Witnessing Gender Transitions In American Road Movies

Road movies are one of the classic film genres that have a long history yet few researches have been focused on the gender transitions since they appear on the screen. However, with the flourish of development of road movies in China, this genre needs further study. As time goes by, the male and female traits presented in the big screen have undergone shifts and changes which lead to our perception of the transitions of sex and gender.Therefore, basically relying on Judith Butler's gender performativity theory coupled with her undoing gender theories, through a detailed analysis of American road films Bonnie and Clyde, Thelma& Louise, Transamerica and Mad Max: Fury Road, this thesis aims at exploring:(1) how does gender features the different characters in American road movies;(2) what changes can be detected from American road movies of different times;(3) How do American road movies present anti-traditional male and female roles;(4) Do American road movies serve to maintain patriarchy through the construction of masculinity and femininity.Dedicated to the subject, this thesis intends to expose the traditional stereotypes of gender images and then discuss the new trends in constructing masculinity and femininity. The gender images expressed in movies reflect the masses' opinion and their attitudes towards gender issues and at the same time participate in generating and producing the norms and values embodied in the society. Moreover, the author also aims to contribute to promoting a society in which sexual binarism is meaningless and dissolved and people can be free from the fixed gender roles.