SEXTANT: masculinities, sexualities & decolonialities

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the construction and commodification of hegemonic masculinity through the celebrity persona and performances of Hugh Jackman. Drawing on R.W. Connell’s framework of hegemonic masculinity, it analyses Jackman’s portrayals of two contrasting characters, Logan (The Wolverine) and Peter Allen (The Boy from Oz), to explore how masculine desirability is culturally encoded through traits such as virility and usefulness. While Logan embodies hypermasculine ideals of strength and emotional repression, Peter Allen challenges normative masculinity through his queerness and flamboyance, yet remains desirable due to his success within capitalist and sexual frameworks. The paper also investigates Jackman’s strategic navigation of masculinity in celebrity culture, especially within online fandoms and platforms like TikTok, where his persona is shaped and reinforced through the reciprocal relationship between celebrity branding and audience desire. Ultimately, it argues that Jackman’s career reflects a broader trend of profit-driven male sexualisation that, while distinct from the historical objectification of women, raises urgent questions about boundaries, consent, and cultural commodification in the digital age.

KEY WOrDS

masculinity, hegemonic masculinity, celebrity, fandom, social media

Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.