When men get together

On identity, communities, and positive masculinity

Abstract

The article examines the discussion that takes place in contemporary literature about positive masculinity. The article begins by taking a step back and looking at how masculinity was discussed in the iconic masculinity novel Fodboldenglen (1979) by Hans-Jørgen Nielsen, before moving on to contemporary works: Victor Boy Lindholms En del af hjertet går ud af kroppen (2022), Kristian Leths En vej ud af tågen (2022), Duncan Wieses Kirsebærplukkerne (2023), Geir Gulliksens Hvis jeg var mand (2023) and Lasse Rahbek’s TV documentary series Sirius (2023). The focus of the article is the authors’ representation of positive masculinity in the various communities they find themselves in: friendship, family, the relationship between fathers and sons and the mission.