PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

By studying three different versions of an American Western narrative, the novel True Grit and its cinematographic adaptations, the essay starts with the plurality of masculinities embodied within the genre to outline the specific reference points, frames, and tertia comparationis that organize and structure these and other male narratives in the 20th and 21st century. While the narrative of True Grit is all about comparing men, each version centers upon a different concept these comparisons are directed toward: a nostalgic imagination of a noble masculine society gone by; a family narrative where men evolve as children, fathers, and potential husbands; a threatening masculinity representing the dark 'other' side of civilization. While taking a plurality of masculinities for granted, this essay aims to identify common frames and narratives of masculinities that allow for structuring the future field of comparative masculinity studies.