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Alexandra Schein (Dresden):
"Contested Masculinity in the Representation of Irish-American Men"
Abstract
With masculinity a matter of contestation, representations of Irish-American men are often used to project fears and uncertainty connected to cultural change. They signify a brand of white masculinity that strives to reassert itself and fight a perceived loss of status (Diane Negra).
Irish-American manhood as featured in series like Rescue Me or movies like Righteous Kill connotes conservatism, machismo, homophobia, and xenophobia. The anachronism associated with this ethnic masculinity is shown to clash with contemporary reality, which diminishes the cultural clout of such identities. Tommy of Rescue Me laments: “Guys like me are a dying breed.” The often hypermasculine behavior of the men and their longing for a reinvigoration of their male identity could thus be read as desperate attempts at keeping their world in balance and public discourse at bay.
However, many Irish-American-themed narratives eventually reaffirm the men's version of masculinity. Men that seem troubled and besieged turn out to be prevailing, honest, and principled. They are paragons of stability and integrity in times of disorientation, and uncertainty. While the texts present the men as hopelessly old-fashioned, they also underline the need for such “real” men. Furthermore, the men are presented as victims: They suffer from trauma sustained through their work, the erosion of family, neighborhood, and religion, and they lack political, cultural, and financial clout. This victimhood creates sympathy and leverage.
Narratives of beset manhood bespeak the preoccupation with contested masculinity in American popular culture. The representation of Irish-American men, however, also suggests a covert resuscitation of a more conservative masculinity. The ethnic men's crises and perseverance might thus reflect the yearning for a more traditional and assertive version of male identity in U.S.-American culture.
Irish-American manhood as featured in series like Rescue Me or movies like Righteous Kill connotes conservatism, machismo, homophobia, and xenophobia. The anachronism associated with this ethnic masculinity is shown to clash with contemporary reality, which diminishes the cultural clout of such identities. Tommy of Rescue Me laments: “Guys like me are a dying breed.” The often hypermasculine behavior of the men and their longing for a reinvigoration of their male identity could thus be read as desperate attempts at keeping their world in balance and public discourse at bay.
However, many Irish-American-themed narratives eventually reaffirm the men's version of masculinity. Men that seem troubled and besieged turn out to be prevailing, honest, and principled. They are paragons of stability and integrity in times of disorientation, and uncertainty. While the texts present the men as hopelessly old-fashioned, they also underline the need for such “real” men. Furthermore, the men are presented as victims: They suffer from trauma sustained through their work, the erosion of family, neighborhood, and religion, and they lack political, cultural, and financial clout. This victimhood creates sympathy and leverage.
Narratives of beset manhood bespeak the preoccupation with contested masculinity in American popular culture. The representation of Irish-American men, however, also suggests a covert resuscitation of a more conservative masculinity. The ethnic men's crises and perseverance might thus reflect the yearning for a more traditional and assertive version of male identity in U.S.-American culture.
Bio
Alexandra studied Political Science, English and Pedagogy at 'FU Berlin' before she went to Northern Ireland to teach German to Irish youths. Afterwards, she continued her studies at 'TU Dresden' with a focus on American Studies. Combining her two interests Ireland and the US, she graduated with a work on Irish Americans in popular culture and has been fascinated by the topic ever since. Since 2008 she has been a lecturer and research assistant in North American Cultural Studies at 'TU Dresden' where she is teaching basic courses in North American Cultural Studies.
Her dissertation on Irish-Americans in contemporary American movies and television series is taking shape at the moment. While she has written chapters about representations of Irish-American women and the role of Ireland in the texts, she is currently working on her biggest challenge: implications of Irish-American masculinity.
Her dissertation on Irish-Americans in contemporary American movies and television series is taking shape at the moment. While she has written chapters about representations of Irish-American women and the role of Ireland in the texts, she is currently working on her biggest challenge: implications of Irish-American masculinity.