Female Masculinity and Resistance to Heteronormativity in Kimberly Peirce's "Boys Don't Cry"

Bachelor Thesis , 2023 , 42 Pages , Grade: 1,00

American Studies - Literature

This thesis examines how Western ideals of masculinity are depicted by the characters in Kimberly Peirce's 1999 film 'Boys Don't Cry'. Particular focus is given to the trans-masculine protagonist Brandon Teena, a real life victim of transphobic lethal violence. A diverse set of texts and authors, including Halberstam and Judith Butler, make up the theoretical basis to analysing how different types of masculinity, such as "female masculinity", are created in the film's context. Furthermore, this thesis looks into how heteronormativity is affirmed and resisted in the film, and how violence functions as a tool to uphold hegemonic masculinity and heteronormativity.

• College: University of Dusseldorf "Heinrich Heine" (Institut für Anglistik und Amerikanistik, Philosophische Fakultät)
• Grade: 1,00
• Author: Kats A. Ridderskamp (Author)
• Publication Year: 2023
• Pages: 42
• Catalog Number: V1493047
• ISBN (PDF): 9783389049686
• ISBN (Book): 9783389049693
• Language: English
• Tags: masculinity, film analysis, heteronormativity, queer studies, gender studies, trans masculinity, transgender masculinity