scholarly journals The Construction of Masculinity in The Matrix

2005 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nóra Koller
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Male Characters ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Hierarchy ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Femininity And Masculinity ◽  
Masculinity Crisis

The purpose of this paper is to explore the different modes of the representation of genders in the The Matrix (1999). Depicting a process of initiation and development, the film has for its major objective the production of a solo male protagonist that will fulfil the role of saving humanity from apocalyptic danger. This mission is a commonplace characteristic of films made in the science fiction/cyberpunk genre; the construction of the hero is, however, represented in a unique and contradictory way, especially with respect to gender and sexuality, and the phenomenon of masculinity crisis as the basis of identity formation. My claim is that in the formation of both the self and the social - two intertwined processes - performances of masculinities and femininities are determining. As the result of the homogenizing perspective of the film, femininity and masculinity come to be defined as mutually exhaustive categories in order to frustrate the notion of gender as performative. The final ascension of the triumphal, heteronormative masculinity reinforces gender hierarchy, underlining femininity as embodiment. Also, it serves to invalidate the homoeroticism the relationships between male characters are invested with throughout the film.

Speculative Realism and Science Fiction

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Willems
Keyword(s):  
Science Fiction ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Cormac Mccarthy ◽  
Doris Lessing ◽  
Speculative Realism ◽  
Neil Gaiman ◽  
The World ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Quentin Meillassoux

A human-centred approach to the environment is leading to ecological collapse. One of the ways that speculative realism challenges anthropomorphism is by taking non-human things to be as valid objects of investivation as humans, allowing a more responsible and truthful view of the world to take place. Brian Willems uses a range of science fiction literature that questions anthropomorphism both to develop and challenge this philosophical position. He looks at how nonsense and sense exist together in science fiction, the way in which language is not a guarantee of personhood, the role of vision in relation to identity formation, the difference between metamorphosis and modulation, representations of non-human deaths and the function of plasticity within the Anthropocene. Willems considers the works of Cormac McCarthy, Paolo Bacigalupi, Neil Gaiman, China Miéville, Doris Lessing and Kim Stanley Robinson are considered alongside some of the main figures of speculative materialism including Graham Harman, Quentin Meillassoux and Jane Bennett.

scholarly journals Academic Identity and Communities of Practice: Narratives of Social Science Academics Career Decisions in Taiwan

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 388
Author(s):  
Gregory Siy Ching
Keyword(s):  
Communities Of Practice ◽  
Identity Formation ◽  
Doctoral Education ◽  
Academic Career ◽  
Career Decisions ◽  
Academic Identity ◽  
Hiring Practices ◽  
Role Conflicts ◽  
The Social

Academic identity is an important aspect of organizing an academic career. An academic identity is distinct and unique and can be defined as the core attitudes that determine how individuals approach the concept of work. In the current era of neoliberalism, changes to university governance in Taiwan have transformed working conditions and hiring practices in academia. Inevitably, role conflicts have emerged, and work stress within higher education institutions has increased. The current study summarizes the narratives of nine academics from the social sciences. The study is anchored in the concept that academic identity formation is rooted in the doctoral education stage. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry lens, interactions between different communities of practice during the doctoral education stage are analyzed, along with later career decisions and the role communities of practice play in those decisions. The findings show that doctoral mentors and fellows all contributed to the formation of a core academic identity, while later career decisions were equally affected by neoliberal policies. It is hoped that by recognizing the role of academic identity, administrators may be able to influence how academics adapt amidst the competing pressures within the academe.

Men in Mixed-Orientation Marriages in Contemporary China: Unpacking the Role of Heteronormativity and Patriarchy

2021 ◽  
pp. 0192513X2110557
Author(s):  
Changhui Song ◽  
Joyee Shairee Chatterjee ◽  
Donna L. Doane ◽  
Philippe Doneys
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Study ◽  
Filial Piety ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Social Structures ◽  
Complex Nature ◽  
Contemporary China ◽  
Factors Influencing ◽  
The Social ◽  
Depth Interviews

