PUNISHMENTS, PRISONERS, & PRAGS: A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF MALE PRISONER RAPE ON HBO’S OZ

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Burns, M. (2016). PUNISHMENTS, PRISONERS, & PRAGS: A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF MALE PRISONER RAPE ON HBO’S OZ. Unc Charlotte Electronic Theses And Dissertations.
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Abstract

This analysis examines the symbolic rape narratives of Oz and the cultural contexts in which they exist. It confronts visual images of male rape within the show to uncover considerations of masculinity, sexuality, and gender identification in a prison setting. For this study, I used a narrative analysis of the three functions identified in the text: rape as contrast, rape as cliché, and rape as plot device.Through the analysis conducted, Oz displayed some disarmingly untraditional gender role reversals through scenes of male rape, negotiating male homosociality where other shows typically only explore heterosociality, especially with regard to sexual assault. Previous studies on rape representations posit that regardless of the individual characteristics of the storyline, rape narratives typically reinforce a dominant patriarchal ideology by positioning victims as weaker characters than the heroes.Oz cannot be classified as either wholly reinforcing patriarchal norms or defying them, as the show negotiates both options. With regard to media studies and social change, we cannot say for sure whether Oz engineered or spurred ideas of prison rape reform, which is a movement that consequently took place during the initial broadcast years of Oz. However, it was timely with its graphic depiction of the act, ultimately giving viewers a grisly visual representation of male prison rape. Overall, Oz presents a model for those wishing to understand how media representations gesture toward issues of societal concern.

Details
Author

Burns, Myasia

Title

PUNISHMENTS, PRISONERS, & PRAGS: A NARRATIVE ANALYSIS OF MALE PRISONER RAPE ON HBO’S OZ

Physical Description

1 online resource (59 pages) : PDF

Date

2016

Degree Granting Institution

University of North Carolina at Charlotte

Abstract

This analysis examines the symbolic rape narratives of Oz and the cultural contexts in which they exist. It confronts visual images of male rape within the show to uncover considerations of masculinity, sexuality, and gender identification in a prison setting. For this study, I used a narrative analysis of the three functions identified in the text: rape as contrast, rape as cliché, and rape as plot device.Through the analysis conducted, Oz displayed some disarmingly untraditional gender role reversals through scenes of male rape, negotiating male homosociality where other shows typically only explore heterosociality, especially with regard to sexual assault. Previous studies on rape representations posit that regardless of the individual characteristics of the storyline, rape narratives typically reinforce a dominant patriarchal ideology by positioning victims as weaker characters than the heroes.Oz cannot be classified as either wholly reinforcing patriarchal norms or defying them, as the show negotiates both options. With regard to media studies and social change, we cannot say for sure whether Oz engineered or spurred ideas of prison rape reform, which is a movement that consequently took place during the initial broadcast years of Oz. However, it was timely with its graphic depiction of the act, ultimately giving viewers a grisly visual representation of male prison rape. Overall, Oz presents a model for those wishing to understand how media representations gesture toward issues of societal concern.

Genre

masters theses

Subjects--Topics

Communication

Degree

M.A.

Keywords

HBO
Oz
Primetime
Prisoner
Rape
Representation

Subject Area

Communication Studies

Advisor(s)

Plotnick, Rachel

Committee Members

Crane, Jon
Grano, Dan

Degree Note

Thesis (M.A.)--University of North Carolina at Charlotte, 2016.

Rights Statement

This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). For additional information, see http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/.

Rights Holder Information

Copyright is held by the author unless otherwise indicated.

Identifier

Burns_uncc_0694N_11107

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.13093/etd:994