32103

WiSe 20/21: Gender and American War Film from the 1990s to Present

Ali Yasar Tuzcu

Information for students

This course will have to be organized as digital seminar. Details tba on Blackboard.

Comments

War film has always been one of the most gendered genres. From Paths of Glory (1957) to Apocalypse Now (1979), male characters have been at the center of war film narratives, while female characters have been subordinated to such supporting roles as lover, mother, wife, daughter, nurse, and sex worker. From the 1990s onward, however, this representation strategy started changing significantly and has diversified even further with the War on Terror. After a theoretical discussion of genre as a dialogue between filmmakers and audience, we will analyze the tropes, patterns, and motifs used in American war films. Looking at the political significance of gender representation in American war films will enable us to discuss the genre along the lines of gender, media, and cultural studies. While examining the ways in which pre- and post-9/11 war films such as G.I. Jane (1997) by Ridley Scott and Zero Dark Thirty (2012) by Kathryn Bigelow introduce new gender dynamics to the genre, we will discuss how gender representation changes after this historical turning point. Locating the films to be discussed between the intersection of politics, genre, and history, this course aims to offer formal and contextual analysis methods, through which we will approach these films within the broader frame of the military-entertainment complex. Note: The films to be watched and discussed for this class feature graphic violence and revolve around disturbing topics such as torture, rape, and detention. Please study the guidance in the course syllabus carefully before attending the first session. ----- This course will meet on campus, enrollment is limited to 28 students. Depending on the pandemic situation, this format might be subject to change. close