Rape in Sarah Kane’s "Blasted". Can the play be seen as a story where rape is dealt with as an act of gendering?

Hausarbeit , 2023 , 10 Seiten

Geschlechterstudien / Gender Studies

Sarah Kane’s play "Blasted" shows a high amount of cruelty with the homosexual and heterosexual rape as well as the sucking out of Ian’s eyes, who is one of the main protagonists. The heavy use of imagery and action in these plays combined with its focus on dialogue distinguishes Kane from other dramaturgists in the 1970s-90s. Using the depiction of violence on stage, Kane forced the audience to break through the veil of apathy created by the media's insensitive portrayal of cruelty in order to subvert gender norms and the heterosexual patriarchal authority through performance on stage.

"Blasted" is not only a play about rape but also a representation of gender in the 1990s. Though, in how far can the play itself be seen as a story where rape is dealt with as an act of gendering? To answer this question in the following term paper, the term rape as portrayed in the play will be dealt with by analyzing where and what the different rapes in Blasted are and finally, a conclusion will be drawn about the connection of rape and gender and what consequences this entailed in the 1970s-1990s.

Table of Contents

• Introduction
• Historical outlook of feminism in the 1970s -1990s
• Different forms of rape as portrayed in the play.
• Rape of females and males in the 1990s........

Objectives and Key Themes

This term paper aims to analyze Sarah Kane's play "Blasted" and its depiction of rape, exploring the connection between rape and gender in the context of 1970s-1990s feminism. The paper will examine the various forms of rape portrayed in the play and draw conclusions about its implications for understanding gender dynamics and the impact of violence.

• The portrayal of rape in "Blasted" and its relationship to gender norms.
• The impact of the play on the feminist movement and the societal understanding of sexual violence.
• The use of language and imagery in depicting rape and its implications.
• The play's exploration of power dynamics and the abuse of power through rape.
• The connection between rape and war in the context of the play.

Chapter Summaries

• Introduction: This chapter introduces Sarah Kane's play "Blasted" and its focus on the themes of sex, violence, and rape. It highlights the play's unique portrayal of rape, challenging traditional understandings of sexual violence and its connection to gender.
• Historical outlook of feminism in the 1970s -1990s: This chapter examines the historical context of feminism in the 1970s-1990s and its relationship to the play's themes. It explores the backlash against feminism and the rise of post-feminist ideas, contextualizing Kane's work within this broader societal shift.
• Different forms of rape as portrayed in the play: This chapter delves into the different forms of rape portrayed in "Blasted," analyzing the play's depiction of both heterosexual and homosexual rape. It discusses the concept of rape as an experience and its relationship to power dynamics, challenging traditional understandings of victimhood.

Keywords

Key terms and concepts explored in this analysis include rape, gender, feminism, sexual violence, power dynamics, language, imagery, and the play "Blasted" by Sarah Kane.

• Autor: Anonym (Autor:in)
• Erscheinungsjahr: 2023
• Seiten: 10
• Katalognummer: V1367591
• ISBN (PDF): 9783346899163
• Sprache: Englisch
• Schlagworte: rape, sarah, kane’s, blasted