Masculinity and the paradox of violence in American fiction, 1950-75 / Maggie McKinley.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

McKinley, Maggie, author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

American fiction--20th century--History and criticism.

American fiction.

Masculinity in literature.

Violence in literature.

Genre:

Criticism, interpretation, etc.

Physical Description:

204 pages ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

New York, NY, USA ; London, UK : Bloomsbury Academic, an imprint of Bloomsbury Publishing Inc, 2015.

Summary:

"Masculinity and the Paradox of Violence in American Fiction, 1950-1975 explores the intersections of violence, masculinity, and racial and ethnic tension in America as it is depicted in the fiction of Richard Wright, Norman Mailer, Saul Bellow, James Baldwin, and Philip Roth. Maggie McKinley reconsiders the longstanding association between masculinity and violence, locating a problematic paradox within works by these writers: as each author figures violence as central to the establishment of a liberated masculine identity, the use of this violence often reaffirms many constricting and emasculating cultural myths and power structures that the authors and their protagonists are seeking to overturn"-- Provided by publisher.

"An examination of the relationship between violence and masculinity in works by Richard Wright, Norman Mailer, Saul Bellow, James Baldwin, and Philip Roth, highlighting the inherent paradox whereby masculinity in this fiction is both asserted and undermined by acts of aggression"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Multiple Masculinities and the Momentum of Violence in Ralph Ellison's Invisible Man

Existentialism, Violence, and Racial Identity: The Shape of Masculinity in Richard Wright's The Outsider and The Long Dream

Violent Liberation and Racialized Masculinities: Norman Mailer's "The White Negro" and An American Dream

From Herzog to Sammler: Saul Bellow's Meditations on Masculinity, Modernity, and Violence

Desire, Violence, and Masculine Anxiety in Baldwin's Giovanni's Room and Another Country

"A grueling and gratifying ethical life": Manhood, Morality, and Violence in Philip Roth's Portnoy's Complaint and My Life as a Man.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781628924817

1628924810

OCLC:

889524227