Professional paper
From Gilgamesh to Terminator: The Warrior as a Manly Ideal, Historical and Contemporary Perspectives
Sanimir Rešić
Abstract
The warrior mentality is deeply rooted in the construction of ideal manhood. The indoctrinating vocation to pass the ultimate male rite de passage by going through the baptism of fire is very common historically, geographically and culturally, and in all shapes and forms. It constitutes a strong reminder to young men that surely nothing in the world will make them pass the test of manhood like battle. Similarly, even to die bravely in combat has historically in many cultures promised the warrior-man eternal after-life. The aim of this article is to show how the warrior as ideal image of manliness, or male archetype, is conveyed from a long-term perspective and stand strong to this very day. With warfare, society, and technology in constant development and change, even women have increasingly adopted the ideal traditional warrior man. We see a continuation of warrior ideals from Gilgamesh to the cyborg Terminator of Hollywood.
Keywords
masculinity; ideal manliness; gender construction; warrior mentality; warrior values; combat experience; long-term trends
Hrčak ID:
2853
URI
Publication date:
30.6.2001.
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