Masculinity in Manhattan

: reading hegemonic masculinity in selected novels of Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, Bret Easton Ellis and Jed Rubenfeld.

Abstract

The study of men and masculinities has enjoyed steady progress over the last four decades within the fields of sociology, psychology, and cultural studies. It is only in the last ten to fifteen years that Masculinity Studies scholarship has begun to recognise the sociological value of literary masculinities. An area of research still in its infancy, this thesis sets out to address this lack of critical discussion in both the fields of Masculinity Studies and American literary studies by presenting an analysis of the selected works of Paul Auster, Don DeLillo, Bret Easton Ellis and Jed Rubenfeld. Gendering our reading of these Manhattan writers underscores masculinity as a central theme in their novels. With the majority of critical investigation placing undoubtedly worthy focus upon nonhegemonic groups of males, the hegemonic group is often overlooked and consequently becomes invisible. Carefully considering the negotiation of masculinity in these works of New York fiction alongside Raewyn Connell’s concept of hegemonic masculinity illustrates that the hegemonic male, rather than existing as a static character type, is a complex individual shaped in relation to the nonhegemonic other. Connell’s concept enables patterns to emerge in the performance of the protagonists of these novels within the masculine-affirming hierarchical frameworks in Manhattan. What appears to connect these writers of masculinity is their employment of the one of the great figures in the history of literature - the flâneur - as these authors write their counter-hegemonic narratives of masculinity in Manhattan.

Date of Award	Dec 2013
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Queen's University Belfast