CAHSS Faculty Articles
Riverine Crossings: Gender, Identity and the Reconstruction of National Mythic Narrative in the Crying Game
ORCID ID
0000-0002-4966-1251
Publication Title
Cultural Studies
ISSN
1466-4348
Publication Date
1-1-2001
Abstract
The Crying Game's central, tragic theme of warrior/lovers caught between their love for one another and loyalty to their respective factions has significant roots in early Celtic mythology. The elegaic theme of potential lovers forced into ill-fated combat that frames the film's events also, significantly, bears the weight of the film's most unambiguous political commentary, when Fergus speaks directly to the picture of Jody in Dil's apartment, telling him: ‘You should have stayed at home.’ This sad remonstration, which clearly lays responsibility for the chain of causality that has led to so much suffering not with Jody, but with the British state, is similar in quality to Cu Chulainn's lament as he contemplates his meeting with Ferdia. When we listen carefully for ways in which Celtic mythical themes underlie and nuance the film's events, different rhythms emerge, accenting different beats.
DOI
10.1080/09502380010006790
Volume
15
Issue
1
First Page
173
Last Page
191
NSUWorks Citation
Backus, M. G., & Doan, J. E. (2001). Riverine Crossings: Gender, Identity and the Reconstruction of National Mythic Narrative in the Crying Game. Cultural Studies, 15 (1), 173-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/09502380010006790
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