할리우드 한국전쟁 영화와 미국 여성의 재현: 국가와 여성

Abstract

This essay examines women’s representation and their role in the war effort in Hollywood’s Korean War films. Women encourage young men to enlist in the army and urge them to participate in the war as is shown in A Yank in Korea and I Want You. Both films reveal that they are crucial to awakening and celebrating young men’s masculine qualities like bravery, duty and honor. In particular, I Want You emphasizes their duty to protect children and women from the war against the communists. A woman banishes her brother-in-law at the family dinner when he complains about his duty in the war effort. Thus, as a transmitter of masculine culture, women represent what the patriarchal state dictates. A Minute to Zero reveals why women have to be contained at home because of their troublesome behaviors. As such they are deemed to be subjugated to male authority. As for the military nurses, the narratives emphasize their femininity rather than their independence and professionalism. Their freedom and agency are downplayed. The films construct nurses’ identity as women, not soldiers. M*A*S*H confirms that patriarchy, masculinity and the state are interwoven. As is proven in Major Houlian’s case, when a woman exercises her authority over a male as a superior officer, she has to suffer extreme punishment and humiliation, and even her military identity is denied. The military system dominated by males effectively marginalizes females and they can survive only by their sexual compliance and subordination to male desire. Indeed, the military/state system requires women to be naturalized into patriarchy.