This paper analyzes a genre of videos created and distributed online mostly by young men. These videos use a variety of playful and decontextualized images to present messages about masculinities. They both celebrate and denigrate some hegemonic and non-hegemonic masculine identities, while specifically making fun of homosexual males. As in previous studies of adolescent male discourse, the creators of these videos rely on irony and humor to distance themselves from potential claims of heterosexism and sexism. The particular fractured and frenetic style of the videos, and the ability to juxtapose conflicting images, make this somewhat easier to accomplish than it would be through text alone. The videos thus provide a safety net of deniability, allowing their creators to present multiple conflicting identities, while leaving the status quo intact.
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