Live: GENDERED ARCHETYPES IN FILM 3: The Straight White Male Protagonist

MON 21 MAR – 19:30 TO 21:30

Lumière Cinema, Bassin 88

Dr. Dan Hassler-Forest
Author and Media Studies Scholar, Utrecht University

From James Bond to Batman and from Dirty Harry to Harry Potter: Hollywood has taught us that straight white men will always save the world, and their heroism will be a beautiful young woman. They overcome obstacles with violence and aggression, while vulnerability and compassion are portrayed as weakness.

Why do we find these powerful icons of masculinity so attractive? How does a screenwriter create a plot around this protagonist as a driving force? What tricks do directors and screenwriters use to give these characters such seemingly natural abilities? How has this figure evolved throughout film history? And what does his cultural legacy mean for characters who aren’t straight, white, or male?