CHALLENGING THE WESTERN GENRE: ANALYZING GENDER AND MASCULINITY IN THE MOVIE 'THE POWER OF DOG'


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Cemiloglu U. M.

ANADOLU UNIVERSITESI SANAT & TASARIM DERGISI-ANADOLU UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF ART & DESIGN, no.1, pp.20-39, 2024 (ESCI) identifier

Abstract

This study investigates the construction of Western genre conventions in the 2021 film "The Power of Dog". The film is written and directed by Jane Campion, based on Thomas Savage's 1967 novel. The study raises the question of whether the film is a classic Western or a deconstruction of the genre and the legendary American cowboy. The aim is to question the representations of gender and masculinity in the film, based on the persistent gender dynamics in such genre traditions. To analyze gender roles in the film, the traditions of the Western genre are presented in this context. Subsequently, the study examines the relationship between the oppositions in the Western genre traditions and gender and masculinity, within the framework of feminist film theory. The meanings of the film are analyzed using a qualitative method called genre analysis. Throughout this search for meaning, feminist film theory has proven to be an indispensable analytical tool for comprehending how gender is constructed and represented in cinema. Traditionally, the Western genre has a male -dominated perspective that places male protagonists at the center, while keeping female characters in a secondary role due to hegemonic ideals of masculinity. In the context of feminist film theory, "The Power of Dog" presents a perspective that challenges the traditional gender dynamics of the Western genre and questions hegemonic masculinity by emphasizing the complexity of sexual identities. Therefore, "The Power of Dog" can be described as an anti -western film that challenges the traditional gender norms of the Western genre. Keywords: Genre analysis, Anti -western film, Gender, Masculinity, Representation.