New fictional constructions of masculinity in love relationships: a case study of the Catalan TV series Porca Misèria

Abstract

Our research utilizes a gender studies perspective in the context of television fiction research to investigate the models of the forms of masculinity and relationships that arise through the analysis of the Catalan TV series Porca Misèria/Pig Misery (Joan 2004). The methodology followed is to carry out a quantitative and qualitative textual film analysis of the male characters based on a scale, in order to evaluate the components of the love relationships. The conclusion that emerges provides four different modes of masculinity (dialogic, narcissistic, caring and Don Juan masculinity) and, accordingly, four different styles of heterosexual love relationships: ‘bonding love’; ‘inclusive love’; ‘caring love’ and ‘Donjuanesque love’. This constitutes a further step towards the future portrayal of men in TV series that manages to steer clear of clichéd representations and is more in tune with the new social realities of masculinity.