Exploring the Extent of Neoliberal Narrative and a Faux Masculine Revival in AMC’S Breaking Bad
Exploring the Extent of Neoliberal Narrative and a Faux Masculine Revival in AMC’s Breaking Bad Collin Heng-Patton Department of English Advisor: Richelle Munkhoff – English Literature Jane Garrity – English Literature Janice Peck – College of Media, Communication and Information University of Colorado, Boulder Defended April 7th, 2015 Heng-Patton 2 ABSTRACT Located within this post-recessionary period, and arguably influenced by a masculinized neoliberalism, the television show, Breaking Bad, focuses on the transformation of high school chemistry teacher, Walter White, into the drug kingpin of the southwestern United States. Yet there is more to consider than just Walt’s transformation. Because the show is situated in this era that aims to revive the masculine narrative, the show restricts non-white, non-male characters. In that sense, this project pays close attention to the relationship between Walt and Skyler in order to reveal how the show is complicit in the revival of traditional, male-centric gender roles and, most importantly, how this neoliberalized masculine narrative commodifies the nuclear family, resulting in the self-actualization of the patriarch and the oppression of the other members. Heng-Patton 3 INTRODUCTION In a mid-series episode of the overwhelmingly popular television drama, Breaking Bad, protagonist Walter White stands, mouth-agape, in the middle of a state-of-the-art meth lab, equipped with technology that average chemists can only dream of having (Más). In this scene, Walt is being offered a job that seems to good to be true – the opportunity to manufacture methamphetamine for the largest drug operation in the southwestern United States.
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