This qualitative study based on 34 in-depth interviews (IDIs) with cis-gendered tongzhi (men who are attracted to men) critically explores the factors influencing their decisions to enter mixed-orientation marriages (MOMs) in China. Theoretically, the study weaves together insights from queer and feminist theorizing and analyzes the role of heteronormativity and patriarchy, especially in relation to hegemonic masculine ideals, in the context of marriage norms in contemporary China. Our examination showcases the contradictory role heteronormativity and patriarchy play in simultaneously marginalizing and privileging these groups of men along the axes of sexual, gender, and lineage (inter-generational) hierarchies. It also underscores the continued role of filial piety norms. Overall, the study contributes to deepening our understanding of the complex nature of MOMs and discussions of MOMs as marriage fraud. We argue that examining these non-normative marriages furthers explication of the social structures underpinning gender and sexuality in a context of patriarchal marriage-normative societies.

Culture, Identity, and Psycho-social Development

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-26
Author(s):  
Eugenio M. Rothe ◽  
Andres J. Pumariega
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Object Representation ◽  
Emotional Reactivity ◽  
Religion And Spirituality ◽  
Majority Group ◽  
The Social ◽  
Group Members ◽  
National Boundaries ◽  
Neural Mapping

The chapter on culture and identity defines the current use of these terms and discusses how culture influences identity formation from a developmental perspective, starting in early childhood and throughout the life span. It also introduces new neurobiological findings related to theory of mind, neural mapping, object representation, and emotional reactivity and how these exert an influence on culture and identity formation. It covers a historical perspective that includes the contributions of pioneers such as Freud, Vigotsky, Montessori, Bandura, Mead, and Erikson. It also discusses ethnicity and race and the social and biological origins of prejudice and explains the meaning of ethnic-racial socialization messages, the dynamics of biracial identities, the importance of language in the development of the American identity and the role of culture and identity in psycho-social functioning and resiliency, including such variables as religion and spirituality. It also describes the influences of globalization and the diminishing importance of national boundaries on cultural identity for both minority and majority group members. Some of the concepts are illustrated and explained with clinical cases.

Gender and Sexuality in Latin America

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donna J. Guy
Keyword(s):  
Latin America ◽  
Social Construction ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Collective Agency ◽  
Modern State ◽  
National Society ◽  
Feminist Politics ◽  
The Social ◽  
Femininity And Masculinity ◽  
National Period

This article discusses gender and sexuality during the national period and the shift from women's history to the study of the social construction of both femininity and masculinity and of various forms of sexuality. It argues that this has problematized “the notion of universalized female oppression,” a trend in line with the general historiographical emphasis on individual and collective agency since the 1980s. Gender here is both a topic and a category of analysis. The discussion thus sheds much light on other aspects of—in this case, national—society, such as notions of nationality and citizenship, the nature of the modern state and law, populism, and revolutionary and feminist politics.

“Gay? Prove it”: The politics of queer anti-deportation activism

Sexualities ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 17 (8) ◽  
pp. 958-975 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel A Lewis
Keyword(s):  
Negative Impact ◽  
Gender And Sexuality ◽  
Gay And Lesbian ◽  
The Political ◽  
Credibility Assessment ◽  
Political Asylum ◽  
Race And Class ◽  
Perceived Credibility ◽  
The Social

This article examines how gender, sexuality, race and class intersect in queer asylum claims to influence the perceived credibility of gay and lesbian asylum applicants. Building on recent scholarship in queer migration studies that considers the role of gender and sexuality in the social construction of migrant illegality, this article explores how practices of credibility assessment in the political asylum process produce women and sexual minorities as deportable subjects. As I argue, the tactics utilized by gay male asylum applicants to resist deportation show how practices of credibility assessment in the political asylum process are linked to the state’s reproduction of sexual citizenship narratives, narratives that have a disproportionately negative impact upon queer female migrants of color. Accounting for the intersections among gender, sexuality, race and class in influencing the perceived credibility of gay and lesbian asylum applicants is thus crucial for conceptualizing alternative forms of queer anti-deportation activism.

