Bruce Lee's Fictional Models of Masculinity

Abstract

As the body of research on masculinities continues to develop, the glaring lack of a theoretical framework to address the construction of Asian American masculinities is magnified. Although scholars have consistently acknowledged that men of color are marginalized from dominant models of masculinity, it is clear that the complexity of Asian American masculinities has not been recognized or questioned. This article seeks to articulate a critique of the construction of masculinities based on Bruce Lee and the characters he portrays. By analyzing Bruce Lee's films, the author intends to explore the ambivalent relationship between homosexuality and heterosexuality, the ironic role of the working-class hero, and the possibilities and limitations of rejuvenating a Chinese American manhood.