230397 Fictional Representations of 21st Century US-American Masculinities (BS) (WiSe 2018/2019)

According to critics, in the early 21st century masculinities are in crisis once again. The US-American “makeover culture”, which revolves around issues of self-help, self-making and self-improvement, is not only strongly related to US-American myths and tropes, US-American media, consumer, celebrity, and self-help culture, but also masculinities and male self-making, and is both solution to, and part of, masculinities in crisis. This course focuses on the representation of masculinities and makeover culture in US-American media, and in particular in works such as the TV drama Nip/Tuck (2003-2010, FX), and novels such as Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games (2008) and Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies (2005). Amongst the questions to be explored are: How are masculinities represented and negotiated in the series? In what regard do the series undermine or perpetuate the narratives and promises of makeover culture? Why has Nip/Tuck been considered quality TV?

Bibliography

Ryan Murphy, “Pilot”, Nip/Tuck (2003)
Suzanne Collins, The Hunger Games (2008)
Scott Westerfeld, Uglies (2005)

Other material will be made accessible or provided in class. Participants are expected to read the texts in advance.