On Men Vs Boys

Polarization: the division into two sharply contrasting groups or sets of opinions or beliefs.

Judd Apatow and Michael Bay are recent and popular filmmakers whose work appears at different ends of the movie spectrum. Apatow works mainly in the genre of comedy, portraying men as little boys; incapable of commitment, unable to take things seriously and possessing an inability to think of others. His characters go through changes before his films conclude but getting laid, having a baby, or getting over an ex are not significant changes, merely the catalysts for opportunities of growth. Michael Bay on the other hand is a director that makes action movies. His film portray men as heroes. Often characters in Bay's films are called upon to display great courage, face almost impossible obstacles and put the lives of others as more important than their own.


In addition to facing off directors, Consider the comparison of Billy Joel's My Life and Green Day's Welcome to Paradise. Both songs describe the decision to put yourself before others but at different points in the narrator's life. My Life describes a mid-life crisis scenario where friends and loved ones are concerned over choices made by the narrator. In Welcome to Paradise, the narrator is an young adult leaving home for the first time. The song depicts the growth and maturity that comes with autonomy.