Date of Award
2013
Degree Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Arts (MA)
Department
Religion
Advisor(s)
Hammer, M. Gail
Keywords
Gender studies, Mormon, masculinity
Subject Categories
Religion
Abstract
This thesis considers the presentation of ideal Mormon masculinity in the film Legacy (Kieth Merrill, 1993), produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The film responds to the image of Mormon men created in previous films by articulating an alternate masculinity which distinguishes Mormon men from both negative stereotypes and other American men. This thesis briefly presents the history of the cinematic image of Mormon men and earlier attempts by the LDS Church to frame a different conception of Mormon men through film. Then, the work explores Mormon masculinity theoretically via R.W. Connell's hegemonic masculinity, Gilles Deleuze and Félix Guattari's notion of becoming minor, and Judith Butler's performativity of gender. These three approaches together help shape a working definition of Mormon masculinity grounded on faithfulness, competence, and tenderness. The final chapter offers a reading of Legacy to show how the film presents this definition of masculinity.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Newman, David H., "It'll be Zion to Me": Ideal Mormon Masculinity in Legacy" (2013). Religion - Theses. 3.
https://surface.syr.edu/rel_thesis/3
