Race and the Subject of Masculinities (New Americanists)

Although in recent years scholars have explored the cultural construction of masculinity, they have largely ignored the ways in which masculinity intersects with other categories of identity, particularly those of race and ethnicity. The essays in __Race and the Subject of Masculinities__ address this concern and focus on the social construction of masculinity—black, white, ethnic, gay, and straight—in terms of the often complex and dynamic relationships among these inseparable categories. Discussing a wide range of subjects including the inherent homoeroticism of martial-arts cinema, the relationship between working-class ideologies and Elvis impersonators, the emergence of a gay, black masculine aesthetic in the works of James Van der Zee and Robert Mapplethorpe, and the comedy of Richard Pryor, __Race and the Subject of Masculinities__ provides a variety of opportunities for thinking about how race, sexuality, and "manhood" are reinforced and reconstituted in today’s society. Editors Harry Stecopoulos and Michael Uebel have gathered together essays that make clear how the formation of masculine identity is never as obvious as it might seem to be. Examining personas as varied as Eddie Murphy, Bruce Lee, Tarzan, Malcolm X, and Andre Gidé, these essays draw on feminist critique and queer theory to demonstrate how cross-identification through performance and spectatorship among men of different races and cultural backgrounds has served to redefine masculinity in contemporary culture. By taking seriously the role of race in the making of men, __Race and the Subject of Masculinities__ offers an important challenge to the new studies of masculinity.__Contributors.__ Herman Beavers, Jonathan Dollimore, Richard Dyer, Robin D. G. Kelly, Christopher Looby, Leerom Medovoi, Eric Lott, Deborah E. McDowell, José E. Muñoz, Harry Stecopoulos, Yvonne Tasker, Michael Uebel, Gayle Wald, Robyn Wiegman Although In Recent Years Scholars Have Explored The Cultural Construction Of Masculinity, They Have Largely Ignored The Ways In Which Masculinity Intersects With Other Categories Of Identity, Particularly Those Of Race And Ethnicity. The Essays In Race And The Subject Of Masculinities Address This Concern And Focus On The Social Construction Of Masculinity - Black, White, Ethnic, Gay, And Straight - In Terms Of The Often Complex And Dynamic Relationships Among These Inseparable Categories. Men In Color : Introducing Race And The Subject Of Masculinities / Michael Uebel -- Pt.1. Reading Men, Reading Race. Desire And Difference : Homosexuality, Race, Masculinity / Jonathan Dollimore -- Fiedler And Sons / Robyn Wiegman -- Pt.2. White Like Who? As Thoroughly Black As The Most Faithful Philanthropist Could Desire : Erotics Of Race In Higginson's Army Life In A Black Regiment / Christopher Looby -- Mezz Mezzrow And The Voluntary Negro Blues / Gayle Wald -- Reading The Blackboard : Youth, Masculinity And Racial Cross-identification / Leerom Medovoi -- The World According To Normal Bean : Edgar Rice Burroughs's Popular Culture / Harry Stecopoulos -- All The King's Men : Elvis Impersonators And White Working-class Masculinity / Eric Lott -- (cont.) Pt.3. Visualizing Race And The Subject Of Masculinities. The Riddle Of The Zoot : Malcolm Little And Black Cultural Politics During World War Ii / Robin D. G. Kelley -- The Cool Pose : Intersectionality, Masculinity And Quiescence In The Comedy And Films Of Richard Pryor And Eddie Murphy / Herman Beavers -- (cont.) The White Man's Muscles / Richard Dyer -- Fists Of Fury : Discourses Of Race And Masculinity In The Martial Arts Cinema / Yvonne Tasker -- Photographies Of Mourning : Melancholia And Ambivalence In Van Der Zee, Mapplethorpe, And Looking For Langston -- Pt.4. Coming After. Pecs And Reps : Muscling In On Race And The Subject Of Masculinities / Deborah E. Mcdowell. Harry Stecopoulos And Michael Uebel, Editors. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [387]-413) And Index. Although in recent years scholars have explored the cultural construction of masculinity, they have largely ignored the ways in which masculinity intersects with other categories of identity, particularly those of race and ethnicity. The essays in Race and the Subject of Masculinities address this concern and focus on the social construction of masculinity--black, white, ethnic, gay, and straight--in terms of the often complex and dynamic relationships among these inseparable categories. Discussing a wide range of subjects including the inherent homoeroticism of martial-arts cinema, the relationship between working-class ideologies and Elvis impersonators, the emergence of a gay, black masculine aesthetic in the works of James Van der Zee and Robert Mapplethorpe, and the comedy of Richard Pryor, Race and the Subject of Masculinities provides a variety of opportunities for thinking about how race, sexuality, and "manhood" are reinforced and reconstituted in today's society. Editors Harry Stecopoulos and Michael Uebel have gathered together essays that make clear how the formation of masculine identity is never as obvious as it might seem to be. Examining personas as varied as Eddie Murphy, Bruce Lee, Tarzan, Malcolm X, and Andre Gidé, these essays draw on feminist critique and queer theory to demonstrate how cross-identification through performance and spectatorship among men of different races and cultural backgrounds has served to redefine masculinity in contemporary culture. By taking seriously the role of race in the making of men, Race and the Subject of Masculinities offers an important challenge to the new studies of masculinity. Contributors. Herman Beavers, Jonathan Dollimore, Richard Dyer, Robin D. G. Kelly, Christopher Looby, Leerom Medovoi, Eric Lott, Deborah E. McDowell, José E. Muñoz, Harry Stecopoulos, Yvonne Tasker, Michael Uebel, Gayle Wald, Robyn Wiegman Men in color : introducing race and the subject of masculinities / Michael Uebel -- Desire and difference : homosexuality, race and masculinity -- Fiedler and sons / Robyn Wiegman -- As thoroughly black as the most faithful philanthropist could desire : erotics of race in Higginson's Army Life in a Black Regiment / Christopher Looby -- Mezz mezzrow and the voluntary negro blues / Gayle Wald -- Reading the blackboard : youth, masculinity, and racial cross-identification / Leerom Medovoi -- The world according to normal bean : Edgar Rice Burrough's popular culture / Harry Stecopoulos -- All the king's men : Elvis impersonators and white working-class masculinity / Eric Lott -- The riddle of the zoot : Malcom Little and black cultural politics during World War II / Robin D. G. Kelley -- The cool pose : intersectionality, Masculinity, and quiescence in the comedy and films of Richard Pryor and Eddie Murphy / Herman Beavers -- The white man's muscles / Richard Dyer -- Fists of Fury : discourses of race and masculinity in the martial arts cinema / Yvonne Tasker -- Photographies of mourning : melancholia and ambivalence in Van Der Zee Mapplethorpe, and Looking for Langston / José E. Muńoz-- Pecs and reps : muscling in on race and the subject of masculinities / Deborah E. McDowell