The question this paper will try to answer is whether more recent Bond films such as Casino Royale still contain masculinities which define themselves through sexist or violent attitudes towards women and if those masculinities can be classified as hegemonic ones. That question is highly interesting because, as Julian Dörr from the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung says, Bond’s role is a mirror of society and its masculinity.
Thus, this paper will show that recent James Bond films such as Casino Royale portray different, less toxic and less sexist representations of masculinity because changes in society and the promotion of emancipation have also influenced western film making. In order to check if that thesis can be proofed, the general construction of James Bond’s masculinity will be analyzed and deconstructed. This will be done by following certain premises which will be explained in chapter 3.
Even though Casino Royale is not a Hollywood film, I decided to choose it as my main source for analyzing masculinity in film. As the analytical approach of Hollywood films does not differ from the one used for British films and as Casino Royale was also produced in western society, the underlying values and norms do not differ to a great extent. Thus, using Casino Royale as the main source, will offer as much output as a Hollywood film would.
The series, starting with Dr. No, which was released in 1962, compiles 25 films from which Spectre is the most recent one. Due to the series’ longevity, it has reached and influenced several generations and even though Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond, did not want to convey any meaning or political standpoint, his works and their adaptions caused several debates and controversies. One of the films’ most criticized aspects is their toxic representation of masculinity and the males’ attitude towards women.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Background knowledge: Hegemonic masculinity, gender performativity and James Bond formula
3. Definitions and premises
4. Main chapter
4.1 Summary: Casino Royale
4.2 Case Study: Casino Royale
5. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
The primary objective of this paper is to examine whether the representation of masculinity in the film Casino Royale (2006) remains as toxic and sexist as it appeared in earlier James Bond movies, or if it reflects contemporary shifts in societal values.
- Analysis of hegemonic masculinity and gender performativity within the James Bond film series.
- Evaluation of Patricia Sexton’s concept of masculine norms applied to cinematic characters.
- Application of the "four sites of masculinity" framework: body, action, external world, and internal world.
- Examination of the "Bond formula" and its role in normalizing dominant male ideologies.
- Investigation of revisionist tendencies in the representation of James Bond through the character of Vesper Lynd.
Excerpt from the book
4.2.3 The External World
When analyzing “The External World” we are interested in how a person interacts and communicates with another person or institution. In this case I will analyze James Bond’s communication with Vesper, his companion and love interest.
In the scene I chose to analyze, Bond and Vesper are on the train, heading towards the poker tournament in Montenegro (cf. Screenshot 4).
As this is the scene in which they first meet, it offers fruitful information about their interplay and the hierarchical positions the two take on. When Vesper initially enters the scene, Bond’s remark is, in comparison to other Bond films, of no surprise. After she is telling him that she is the one administering his stake by saying “I’m the money”, he, after scrutinizing her, answers ”Every penny of it“. Through this sexist utterance he directly objectifies her and establishes his hegemonic position. Additionally, he quickly takes on the active position by telling Vesper that she is quite stylish.
The first time the Bond-like hierarchy of man and woman is disrupted, happens when Vesper derives several unpleasant biographical information from analyzing Bond. He reacts intimidated and his quick-wittedness disappears. Thus, his superiority and hegemonic position is weakened, resulting in approaching equality. Vesper even continues her uprising by saying that Bond is a “cold-hearted bastard” who only thinks “of women as disposable pleasures”. By revealing Bond’s real intentions towards most women, she takes away his power of taking advantage of them.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The introduction outlines the research motivation, justifying the choice of Casino Royale as a representative source to analyze contemporary masculinity in film.
2. Background knowledge: Hegemonic masculinity, gender performativity and James Bond formula: This chapter establishes the theoretical foundation, defining hegemonic masculinity and explaining how repeated cinematic performances, such as the 'Bond Formula', stabilize these gender norms.
3. Definitions and premises: This section clarifies the working definitions of masculinity used in the study, specifically focusing on Patricia Sexton’s conception and the four-part analytical framework derived from Kirkham and Thumin.
4. Main chapter: The main chapter provides a detailed plot summary of the film and conducts a systematic case study across the four identified sites of masculinity: the body, action, the external world, and the internal world.
5. Conclusion: The conclusion synthesizes the findings, confirming that while Casino Royale exhibits emancipatory tendencies and a more vulnerable portrayal of Bond, it still maintains elements of hegemonic dominance influenced by popular taste.
Keywords
Hegemonic masculinity, James Bond, Casino Royale, gender performativity, toxic masculinity, film analysis, Vesper Lynd, patriarchal order, Daniel Craig, gender stereotypes, western cinema, representation, emancipation, body politics, revisionism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the central focus of this research paper?
The paper examines the changing representation of hegemonic masculinity in recent James Bond films, using Casino Royale as a primary case study to determine if the character's traditional sexism and violence have evolved.
What are the main thematic areas covered?
Key areas include the social construction of masculinity, the impact of gender performativity, the institutionalization of masculine norms in media, and the shift from traditional to more realistic character representations.
What is the core research question?
The research seeks to answer whether the masculinity portrayed in Casino Royale remains as toxic and sexist as in older iterations of the James Bond series, or if it reflects broader societal shifts toward equality.
Which methodology is employed in the analysis?
The author uses a qualitative film analysis approach, applying the four-dimensional framework of "the body, action, the external world, and the internal world" developed by Kirkham and Thumin.
What topics are discussed in the main chapter?
The main chapter focuses on a detailed scene-by-scene analysis using screenshots to examine Daniel Craig's physical appearance, Bond’s combat techniques, his interaction with Vesper Lynd, and the rare moments of emotional vulnerability.
How would you characterize this paper with keywords?
The work is defined by terms such as hegemonic masculinity, gender performativity, Bond formula, cinematic representation, and modern emancipatory tendencies in action films.
How does the character of Vesper Lynd influence Bond’s masculinity?
Vesper Lynd serves as a catalyst for deconstructing Bond’s traditional dominance; her quick-wittedness and analytical perception of Bond’s past allow her to challenge his objectifying behavior and establish a more equal footing.
What conclusion does the author reach regarding Bond’s "hegemonic" status?
The author concludes that while Casino Royale shows signs of revisionist, emancipatory tendencies, Bond still largely functions within a hegemonic framework, as the changes appear driven more by evolving popular taste than by fundamental shifts in the character's conviction.
- Quote paper
- Nico Röhrs (Author), 2020, The Changing Representation of Hegemonic Masculinity in Recent James Bond Films, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/909029
