Graduation Semester and Year

2007

Language

English

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts in English

Department

English

First Advisor

Stacy Alaimo

Abstract

Despite the efforts of readers, writers and cultural critics, the fact remains that romance and the Western genres are considered low art. The real impetus behind this paper is not whether or not or even why they are considered low art. The important questions for me, the cultural critic, are: Why are these books so popular? What do they offer their readers? In considering their popular appeal, I think the implication of gender is the most illuminating piece of the puzzle. In this thesis, I will analyze the gender-specific fantasies offered in the Western romance novel and the popular Western, which will include characterizations of the hero and heroine in each of the novels, the employment of language, and perceptions of the genre, specifically efforts to legitimize them.

Disciplines

Arts and Humanities | English Language and Literature

Comments

Degree granted by The University of Texas at Arlington

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