Rebooting Masculinity After 9/11: Male Heroism on Film from Bush to Trump
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University of Kentucky UKnowledge Theses and Dissertations--English English 2018 REBOOTING MASCULINITY AFTER 9/11: MALE HEROISM ON FILM FROM BUSH TO TRUMP Owen R. Horton University of Kentucky, [email protected] Digital Object Identifier: https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2018.187 Right click to open a feedback form in a new tab to let us know how this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Horton, Owen R., "REBOOTING MASCULINITY AFTER 9/11: MALE HEROISM ON FILM FROM BUSH TO TRUMP" (2018). Theses and Dissertations--English. 75. https://uknowledge.uky.edu/english_etds/75 This Doctoral Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the English at UKnowledge. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations--English by an authorized administrator of UKnowledge. For more information, please contact [email protected]. STUDENT AGREEMENT: I represent that my thesis or dissertation and abstract are my original work. Proper attribution has been given to all outside sources. I understand that I am solely responsible for obtaining any needed copyright permissions. I have obtained needed written permission statement(s) from the owner(s) of each third-party copyrighted matter to be included in my work, allowing electronic distribution (if such use is not permitted by the fair use doctrine) which will be submitted to UKnowledge as Additional File. I hereby grant to The University of Kentucky and its agents the irrevocable, non-exclusive, and royalty-free license to archive and make accessible my work in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I agree that the document mentioned above may be made available immediately for worldwide access unless an embargo applies. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of my work. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of my work. I understand that I am free to register the copyright to my work. REVIEW, APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE The document mentioned above has been reviewed and accepted by the student’s advisor, on behalf of the advisory committee, and by the Director of Graduate Studies (DGS), on behalf of the program; we verify that this is the final, approved version of the student’s thesis including all changes required by the advisory committee. The undersigned agree to abide by the statements above. Owen R. Horton, Student Dr. Susan Bordo, Major Professor Dr. Jill Rappoport, Director of Graduate Studies REBOOTING MASCULINITY AFTER 9/11: MALE HEROISM ON FILM FROM BUSH TO TRUMP ———————————————————— DISSERTATION ———————————————————— A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Kentucky By Owen R. Horton Lexington, Kentucky Director: Dr. Susan Bordo, Professor of Gender and Women’s Studies Lexington, Kentucky 2018 Copyright © Owen R. Horton 2018 ABSTRACT OF DISSERTATION REBOOTING MASCULINITY AFTER 9/11: MALE HEROISM ON FILM FROM BUSH TO TRUMP Conceptions of masculinity on film shifted after the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from representations of male heroism as invulnerable, powerful, and safe to representations of male heroism as resilient, vengeful, and vulnerable. At the same time, the antagonists of these films shifted towards representations as shadowy, unknowable, and disembodied. These changing representations, I argue, are windows into the anxieties Americans faced in the aftermath of the attacks. The continuing presentation of power as linked to violence, however, illustrates the ways in which conceptions of masculinity have stayed the same. KEYWORDS: Masculinity, Terrorism, 9/11, Bush, Obama Owen R. Horton April 15, 2018 REBOOTING MASCULINITY AFTER 9/11: MALE HEROISM ON FILM FROM BUSH TO TRUMP By Owen R. Horton Susan Bordo Director of Dissertation Jill Rappoport Director of Graduate Studies 4-25-2018 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project is not something I could have completed on my own. As such, I see it as a work of the community of people I was lucky enough to surround myself with. Although this dissertation is about men, it is the academic women in my life who brought it into being First is my Chair, Susan Bordo. Susan is the type of teacher and scholar I would aspire to be if my dreams were that big. Her kindness and her brilliance are the only reason this project even began. More than anything, she believed in me when I did not believe in myself or my ideas. I hope to one day nurture my students as she does. Next, I’d like to thank Virginia Blum and Pearl James, whose courses were so interesting and well-taught that I immediately knew I had to work with them. Their expertise in their fields offered a great balance and perspective on my writing. Additionally, I’d like to thank Susan Larson and Morris Grubbs. Susan L. was a kind and patient reader, who offered more than I even dared to ask her. Morris was the mastermind behind the “dissertation boot camps,” which is where a chunk of this project was composed. Lastly, I need to thank all of the administrative assistants who dealt with me constantly running behind, needing a favor, or asking the same questions over and over again. In addition to the professional assistance, I must also take time out to thank my family. This dissertation is for my beautiful wife, Meagan, who has cheered me on since before I even began the PhD. She has been integral in every positive life change I have made, both as a scholar and as a man. She will continue to push me to be better, and I love her for it. For my parents, who have shown endless support and kindness as I struggled through my twenties and thirties, who have always been proud, even when they don’t totally understand academic work. For Dad, who showed me that anger can soften, that power and vulnerability are not mutually exclusive, that tenderness is strength. For Mom, whose hippie spirit and tireless devotion to her family are super heroic— you showed me feminism before I could speak it. I also need to thank my brothers, who inspire me constantly. For Brian, whose zest for life drives him around the globe, reminds me to enjoy my moments even when I’m struggling. For Eric, who faced down death and emerged victorious, who reminds me that it’s okay to be weird and beautifully yourself. Finally, for my kittens: daddy loves you, even when you’re walking on the keyboard. iii Table of Contents Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................. iii Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 1 Forces Of Evil ................................................................................................................. 2 Rebooting Masculinity .................................................................................................... 6 Chapter 1: Bond, Re-Bourne ............................................................................................. 11 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 12 Early Bond: Stabilizing The Cold War .......................................................................... 16 Bond Re-Bourne: The War On Terror And Spy Adventures ......................................... 22 Bond And His Others: Craig Reboots Masculinity ....................................................... 28 Bond And Women ...................................................................................................... 30 Bond And The Enemy ................................................................................................. 50 Bond And The Soft Male ............................................................................................ 58 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................... 67 Chapter 2: Traumatized Superheroes And Disembodied Nemeses .................................. 69 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 70 Fantasy Elsewheres, Sutured Realities .......................................................................... 71 Origin Stories ................................................................................................................ 76 Disembodied Villains (The Batman Trilogy) ................................................................ 85 Techno-Masculinity (The Iron Man Trilogy) .............................................................. 109 Conclusion: Strength Through Struggle ...................................................................... 122 Chapter 3: We Have To Go Back! .................................................................................. 125 Introduction ................................................................................................................. 126 The Unclaimed Experience ......................................................................................... 135 Compelled Return ........................................................................................................ 139 Discipline And Mastery ............................................................................................... 151 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................