Contested masculinities Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Contested masculinities - Essay Example With reference to Brett Easton Ellis’s American Psycho (1991) and Jackie Kay’s Trumpet (1998), this essay explores the multitude of expressions of masculinity within and between cultures. Contemporary theorists of masculinity have increasingly noted the idea of a post-feminist male identity (Burr 1995). There is a perceived backlash towards advances in feminism over the last quarter century that posits male identity in direct opposition to feminism. In books such as Backlash and Stiffed, Susan Faludi has identified a crisis in masculinity and a resultant wave of males attempting to reassert traditional identity constructions. She discusses ways in which men have lost significance in modern society. Writers such as Benjamin Brabon have discussed the appearance of such expressions of masculinity in cultural artifacts such as the film Falling Down, arguing that the white-male main character is acting out in the film because his previously dominate social position western society has been dislocated in the new millennium (Brabon 57). Other writers identify the normative standards that underline many expressions of male masculinity and explore the resultant backlash (Bark er 2008). These interpretations of ‘post-feminist man’ has incorporated the violent outbursts of males in contemporary society and films as extensions of phallus emasculation experienced as a result of these feminist advances. In fact, statistical research has shown that over the last twenty-year period woman are more than twice as likely to report being attacked by a significant other (Hatty 5). In terms of patriarchy, Thomas Byer argues that: Perhaps the major – function and driving force of patriarchal narrative is the attempt to re-member a masculine body whose member has been â€Å"dissed† Thus sadism and violence directed against women are not in themselves synonymous with narrative; rather they are among the most common, and most virulently misogynist,

Literary analysis focusing one of the schools of criticism discussed Essay

Literary analysis focusing one of the schools of criticism discussed in class in relation to a selected film or television production - Essay Example However, the personal fight of Wallace, to be expounded later on, is intertwined with the social conditions presented. At the start of the film, King Edward I, a.k.a. Longshanks, of England has invaded the Scotland (Braveheart). Alongside this condition is the commission of treachery on the part of Longshanks who persecuted several people, including the parents of Wallace (Braveheart). However, Wallace survives and is taken to foreign land where he is educated through the aid of his uncle. However, Wallace will have a love affair with his childhood, who will be the cause of the strife in Scotland that will eventually led to a revolution. This will then divide the land into factions, which will engage in a fight to free Scotland from the grasps of the English conquerors. However, Wallace will die later on and someone will follow his footsteps, rebelling again to gain freedom from the rule of Englishmen. Robert, the Bruce, shall carry this on as the Scottish King. This is then a continuation of legacy. Aside from such continuation, there is a certain pedigree of dissent present from the instigators of the rebellion. It is unavoidable that bloodshed will happen but with a purpose. In this case, the most common thing that can be seen is opposing forces: binaries of some sort. The Englishmen are the ones considered as oppressors since they are the ones who have the power to conquer lands and dominate people. On the other hand, the Scottish people are the ones who appear as the oppressed in the film due to the subjugation made by the Englishmen. The abuses and killings made signify the injustice and abuses perpetuated as it appeared on the film. However, it can be considered that the representations of the film are not accurate and purely referential to history, which is not totally clear about the message it wants (De Man 184). Thus, the film