Does Quebec culture influence young men?

Do Quebec artists exert an influence on young men? Does Quebec popular culture still have an impact on them? Our columnist discusses it with three comedians, Jay Du Temple, Louis Morissette and Adib Alkhalidey.

Jay Du Temple is sort of the anti-Andrew Tate. An alternative model to the narrow vision of so-called toxic masculinity, which is popular among some young men. He is to modern masculinity what Andrew Tate is to traditional masculinity. A symbol, an archetype.

“I haven’t really followed his journey,” says the Quebec comedian and host about the popular American-British masculinist influencer, who will be tried in Romania for rape and human trafficking.

While viewers reacted strongly to his flamboyant dyes or his colorful nails, Jay Du Temple inspired many boys to be themselves, and to express it freely, during his six years hosting the reality show Double occupation. By his humor, by his kindness, and of course by his style, which blurred the codes of the genre.

“OD brought me this contact with young people,” he says. The positive side of OD is that for many families, it brought people together. It’s one of the rare shows that parents listened to with their teenagers. »

Double occupation made him an icon among a young audience, particularly males. We suddenly saw more young men wearing skirts, dyeing their hair pink or painting their nails green. By ignoring the codes of traditional masculinity.

It is undoubtedly because he inspired so many young men that the popular host was named in the magazine’s list of the 100 most influential people in Quebec. News, last month. “I try as much as possible to be in line with my values, to be myself, in my choices and in my shows,” says the 32-year-old comedian. If it can inspire people positively, so much the better. »

The comedian, author, actor and musician Adib Alkhalidey also captures the attention of a young male audience with the acuity of his humor and his sensitivity, in counterpoint to what the manosphere exudes. He describes himself as a man who cultivates his masculine side, but is comfortable with aspects of his personality that some might consider more feminine.

“As a teenager, I listened to Eminem’s most intense album. I didn’t think like him, but there was clearly an energy in his way of transcending his miserable condition which allowed me to let emotions emerge,” continues the 36-year-old artist.

Jay Du Temple also believes that we must be lenient with young men who question the codes of masculinity. “Experience cannot be bought. But youth comes with passion. The older I get, the more grateful I am for the kid I was, who didn’t know much, who was less aware of things, but who dared. The young people I meet, I find them intelligent, in the know, much more than I was. And I trust them. »

Comedian, actor and author Louis Morissette shares this optimism. “Young people are less stupid than we were!” says the 50-year-old artist. They are more equipped than I was at their age. If we spent more time listening to them, maybe we would ask fewer questions about what we should do. »

Do these three comedians believe that Quebec artists still exert an influence on young men? And that Quebec popular culture still has an impact on them?

Jay Du Temple is able to see its appeal among a young audience. “I’m not old, but people already call me sir!” “, he said, smiling. Although he has put away the nail dye and nail polish – “I don’t want to become a caricature of myself” – he happily accepts this role of positive influencer that is attributed to him.

The comedian, who grew up surrounded by women – his mother, his two sisters, his grandmother – is not the type to deliver big speeches on masculinity, but he tries to lead by example. His message to young men is clear: be free, respectful, but free.

“Young men, fundamentally, are looking for themselves,” believes Louis Morissette, father of three children, including a 19-year-old son, Justin, who is the opening act for his new comedy show. “When we are young, we are looking for our identity, we are looking for what we want to do in life, we are looking for something to hold on to. We can be influenced by lots of people, especially artists. We can still positively influence young people, as long as we don’t take them for idiots! We tend to take them for idiots…”

Interest young men

Many – including me – believe that more should be done to interest young men in models other than those, increasingly popular, advocated by the Andrew Tates of the manosphere. For example, by making Quebec culture more attractive and inviting for a 17 or 25 year old boy.

“But when I offer content to broadcasters that resembles what is done elsewhere and that interests my children, it’s a total rejection! continues the man who runs KOTV, a production house specializing in television. Because the projects are seen and judged by people aged 50 and 60, who decide what young people should see, according to their morality. As long as we do that, we’re done. »

Quebec television, which does not want to alienate its most loyal – and increasingly aging – audience, lacks audacity. Young people don’t recognize it and shun it. We should produce content intended exclusively for young adults, believes Louis Morissette. Because the multigenerational menu that we offer them most often acts as a repellent to our culture.

“It’s no longer one to one, the hour may have passed,” he thinks. If we continue not to interest them, they will stay outside the ecosystem and they will look elsewhere. You have to trust them. It’s not because they look Euphoria that they will all have unbridled sexuality and take hard drugs! »

To those who, like me, are concerned about the lack of impact of Quebec popular culture on young men (on television in particular, but not exclusively), Adib Alkhalidey responds that we should not underestimate the influence of Quebec content broadcast elsewhere than in traditional media.

“We are far from the traditional design of Quebec television on social networks, but it remains Quebecers who express themselves and who are followed by many Quebecers, particularly young people,” he recalls. There is a counterculture that expresses itself and integrates elements of the dominant culture. There is a new ecosystem emerging. »

Also, Adib Alkhalidey does not believe that young men are turning their backs on Quebec culture. “I think they are turning their backs on the lack of courage, the absence of risk and of listening on the part of people in positions of power,” he said. The quest for identity would benefit from drawing on a discussion that is much more open, uninhibited and less accusatory. Especially when you’re young, an accusatory discussion pushes you to take refuge in less nuanced things. »