scholarly journals Analysis of Social Deixis in the Madness of King George Movie

2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-32
Author(s):  
Zovi Dwi Putra ◽  
Dedi Sofyan ◽  
Barnabas Sembiring
Keyword(s):  
Public Relations ◽  
Social Stratification ◽  
Female Characters ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Male Characters ◽  
Library Research ◽  
The Social ◽  
The Matrix ◽  
Social Deixis ◽  
The 19Th Century

This research was aimed at finding out the kinds of social deixis and to explain the social stratification factors in each kind of social deixis in The Madness of King George movie. The type of this research was descriptived qualitative research. Instrument of research that used in this research is the documentation (library research). The matrix table used to collect the data about social deixis in the Madness of King George Movie. According to the matrix table, there are 965 kinds of Relational Social Deixis and 504 kinds of Absolute social deixis used in this movie. The dominant type of Relational Social Deixis is first personal pronoun which refers to the speaker itself. It was used 279 times from total of social deixis used in this movie. In Absolute Social Deixis category, the dominant type was “Sir” which was used 144 times. It was also explained that Relational Social Deixis category is dominant with the frequency of usage around 965 times more than Absolute Social Deixis with the frequency of usage around 504 times from total of social deixis used in this movie. Third, there were three factors of social stratification used in all utterances contained social deixis in this movie. It was found that the dominant social deixis, whether Relational or Absolute Social Deixis, refered to the male characters than the female characters. Because in the 19th century, the man held more power to lead the society and dominant in public relations, especially in Kingdom territory.

scholarly journals URUNG AIYY TOYON AS A KEY MALE IMAGE OF PATRIARCHAL YAKUTS MYTHOLOGY

2020 ◽  
pp. 141-148
Author(s):  
Евгений Петрович Слепцов ◽  
Аида Июньевна Егорова
Keyword(s):  
Social Order ◽  
Structural Changes ◽  
Active Element ◽  
Male Dominance ◽  
Customary Law ◽  
Heroic Epic ◽  
The Social ◽  
Gender Hierarchy ◽  
Male Image

В статье рассматриваются вопросы развития социальных, в том числе гендерных установок в якутской мифологии и эпосе. Проведен анализ роли образа Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона в формировании патриархальной организации якутского общества. Образ Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона явился патроном нового социального порядка и инструментом вытеснения культов матрилинейной общины и их ведущего персонажа – хозяйки земли. В работе выделены этапы исторического развития образа Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона, связанные со структурными изменениями в общине якутов в процессе перехода от матрилинейности к патрилинейности, а также идеологической функции данного культа. Образ Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона выступил носителем типических черт социальной группы тойонов и мифы о нем оказывались активным элементом структур господства в якутском обществе. Культ Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона сложился и поддерживался как идеологическое обоснование власти тойонов, глав отдельных патронимий. Он был необходим для того, чтобы привнести и укрепить идею патриархальной организации в якутскую мифологию. Образ Yрүҥ Айыы Тойон самодостаточен и не нуждается в чудесных качествах и героических деяниях. Самое существенное для творцов и потребителей мифологии заключалось в его социальном статусе главы агнатной общины. В мифе и героическом эпосе олонхо образ Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона закрепляет патриархальную генеалогию. В культе Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона выпукло представлена идея гендерного господства мужчины и проявляются тенденции, которые вели к образованию гендерной иерархии в якутском обществе. Мифология Yрүҥ Айыы Тойона явилась обоснованием системы агнатного родства, освящая нормы обычного права, закреплявшие господствующее положение мужчины и подчиненное положение женщины. Миф об Yрүҥ Айыы Тойоне предстает как активный элемент структур господства в якутском обществе, игравшим функцию инструмента закрепления гендерного неравенства и установления власти якутского тойоната. The article considers the development of social attitudes including gender imperatives in Yakut mythology and epic. The analysis of the role of the character of Urung Aiyy Toyon in the formation of the patriarchal organization of the Yakut society is carried out. The character of Urung Aiyy Toyon was a patron of the new social order and a tool for supplanting the matrilineal community cult and its leading character the mistress of the Earth. The work highlights the stages of the historical development of the character of Urung Aiyy Toyon, associated with structural changes in the Yakut society during the process of transition from matrilineality to patrilineality, as well as the ideological function of this cult. The character of Urung Aiyy Toyon acted as a bearer of typical features of the social group of toyons, and myths about him turned out to be an active element of the structures of domination in the Yakut society. The cult of Urung Aiyy Toyon was formed and maintained as an ideological rationale for the power of the toyons, heads of individual patronymias. It was necessary in order to bring and strengthen the idea of a patriarchal organization in Yakut mythology. The character of Urung Aiyy Toyon is self-sufficient and does not need magical qualities and heroic deeds. For creators and consumers of mythology its social status as the head of the agnationalcommunitythe was most important. In the myth and the heroic epic of Olonkho, Urung Aiyy Toyon reinforces the patriarchal genealogy. In the cult of Urung Aiyy Toyon, the idea of male dominance is vividly represented and the tendencies that lead to the formation of a gender hierarchy in Yakut society are manifested. The mythology of Urung Aiyy Toyon was the rationale for the system of agnatic kinship, sanctifying the norms of customary law, reinforcing male dominance and women's subordinate position. The myth of Urung Aiyy Toyon appears as an active element of the structures of domination in Yakut society, which functioned as a tool for consolidating gender inequality and establishing the power of the Yakut toyons.

