Masculinity in Peter Weir's Gallipoli
Essay Question: Discuss the ways in which masculinity is constructed in Gallipoli and / or First Blood? What codes and norms of gender are used to construct masculinity in the film(s)?
The perception of masculinity within Australian films is a reflection of our society’s views and opinions of what it is to be considered masculine. It is continually reinforced in our society by the constructions of the male character in movies, just like Archie and Frank, in Gallipoli and particular male figures within our nation’s history, such as Ned Kelly. Peter Weir’s reflection of masculinity through the use of his two main characters Archie and Frank, in his 1981 film Gallipoli, helped to perpetuate this construction of the Aussie male stereotype and the era’s particular values of how one is considered to be masculine. Peter Weir’s 1981 Film Gallipoli is a reflection of the views and opinions of what that era’s society considered to be masculine within an Australian culture. Weir focused the film around two central characters, Archie and Frank, and their growing relationship, which helped to reinforce the films construction of masculinity linking the two characters differing masculine qualities, creating an emphasis on one of the nation’s most specific and popular cultural reference of male mateship.
The origins of mateship, stems from the men of the Australian outback, a complex mix of rivalry and respect, loyalty and love. This form of mateship is clearly shown between Archie and Frank’s friendship, from when they first met at the race in the start of the film, within a rivalry competition against each other for the win, moving to the journey across the desert that they both take to help Archie sign up for the war, progressing into a brotherly love, for which Frank abandons his mates to be with Archie in the light horse brigade, to the final act of Archie swapping places with Frank creating the act of Frank running to, literally, save his mates life at the end of
The perception of masculinity within Australian films is a reflection of our society’s views and opinions of what it is to be considered masculine. It is continually reinforced in our society by the constructions of the male character in movies, just like Archie and Frank, in Gallipoli and particular male figures within our nation’s history, such as Ned Kelly. Peter Weir’s reflection of masculinity through the use of his two main characters Archie and Frank, in his 1981 film Gallipoli, helped to perpetuate this construction of the Aussie male stereotype and the era’s particular values of how one is considered to be masculine. Peter Weir’s 1981 Film Gallipoli is a reflection of the views and opinions of what that era’s society considered to be masculine within an Australian culture. Weir focused the film around two central characters, Archie and Frank, and their growing relationship, which helped to reinforce the films construction of masculinity linking the two characters differing masculine qualities, creating an emphasis on one of the nation’s most specific and popular cultural reference of male mateship.
The origins of mateship, stems from the men of the Australian outback, a complex mix of rivalry and respect, loyalty and love. This form of mateship is clearly shown between Archie and Frank’s friendship, from when they first met at the race in the start of the film, within a rivalry competition against each other for the win, moving to the journey across the desert that they both take to help Archie sign up for the war, progressing into a brotherly love, for which Frank abandons his mates to be with Archie in the light horse brigade, to the final act of Archie swapping places with Frank creating the act of Frank running to, literally, save his mates life at the end of