The World Needs Bad Men, We Keep the Other Bad Men from the Door: An examination of the reproduction and negotiation of hegemonic masculinity in HBO's True Detective: An examination of the reproduction and negotiation of hegemonic masculinity in HBO's True Detective
Translated title
The World Needs Bad Men, We Keep the Other Bad Men from the Door: An examination of the reproduction and negotiation of hegemonic masculinity in HBO's True Detective
Author
Ibsen, Helena Lund
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2020
Submitted on
2020-06-02
Pages
79
Abstract
Denne afhandling tager afsæt i den offentlige debat om HBO-serien True Detective. Med udgangspunkt i feminisme, maskulinitetsstudier og tv-studier samt begrebet hegemonisk maskulinitet (det kulturelt dominerende ideal for mandighed) undersøger den, hvordan serien fremstiller og forhandler maskulinitet, og om den støtter det normative kønsregime (de gængse forventninger til kønsroller). Afhandlingen ser på relationerne mellem mænd og kvinder i serien—hvordan de mandlige karakterer ser på og behandler kvinder—og om serien forsøger at bryde med den sædvanlige maskulinitetsmodel i krimigenren. Den analyserer også relationer mellem mænd, hvordan mindre værdsatte former for maskulinitet fremstilles, det positive potentiale i mandlige fællesskaber og de komplekse måder, som mandlig magt udøves på. Konklusionen er, at True Detective ofte følger genrekonventioner, der ligger tæt på hegemonisk maskulinitet og dermed kan underordne både kvinder og alternative maskuliniteter. Samtidig giver serien stemme til og problematiserer spørgsmål om køn, seksualitet og race. Den hylder derfor ikke blot forældede idealer om mandighed, men skildrer mænd, der er i tvivl og kæmper med presset for at leve op til disse forventninger.
This thesis starts from the public debate around HBO’s True Detective. Drawing on feminism, masculinity studies, television studies, and the concept of hegemonic masculinity (the culturally dominant ideal of manhood), it examines how the series presents and negotiates masculinity and whether it supports the prevailing gender order (normative gender regime). The study looks at relationships between men and women—how male characters see and treat women—and asks whether the show tries to depart from the usual model of masculinity in crime dramas. It also analyzes relationships among men, how less-valued or marginal masculinities are depicted, the positive potential of male bonding, and the complex workings of male power. The thesis concludes that True Detective frequently follows genre conventions aligned with hegemonic masculinity, which can subordinate women and alternative masculinities. At the same time, the series gives voice to and problematizes issues of gender, sexuality, and race. It does not simply celebrate outdated masculine ideals; instead, it portrays men who are unsettled by, and struggle with, the pressure to meet those expectations.
[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]
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