Because his father exists only as a radio signal, young J.R. attempts to extract the "secrets of masculinity" from a disembodied baritone.
The bar acts as a secular sanctuary where J.R. is raised by a collective of "alphas"—soldiers, poets, bookies, and his charismatic Uncle Charlie. El Bar De Las Grandes Esperanzas J R Moehri...
When "The Voice" eventually vanishes from the airwaves, J.R. turns to Publicans (formerly Dickens) to find a "rousing chorus of new voices". This shift represents a transition from seeking an idealized, distant myth to finding flawed, tangible reality. Masculinity and "Fathering-by-Committee" Because his father exists only as a radio signal, young J