East and South European Masculinities: From Imperial Patriarchy to Liberating Queerness

Session Submission Type: Panel

Brief Description

The panel's papers explore the concept of masculinity in three different historical situations – 19th century Russia, the second half of the 20th century in occupied Latvia, and 21st century Balkans. Literary, musical, and artistic works are discussed by revisiting masculinity in both its hegemonic forms and departures from them. These four representations pay attention to relationships between masculinity and power being deeply grounded in models of gender expressions of their times: military men and tribal men of the imperial Russia, normative and less normative Soviet working class heroes, and hyper masculine contemporary Balkan pop musicians. The authors of the papers, drawing from the archives of their respective cultures as well as from theorists of masculinity and queer studies. The four papers provide significant readings of the changing norms of masculinity and their transgression.

Sub Unit

• Gender/LGBTQ Studies

Chair

• Dan D.B. Healey, U of Oxford (UK)

Papers

• Embodying Masculine Selfhood through Diary and Performance in Lermontov's 'Princess Mary' - Kit Pribble, Wake Forest U

• Performing Working-Class Masculinity in Soviet Western Borderlands: The Case of Latvian 'Tough Style' Paintings - Karlis Verdins, Art Academy of Latvia (Latvia); Janis Ozolins, Art Academy of Latvia (Latvia)

• Performing the Queer Patriarch: Turbofolk, Sevdah, and the Projection of Masculinity - Brett Donohoe, Amherst College

Discussant

• Allison Leigh, U of Louisiana at Lafayette