“Cinderella” Vs “Timun Mas”: Exploring Gender Stereotypes and Culture as Learning Material Purposes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 10-19
Author(s):  
Cynantia Rachmijati ◽  
Sri Supiah Cahyati
Keyword(s):  
Gender Roles ◽  
Gender Stereotypes ◽  
Social Order ◽  
Learning Material ◽  
Learning Materials ◽  
Male Characters ◽  
The Social ◽  
Cultural Content ◽  
And Gender

Gender roles are an important part of culture. How the genders are portrayed in the literature contributes to the image young adults develops of their gender roles and the role of gender in the social order. This research entitled  “Cinderella VS Timun Mas : Exploring gender stereotypes and culture as learning materials purposes” aimed to analyze the content of both “Cinderella” and “Timun Mas” which cover: 1. Occupations and Gender Stereotypes; 2 Centrality of Female and Male Characters; 3. Culture Content ; and 4 Suitability as learning material purposes. This research is a qualitative study using content analysis. It was carried out with procedures: collecting, analyzing, and presenting data. Based on research questions it is revealed that for occupation and gender types showed that “Timun mas” has varieties of gender with 66,67% reference whereas “Cinderella” only has 50% references. For the centrality of male and female character, “Cinderella’ has more varieties in 37,5% male and 62,5% female whereas in “Timun Mas” showed 50% for both genders”. For the cultural content, in “Timun Mas” the cultural content found was 60% and in “Cinderella” was 80%. And the suitability to be used as learning materials showed that “Timun Mas” checked with 16 points whereas “Cinderella” checked with 20 points. It can be concluded that both can be used as authentic learning materials for gender references, but “Cinderella” has more varieties and cultural content compared to “Timun Mas”.

scholarly journals Cultural and Media Identity Among Latvian Migrants in Germany

2019 ◽  
pp. 183-201
Author(s):  
Laura Sūna
Keyword(s):  
Identity Formation ◽  
Labour Market ◽  
Communicative Practices ◽  
Eu Countries ◽  
Collective Narratives ◽  
Transnational Media ◽  
The Social ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
The Eu

Abstract This chapter explores how transnational media and culture impacts on the identity formation of recent Latvian migrants in Germany. In the context of the EU, Germany opened its labour market to the new EU countries rather late, when compared to other ‘old’ EU countries. This has had an effect on the composition of the group of Latvian migrants going to Germany, and their identities. In the light of this, this chapter examines how Latvian migrants in Germany feel and experience their belonging to Latvia and its culture. It analyses the social and communicative practices crucial for the development of belonging, including the rootedness in the country where they live and the cultural references that are important for them. The evidence for the analysis in this chapter comes from in-depth interviews, open media diaries and network maps of Latvian migrants in Germany. The chapter situates the description of evidence in the framework of cultural identity concepts and discusses the role of culture and media in the process of building migrant identity. The chapter argues that culture is shaping the transnational self-perception of Latvian migrants in Germany – as it provides collective narratives of imagined common frames of references, and confirms feelings of belonging and distinction.

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