This course explores the evolving concept of masculinity through the lens of Hollywood film history, combining insights from cultural studies, media analysis, and film critique. Students will delve into the development of masculinity studies, a critical field examining how gender norms are constructed and challenged. By analyzing iconic films and their portrayals of male identities, the course investigates how Hollywood has shaped, reinforced, and occasionally subverted societal ideals of manhood. Students will also learn key techniques for analyzing movies, enabling them to critically engage with film as a medium. Themes include heroism, vulnerability, power dynamics, and the intersection of masculinity with race, class, and sexuality.
Learning objectives:
After this course students can…
• … apply film analysis techniques to critically examine portrayals of masculinity in Hollywood movies.
• … identify cinematic elements (e.g., narrative, cinematography, character development) that contribute to the construction of male identities on screen.
• … evaluate the effectiveness of film as a medium for shaping and challenging societal perceptions of masculinity.
Forms of assessment:
Participation,
presentation
