Minute 41

Minute 41 (by Ourania Xanthi)

Defining Manhood & Masculinity through Manual Labor

The handling of minute 41 posed a distinct challenge, characterised by its substantial volume of information, scenes and dynamic actions. My thoughts about this project were all over the place at that point. Minute 41 comprised three distinct scenes, each characterised by its unique attributes and thematic elements. The first scene, while not overtly depicted, one can recognize two male figures engaged in the act of kissing. The subsequent scene depicts a group of coal miners in the process of transporting a deceased body and finally, the last scene, a male protagonist is depicted engaged in the act of opening a tomb and observing the body lying there. I opted to focus on the second scene featuring the coal miners, attempting to draw associative connections and insights from it. The initial theme that emerged pertained to the concept of manual labour, with the coal miners serving as an example. More specifically, I drew an association between the intersection of manual labour and masculinity and manhood. My intention was to minimise the emphasis on historical, societal and cultural factors in this context and rather focus on the portrayal of manual labour in the film ‘Lighthouse’ (2019) by Robert Eggers which is also associated with the embodiment of a male worker and power. The film features Willem Dafoe and Robert Pattinson in leading roles, delving into a thematic exploration that encompasses isolation, power dynamics, masculinity and psychological disintegration. The movie’s narrative unfolds in a desolate lighthouse where the characters are occupied with maintaining the lighthouse while enduring the harsh weather conditions. The extreme isolation and the difficult tasks and the demands of manual labour are portrayed vividly in the film. This isolation takes a toll on their physical and mental well-being and the characters are left to deal with their duties in absolute solitude. Therefore, this creates a struggle which gradually unfolds into madness. Eggers uses the portrayal of manual labour to highlight further the themes of dominance and the profound psychological effect in this harsh environment. The physicality of manual labour has been traditionally linked as an embodiment of masculinity. The tasks that the characters have to deal with underscore their physicality and endurance, in line with traditional perceptions of masculinity and manhood. Additionally, the film serves as a symbol intertwined to disintegration in terms of physical and psychological decay and distortion. The symbolism plays a significant role in the characters’ descent into insanity and madness and the disintegration of body, self and the perception of reality.