Representations of Masculinity and the Influence of Bruce Lee in Film
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Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Plan B and other Reports Graduate Studies 12-2021 Representations of Masculinity and the Influence of Bruce Lee in Film Zhenxia Meng Utah State University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports Recommended Citation Meng, Zhenxia, "Representations of Masculinity and the Influence of Bruce Lee in Film" (2021). All Graduate Plan B and other Reports. 1590. https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/gradreports/1590 This Report is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Plan B and other Reports by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. REPRESENTATIONS OF MASCULINITY AND THE INFLUENCE OF BRUCE LEE IN FILM by Zhenxia Meng A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE in American Studies Approved: ___________________________ ___________________________ Keri Holt, Ph.D. Christopher Gonzalez, Ph.D. Major Professor Committee Member ___________________________ David Wall, Ph.D. Committee Member UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2021 ii Copyright © Zhenxia Meng 2021 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Representations of Masculinity and the Influence of Bruce Lee in Film by Zhenxia Meng, Master of Science Utah State University, 2021 Major Professor: Dr. Keri Holt Department: English This thesis is an annotated bibliography that lays a critical foundation for examining the performance of heroism, violence, male bonding, and masculinity in the movies of Enter the Dragon (1973) by Bruce Lee, Hard Boiled (1992) by John Woo, and Kill Bill, Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (2003-04) and Once Upon a Time in Hollywood by Quentin Tarantino. I am interested in comparing the representations of masculinity in these films, focusing specifically on how Woo and Tarantino have been influenced by Lee’s films. Before I can begin this comparative research project, however, I need to conduct extensive research into several specific subject areas, which is why I have decided to structure my thesis as an extended literature review in the form of an annotated bibliography. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to identify and analyze sources that will help me track the traditional Chinese views and representations of masculinity, particularly regarding chivalrism and its representation in Hong Kong and Hollywood films. I am also interested in studying Western perceptions of Asian masculinity, which have been affected by the bias of Orientalism, which portrays Chinese and Asian masculinity in inferior terms compared to their Western counterparts. I would also like to examine the particular political, social, and economic back grounds that iv inform the representations of masculinity in the films of Bruce Lee and later John Woo and Quentin Tarantino, which have appealed to audiences across the world. (66 pages) v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS At the time upon my graduation from Utah State University, I am so grateful to the professors of the Department of English and professors of the Department of Political Science and the Department of History in College of Humanity and Social Sciences of Utah State University. First of all, I would like to express my sincere and affectionate gratitude to my dear supervisor, Dr. Keri Holt. Without her patient encouragement, insightful instructions, and painstaking guidance, the completion of this thesis would be impossible. During the period of my studying for the second master’s degree, I have benefited a lot from her comprehensive academic knowledge, and her amiable personality as well. Moreover, I am quite thankful to Dr. David Wall, and Dr. Christopher González for being on my thesis committee and instructing me on materials related to film and critical approaches to theater. My gratitude also goes to Dr. Lynn McNeil, Dr. Anthony Peacock, Dr. Lawrence Culver, Dr. Debra Monson, Dr. James Sanders, Dr.Ekaterina Arshavskaya, Dr Keith Grant-David, and Dean Joseph Ward for sharing their knowledge, guidance, and instructions through discussions in class or private talk. Their academic achievement and inspiring lectures not only have offered me a better understanding of American history, politics, and society, but have also provided unforgettable memories for me in my future career and life. Also, thanks to Carol Hatch, Amanda Castillo, and other staff members at Utah State University. Without their help, it would have been impossible for me to complete my studies here. In addition, my gratitude also goes to my Chinese and American friends here in Utah and in my hometown. So many of them haven give me great help, especially Vicky vi Zhao, Siyu Wu, Lan Syphus, Xiaoming Sheng, Jessy Wadsworth, Dana Mork and Heidi Hodgson. Without their warm help, the two-year study would have been very hard for me. Finally, I should extend my heartfelt thanks to my mum Wang Jinxiu, my husband Liang Jinrong, my daughter Liang Yi, my niece Meng Zhijian, and my nephew Meng Zhixuan, my cousins Wang Haibo, Wang Kailan, and my classmates Tao Daohua and Cui Xia. Their love, support, and trust in me is always the indispensable support to my studies. Zhenxia Meng vii CONTENTS Page Abstract............................................................................................................................. iii Acknowledgments.............................................................................................................v Contents........................................................................................................................... vii Introduction....................................................................................................................... 1 Category 1: Asian Masculinity in US Films......................................................................6 Category 2: Asian Masculinity in Hong Kong Films.......................................................19 Category 3: Key Concepts in Asian Masculinity.............................................................29 Category 4: Representations of Masculinity in Bruce Lee’s Films................................. 42 Conclusion....................................................................................................................... 51 References........................................................................................................................56 INTRODUCTION This thesis is an annotated bibliography that lays a critical foundation for examining the performance of heroism, violence, male bonding, and masculinity in the movies of Enter the Dragon (1973) by Bruce Lee and Hard-Boiled (1992) by John Woo. In addition to examining how these films have been influenced by traditional Chinese culture and the U.S. pop culture, I would like to write a journal article that compares the representations of masculinity in both films. But before I can begin this comparative research project, I need to conduct extensive research into several specific subject areas, which is why I have decided to structure my thesis as an extended literature review in the form of an annotated bibliography. The purpose of this annotated bibliography is to identify and analyze sources that will help me track traditional Chinese cultural discourses on masculinity, particularly regarding chivalry and its representation in Hong Kong and Hollywood films, and examine how Asian masculinity has been represented in both Hong Kong and American films in the twentieth century. I am also interested in studying Western perceptions of Asian masculinity, which have been influenced by the bias of Orientalism, which portrays Chinese and Asian masculinity as inferior terms compared to their Western counterparts. I would also like to examine the particular political, social, and economic contexts that inform the representations of masculinity in the films of Bruce Lee and later John Woo, which have appealed to audiences across the world. To address these issues, I have organized my thesis to examine relevant sources in four specific categories. The first category, “Asian Masculinity in U.S. films,” allows me to track the representation of Asian masculinity and heroism in American motion picture 2 arts before Bruce Lee. The second category, “Asian Masculinity in Hong Kong Films,” allows me to investigate masculinity in Hong Kong movies that draw on aspects of traditional Chinese masculinity and Hong Kong’s status as a colony influenced by the cultures of Britain and Japan. The third category, “Key Concepts in Asian Masculinity,” allows me to explore Chinese cultural views and representations of masculinity and the expectations Chinese culture places on men regarding masculinity. The last category, “Representations of Masculinity in Bruce Lee’s films,” helps me to scrutinize the representations of masculinity in Lee’s films from the perspective of traditional Chinese views of masculinity and the colonial influence of Hong Kong. Once I have completed the annotated bibliography for this thesis, I will be able to proceed with a detailed comparative analysis of the films of Bruce Lee and John Woo in my future academic work. In organizing this thesis, I have drawn on the principles presented in They Say/I Say: The Moves that Matter in Academic Writing by Gerald Graff and Cathy Birkenstein. Graff and Birkenstein argue that academic writing must engage with existing theories and arguments, “entering a