Crisis and Masculinity on Contemporary Cable Television: Tracing the Western Hero in "Breaking Bad", "The Walking Dead" and "Hell on Wheels"

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

2. Masculinity, Crisis and the West

2.1. Gender and Men's Studies

2.2. Manhood in America and Crisis Tendencies

2.3. The Mythic West and (Revisionist) Westerns

2.4. The 'Crisis' of Masculinity

3. “I Am the Danger”: Crisis and Masculinity in Breaking Bad

3.1. Locating Breaking Bad

3.2. “Like Keith Richards with a Glass of Warm Milk”

3.3. Psychological Wounds

3.4. Narcissism and (Frontier) Masculinity

3.5. Physical Wounds and the Becoming of Man in the West

3.6. Male Sacrifice and the Good Provider

3.7. Malignant Man: Cancer, Capitalism and Violence

3.8. “I’m your hostage”: Women in Breaking Bad

4. Gunfighter Revival in an Apocalyptic Setting

4.1. Reanimated Corpses and Reaffirmed Masculinity

4.2. From “Officer Friendly” to Will Kane

4.3. The Apocalypse as State of Exception

5. Violence as Language: Trauma and Liminality in Hell on Wheels and Banshee

5.1. “Ain't much fun killing them, but they seem to need it”

5.2. “A Man Who Hates His Sins Can Be Redeemed for It”

5.3. Lions and Zebras

5.4. Myths and Money

5.5. Look Sharp and Fight Hard

6. Conclusion

Objectives & Themes

This dissertation explores the reconstruction of traditional white masculinity in contemporary American cable television series. By analyzing shows like Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, and Hell on Wheels, the work examines how these narratives utilize the tropes of the American Western and the frontier myth to address perceived crises in masculinity, particularly in the post-2007 economic and post-9/11 sociopolitical context.

• The intersection of American frontier mythology and contemporary "quality TV" aesthetics.
• Representations of the "crisis of masculinity" in the context of economic instability and systemic trauma.
• The symbolic function of violence as a language for re-asserting patriarchal authority.
• How television narratives interpret and re-negotiate historical conceptions of white American manhood.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. Introduction: Provides an overview of the project, defining the scope and research questions regarding masculinity, the Western genre, and modern television narratives.

2. Masculinity, Crisis and the West: Establishes the theoretical framework by discussing gender studies, historical American concepts of manhood, and the significance of the frontier myth.

3. “I Am the Danger”: Crisis and Masculinity in Breaking Bad: Analyzes the transformation of Walter White as a process of remasculinization within a capitalist, midlife-crisis narrative.

4. Gunfighter Revival in an Apocalyptic Setting: Examines how The Walking Dead and Falling Skies utilize post-apocalyptic settings to revive the frontier hero archetype.

5. Violence as Language: Trauma and Liminality in Hell on Wheels and Banshee: Discusses how these series use violence and trauma to construct masculinity for protagonists operating on the margins of civilization.

6. Conclusion: Summarizes the findings, reflecting on the persistent resonance of rugged masculinity and the frontier hero in American popular culture.

Keywords

Masculinity, Crisis, Western, Frontier Myth, Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, Banshee, Television Studies, Patriarchy, Capitalism, Trauma, Hegemony, Gender, American Culture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this dissertation primarily about?

It investigates how contemporary American cable television series construct and negotiate concepts of masculinity, often by drawing on the historical tropes of the American Western and the frontier myth.

What are the central thematic fields?

The work explores themes of patriarchal crisis, the influence of capitalism on gender roles, the role of violence in constructing identity, and the cultural memory associated with the American frontier.

What is the primary research question?

The project asks how these series construct the masculinity of their male protagonists and whether they adhere to or subvert century-old conceptions of manhood and the American West in times of crisis.

Which scientific methods are applied?

The author employs critical textual analysis, drawing on cultural studies, gender theory, and film/media theory to interpret narrative patterns and representational strategies in the selected TV series.

What does the main body of the work cover?

The body analyzes specific case studies, including Breaking Bad, The Walking Dead, Hell on Wheels, and Banshee, to show how protagonists grapple with trauma, power, and identity.

Which keywords characterize the work?

Key terms include Masculinity, Crisis, Western, Frontier Myth, Patriarchy, Capitalism, and Hegemony.

How does the author define the "crisis of masculinity" in the context of Breaking Bad?

The author views Walter White's evolution from an underpaid, emasculated teacher to a powerful "kingpin" as a desperate attempt at remasculinization, driven by deep-seated pride and the need to fulfill the "good provider" role.

What role does the frontier myth play in the post-apocalyptic series analyzed?

In shows like The Walking Dead, the post-apocalyptic world is constructed as a "new frontier" where traditional, rugged masculinity is required for survival, allowing male leaders like Rick Grimes to reclaim power and authority.