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

Justin Russell Greene's book examines how Quentin Tarantino uses his auteur identity to further cement masculine tropes in Hollywood and society through language, visual aesthetics, and performative representations of masculinity. He argues that Tarantino's carefully crafted persona allows him to project a consistent version of what it means to be a writer-director-artist, but that his films also promote a political vision that illuminates the restrictions of hegemonic masculinity. However, Tarantino hides his critical takes within genre stereotypes, which makes his films less effective at truly disrupting entrenched ideologies about masculinity in U.S. culture.

Format: Hardback
Length: 162 pages
Publication date: 22 August 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing Plc

Justin Russell Greene's book examines how Quentin Tarantino uses his auteur identity to further cement the masculine tropes of Hollywood and 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.

Weight: 386g
Dimension: 159 x 237 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781793636331