The Rise of the Stoic, Muscular Man: Redefining Modern Masculinity

Last year, actress Zoë Kravitz and her then-fiancé, Channing Tatum, visited the Criterion Closet—a compact film library where cinephiles discuss their obscure favorites. Tatum, known for roles in films like “Step Up” and “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra,” appeared imposing within the confined space, his muscular frame dominating the room. Yet his demeanor was unexpectedly gentle, almost as if stunned and out of place. When Kravitz presented the documentary “Paris is Burning,” Tatum praised its cinematography as unparalleled. He also singled out the coal miners’ strike documentary “Harlan County U.S.A.”, describing it as “super punk rock.”

The couple’s candid exchange captivated viewers, who admired their chemistry: the fashionable actress paired with her serene and muscular partner, unafraid to admit unfamiliarity with auteurs like Kurosawa when browsing a video store. Fans responded with GIFs of Tatum’s energetic performances in the “Magic Mike” series or comments such as, “I want a straight man who enjoys watching ‘Paris is Burning’ with me.”

Recently, there has been a resurgence of this archetype: the rugged yet kind-hearted man. For a long time, this figure was dismissed as outdated, overshadowed by more complex male stereotypes—the self-aware outsider, the socially awkward intellectual, or the romantic underdog. Now, there is a marked appetite for a fantasy masculine ideal that seems innocent, straightforward, and perhaps a bit clumsy—focused chiefly on physical fitness and simple pleasures like protein shakes. His apparent indifference to the complex demands of contemporary masculinity stems largely from his unawareness or disregard of them.

This ideal is most visible on social media, where it frequently appears in memes, jokes, and fantasies. For example, the “Buff Guys Typing on Laptops” meme portrays bodybuilders not as aggressive brutes but as well-meaning, if awkward, advisers. Images of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s joyful and indulgent persona from “Pumping Iron” circulate widely as aspirational icons, inspiring the tongue-in-cheek motto “Live, laugh, lobotomy.” Memes contrasting the “Chad” figure with more pedantic or neurotic male stereotypes highlight the corrective role of this new dream man: he is a gentle giant who remains unfazed by intellectual posturing, evoking the calm spirit of Ferdinand the Bull.

This version of masculinity has also entered political discussions. The Democratic Party, which lost about six percent of its male voters between 2020 and 2024, especially struggles to engage young men. Consequently, calls have grown for a left-wing counterpart to figures like Joe Rogan or the meme-famous advice-giving bodybuilders—someone capable of communicating with increasingly skeptical and politically disenchanted men in their own vernacular, encouraging them toward more community-oriented values.