Sociology of Art & Literature

This book is located in the general academic rubric of ¿masculinity¿ and war. Since the 1980's, masculinity has been the subject of growing academic and intellectual scrutiny. Within this context, the relationship between masculinity and war has not been widely interrogated or documented, and certainly examination of the Afghan War and masculinity conflation is negligible. Central to the thesis is the critical examination of the war songs/ poems of soldiers who fought in Afhan War at this time. The thesis offers a detailed examination of Talib masculinities as played out in the Afghan War through critically exploring the Talib¿s narratives written during the conflict. It locates the analysis within the socio-cultural influences that impacted on the ¿manly¿ soldier allowing a 'micro mapping' of masculinity to be revealed in these Talibs' writings. 50 war songs / poems (form the years 2007 & 2008) of the soldiers serving in the Afghan conflict are analyzed through the lens of masculinity; employing a qualitative methodology drawing on thematic analysis utilizing a triangular theoretical nexus of social construction of hegemonic masculinity, performativity and emotions.