When Culture Celebrated Men

In fact, there is not a short line connecting The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Walker Percy, and The Catcher in the Rye to “The Big Bag Theory,” “The Hangover,” and the ongoing glut of superhero movies. A very deep chasm divides them. Scott is right that American culture is filled with male characters who reject both societal institutions and traditional marriage. But until recently, these characters were compelling because there was a third choice men faced between having a family and staying a kid: the pursuit of God.