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Masculine Mobilities in American Country Music

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Masculine Mobilities in American Country Music

My thesis examines the lyrics of contemporary American country music by various male artists and the ways they portray American mobility in the framework of masculinity. Mobility and road narratives have shaped the ways the US is viewed as a nation, and these concurrent themes are closely related to Americanness. Both of the aforementioned concepts have traditionally been a part of a manly playground as well as an essential part of the American way of living and being. My thesis argues that mobility narratives in country songs’ lyrics serve as a tool for men to simultaneously build and reinforce the ideal of masculinity. The thesis employs a broad theoretical framework that includes different theories that range from the study of mobilities to theories about gender. I discuss the meanings of gendered identities and mobilities, and how, where and by whom they are produced. Additionally, I provide an overview of American masculine mobilities in the context of country songs. In the analysis section, I examine expressions of masculine mobilities in the country songs and analyze them according to the classification of masculine role norms categories. The objective of this study was to investigate representations of mobility in the lyrics of contemporary country music artists in the framework of masculinity. In the light of my analysis, my hypothesis proved to be true. The lyrics manifest masculine ideals through mobility-related themes and draw a picture of a country man that is tough, dominant and confident about his masculine charm and attractiveness on the outside, but on the other hand, reluctant to show his emotions even to his loved ones and very inclined to take unnecessary risks with his reckless lifestyle.

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