Masculinity in Transition

Masculinity in Transition explores the shifting relationships to masculinity in canonical works of twentieth-century literature and film, as well as in twenty-first-century media, performance, and transgender poetics. It focuses on "toxic masculinity," which has assumed new valence since 2016, and traces its roots to a complex set of ideologies embedded in the histories of settler colonialism, racial capitalism, and political fraternity. K. Allison Hammer argues that these malignant forms of masculinity are not fixed and can be displaced by "unruly alliances" that reject the nationalisms and gender politics of white male hegemony and perform an urgently needed reimagining of what it means to be masculine. The book works through an archive of works of performance art, trans poetics, Western films and streaming media, global creative responses to HIV/AIDS, and working-class and "white trash" fictions about labor and unionization.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 312 pages
Publication date: 31 October 2023
Publisher: University of Minnesota Press

Masculinity in Transition delves into the intricate dynamics of toxic masculinity and its displacement within unruly culture. By examining shifting relationships to masculinity in canonical works of twentieth-century literature, film, and twenty-first-century media, performance, and transgender poetics, the book explores the evolving nature of masculinity.

Focusing on the concept of "toxic masculinity," which gained renewed significance since 2016, K. Allison Hammer traces the roots of this phenomenon to a complex web of ideologies rooted in settler colonialism, racial capitalism, and political fraternity. While toxic strains of masculinity are often associated with straight, white men, the book argues that trans and queer masculinities can also be implicated in these systems of power.

Hammer's central argument is that these malignant forms of masculinity are not fixed but can be displaced by "unruly alliances." These alliances are characterized by texts and relationships that challenge the nationalisms and gender politics of white male hegemony and perform an urgent reimagining of what it means to be masculine. By exploring the writings, performances, and films of butch lesbians, gay men, cisgender femmes, and trans and nonbinary individuals, Masculinity in Transition constructs an archive of works that challenge traditional notions of masculinity.

The book traverses various forms of artistic expression, including performance art, trans poetics, Western films, streaming media, global creative responses to HIV/AIDS, and working-class and "white trash" fictions about labor and unionization. Through this diverse range of sources, Masculinity in Transition offers a rich and multifaceted exploration of masculinity in transition.

One of the key contributions of the book is its move away from an exclusive focus on cisnormativity, whiteness, and heteronormativity. Instead, it broadens the scope of masculinity studies to encompass a wider and more generative range of embodiments, identifications, and ideologies. Hammer's bold rethinking of masculinity and its potentially toxic effects exposes the underlying fragility of normative masculinity, challenging the notion that it is a unitary and fixed construct.

By examining the intersections of race, class, sexuality, and gender, Masculinity in Transition offers a nuanced and empathetic understanding of the complexities of masculinity in the twenty-first century. It sheds light on the ways in which toxic masculinity manifests in various forms, including violence, aggression, and misogyny, and explores the ways in which individuals and communities are working to challenge and transform these harmful norms.

In conclusion, Masculinity in Transition is a groundbreaking work that contributes significantly to the study of masculinity and its transformations. Through its comprehensive analysis of shifting relationships to masculinity across different mediums and its exploration of unruly alliances that challenge traditional notions of masculinity, the book offers a rich and nuanced understanding of the complexities of gender in the modern world. It is a must-read for scholars, activists, and anyone interested in understanding the evolving nature of masculinity and its impact on society.

Weight: 368g
Dimension: 216 x 140 x 17 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781517914356