ABSTRACT
The objective of this research is to reveal how masculinity in crisis is constructed and analyze how the myth of American heteronormativity is maintained in the film Humpday.
This is a descriptive qualitatively research which is meant to find out the portrayal of masculinity in crisis and the maintenance of heteronormarivity in bromance film Humpday. Thus, the main data are in the forms of images, dialogues, camera shots and angles, and lightings, and other cinematographic elements. The supporting data are taken from online articles on American socio-cultural situation related to the topic.
This research works under the framework of American Studies. It applied interdisciplinary studies which combine theories and approaches from other fields such as gender theory, semiotic theory, film and genre theory. It also used socio-cultural approach to understand the context of American society.
The result shows that the conventions in bromance film like Humpday combines both man and woman films. This affects to the representation of men where they start to embrace feminine quality. Feminization is also
influenced by the on-going situation in America where men becomes more domestic. Apart from being feminized, men in bromance are also considered as beta-male with gross body and sex life. They have started to embrace queer identity as well. This categorizes them into masculinity in crisis as they fail to live up to ideal standard. Moreover, Humpday also makes several attempts to break the heteronormative boundary such as passionate kissing between two men. However, heteronormativity myth is still carefully maintained through bro-split and straight language.
Keywords: bromance, masculinity, homosocial, heteronormativity, American film
