Global Macho: Race, Gender, and Action Movies

Catalog description

Carefully sifting through an oft-overlooked but globally popular genre - the muscle-bound action film - this class asks: what sort of racial work does an action movie do? What is the role of gender and nation in this genre? How should we scrutinize these supposedly empty trifles of the global popular? How should we think critically about movies that feature - often without apology - a deep, dangerous obsession with masculinity, patriarchy, war, and lawlessness, with violence outside of civil society? In short, from Hollywood to Hong Kong to Rio to Paris to Mexico City, what makes the action movie genre tick? This course is part of the American Studies “Questions” series, fulfilling an introductory-level requirement for the AMST concentration. No prerequisites; priority registration for first-years and sophomores.