible to one’s finer emotions.”
Alex Wetmore, assistant professor in the English department at University of the Fraser Valley, chimed in as well to explain that in the mid-to-late 1700s, popular fiction often celebrated male leads who cried “a lot”!
“People are often interested to hear that there was a period of time of a few decades (1740s to 1770s) where fiction devoted to men who cry (a lot!) was not only acceptable, but, in fact, tremendously popular and widely celebrated.”
Wetmore identified an archetype, which he calls “The Man of Feeling,” who appears in a ton of novels from that era. (Wetmore even wrote a bookon the subject.)
“When I try to explain this recurring character type to students, I usually describe him as like a comic book superhero … BUT with the notable exception that the ‘superpower’ of men of feeling is an ability to spontaneously shed copious amounts of tears.”
It’s quite the contrast to the unflinching action heroes we see today.
It wasn’t until the early 1800s that things began to change, and men started feeling the pressure to hold those tears in.
Percoco and Wetmore were both hesitant to prescribe a definite cause and effect relationship, but they do suspect the Industrial Revolution played a big part in turning the tide. (Reportedly, some factory managers actually trained workers, usually men, to suppress their emotions in order to keep productivity high.)
The age of the stoic and emotionless cowboy (a la John Wayne, who most people agree never cried in a movie) wasn’t far behind, followed by the gun-wielding “Die Hard”-ian action heroes of modern cinema.
But … while fictional macho men may have been suppressing their tears, the real men of the real world were doing the same thing they’d always done: wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
For instance: General Ulysses S. Grant cried when the Civil War finally ended. President Eisenhower cried on the eve of D-Day. And baseball legend Lou Gehrig cried when the Yankees retired his number.
And, yet, since it took hold about 200 years ago, the expectation that “boys don’t cry” persists.
Today’s world is certainly not one that celebrates open displays of emotion from men, often to their detriment.
Research shows that these repressed feelings can often come out in unhealthy and harmful ways, and it’s all so we can meet a standard of masculinity that, likely, never truly existed.
Next time you catch someone bemoaning the “wussification of American boys” and yearning for a time “when men were men,” it might be worth asking them when, exactly, they think that was.
It’s not rare to see powerful and high profile men overcome with emotion at times, but when they do, it’s usually met with some form of criticism or seen as a display of weakness. Simply put, in today’s world boys and men are simply not expected to display vulnerable emotions like sadness and grief. (But anger is usually A-OK!)
When we think of the founding pillars of “manliness,” we think of strength, bravery, and stoicism, and we often assume that it’s just always been that way. After all, ancient Greek warriors didn’t cry! Medieval knights didn’t cry! Men just don’t cry! It’s, like, biology or something! Right? Right?
Well, actually…
A couple of historians recently took to Reddit to debunk this myth once and for all.
A user named Sassenacho prompted the thread on the r/AskHistorians subreddit with a simple question: “Today, there are voices that call for (much needed) acceptance of men’s emotionality, but it is still kind of taboo. I was wondering when and why this changed in western society.”
The explanations that ensued were fascinating.
Cassidy Percoco, a curator and historian at the St. Lawrence County Historical Association and author of “Regency Women’s Dress” kicked things off, explaining that “masculinity and tears have not always been at odds.”
Those rough and tumble medieval knights with their shiny armor and big swords? Percoco says they were actually expected to weep on occasion.
“In the Middle Ages there was a trope of masculine weeping being a mark of religious devotion and knightly chivalry; by the sixteenth century it was well-established that a masculine man was supposed to have deep emotions and to show them — in some cases, through tears.”
It was a part of the whole chivalry thing and a sign of religious devotion.
As far back as Biblical times and in the age of Greek and Roman heroes, crying out of grief or sadness was just something men were expected to do.
From there, Percoco jumped forward to 17th and 18th century England. Hundreds and hundreds of years later, men crying and sharing their feelings — a gentlemanly trait known as “sensibility” — still hadn’t gone out of style.
“A gentleman was to be courteous to women and other men, to talk problems out, to keep from bursting into loud displays of anger or drunkenness. You might think that that would also put the kibosh on weeping — giving way to feelings of all sorts — but this was not the case. Another gentlemanly trait of the eighteenth century was sensibility, which today sounds like it ought to mean “rationality” but is actually being aware of and susceptible to one’s finer emotions.”
Alex Wetmore, assistant professor in the English department at University of the Fraser Valley, chimed in as well to explain that in the mid-to-late 1700s, popular fiction often celebrated male leads who cried “a lot”!
“People are often interested to hear that there was a period of time of a few decades (1740s to 1770s) where fiction devoted to men who cry (a lot!) was not only acceptable, but, in fact, tremendously popular and widely celebrated.”
Wetmore identified an archetype, which he calls “The Man of Feeling,” who appears in a ton of novels from that era. (Wetmore even wrote a bookon the subject.)
“When I try to explain this recurring character type to students, I usually describe him as like a comic book superhero … BUT with the notable exception that the ‘superpower’ of men of feeling is an ability to spontaneously shed copious amounts of tears.”
It’s quite the contrast to the unflinching action heroes we see today.
It wasn’t until the early 1800s that things began to change, and men started feeling the pressure to hold those tears in.
Percoco and Wetmore were both hesitant to prescribe a definite cause and effect relationship, but they do suspect the Industrial Revolution played a big part in turning the tide. (Reportedly, some factory managers actually trained workers, usually men, to suppress their emotions in order to keep productivity high.)
The age of the stoic and emotionless cowboy (a la John Wayne, who most people agree never cried in a movie) wasn’t far behind, followed by the gun-wielding “Die Hard”-ian action heroes of modern cinema.
But … while fictional macho men may have been suppressing their tears, the real men of the real world were doing the same thing they’d always done: wearing their hearts on their sleeves.
For instance: General Ulysses S. Grant cried when the Civil War finally ended. President Eisenhower cried on the eve of D-Day. And baseball legend Lou Gehrig cried when the Yankees retired his number.
And, yet, since it took hold about 200 years ago, the expectation that “boys don’t cry” persists.
Today’s world is certainly not one that celebrates open displays of emotion from men, often to their detriment.
Research shows that these repressed feelings can often come out in unhealthy and harmful ways, and it’s all so we can meet a standard of masculinity that, likely, never truly existed.
Next time you catch someone bemoaning the “wussification of American boys” and yearning for a time “when men were men,” it might be worth asking them when, exactly, they think that was.
This article originally appeared on 11.20.17
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