I agree with most of what you say in this article but I think that Gopnik in "A serious man" is a more nuanced character than just being a simple loser. The issues that he deals with with his family and work are pretty common ones and the ways that he reacts to them are natural ways that many people would in the same situation
It seems like two favorite stereotypes of an unlikely ethnic group are either the needy wimp that you mentioned, which is also often tagged to Asians, and then uber aggressive brute, usually tacked to blacks.
Best model for Jewish masculinity remains, for me, Trilling. Though of course the thing about such models is that everyone needs to have their own, and then move beyond it.
I agree with most of what you say in this article but I think that Gopnik in "A serious man" is a more nuanced character than just being a simple loser. The issues that he deals with with his family and work are pretty common ones and the ways that he reacts to them are natural ways that many people would in the same situation
He also has to deal with a more charismatic Jewish guy trying to steal his wife!
Seems eerily similar to the stereotype of weak, nerdy Asian man and feminine, desirable Asian girl.
It seems like two favorite stereotypes of an unlikely ethnic group are either the needy wimp that you mentioned, which is also often tagged to Asians, and then uber aggressive brute, usually tacked to blacks.
I think fighting this perception is one of the appeals of Zionism for better or worse
Best model for Jewish masculinity remains, for me, Trilling. Though of course the thing about such models is that everyone needs to have their own, and then move beyond it.
I always wondered what was up with the Coen bros. and Jewish stereotypes...
Do you think Woody Allen leaned into this, or inadvertently promoted it, with his comedic neuroticism?
Probably both, yeah! I don’t know his oeuvre super well is why he didn’t come up here, but even what I know/have seen would seem to indicate yes.