The Performative Representations of Masculinity in Quentin Tarantino's Cinema: All the Auteur's Men

by Justin Russell Greene

Overview

In this book, Justin Russell Greene examines how Quentin Tarantino uses his auteur identity to further cement the masculine tropes of Hollywood – and ultimately, society – through language, visual aesthetics, and performative representations of masculinity in his films and media appearances. Greene posits that the careful crafting of his auteur persona allows Tarantino to project a consistent version of what it means to be a writer-director-artist, and that through his interview and speeches, he reveals the deeper intensions behind the representations his characters present in his films. However, although he is valorized by audiences, media personalities, and peers as an artistic genius, Tarantino traffics in many of the systemic issues embedded within the United States’ socio-cultural environment. Greene argues that although Tarantino promotes a political vision in his films and public appearances that illuminates the restrictions of hegemonic masculinity, this is not sufficiently effective at truly disrupting entrenched ideologies about masculinity in U.S. culture due to how Tarantino hides his critical takes within genre stereotypes. Scholars of film studies, gender studies, and popular culture will find this book of particular interest.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781793636348
Publisher:	Lexington Books
Publication date:	08/22/2023
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	162
File size:	2 MB

About the Author

Justin Russell Greene is an instructor in the Department of English at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech).

Table of Contents

List of Figures

Preface: Finding Tarantino

Introduction: Envisioning the Auteur Celebrity

Chapter 1: Bloody White Men: Masculine Whiteness in Tarantino’s Narratives

Chapter 2: Black Men Springing Forth from the White Man’s Mind: Tarantino’s Visions

of Black Masculinity

Chapter 3: So Much More than Pussy Wagons: The Masculine Power of Tarantino’s

Women

Coda: The Writerly Auteur

Bibliography

About the Author

Editorial Reviews

"This insightful study of Tarantino delves into his portrayal of race and gender, uncovering its intricate contradictions, ambivalent performances, and undeniable limitations. Ultimately, the book serves as a nuanced yet incisive critique of the white male writer-director’s controversial auteur status and brand power in a post-‘Me Too’/‘BLM’ era."

Seung-hoon Jeong