BOOK review

 

In “Beauty (Re)Discovers the Male Body,” Susan Bordo explores how men and women are displayed and perceived, focusing on concepts like “The Gaze” and Industrial Revolution-era gender stereotypes men as dominant breadwinners and women as homemakers. She argues these categories are being reinvented in modern society. Similarly, the 1999 film The Thomas Crown Affair challenges these traditional stereotypes through its characters, Thomas Crown and Catherine Banning, who redefine gender norms as they evolve throughout the film.

Bordo highlights “The Gaze” as central to understanding how gender is viewed. She explains women’s relationship to the gaze as one where they learn to anticipate and even enjoy the sexualizing attention: “Women learn to anticipate [it], even play to the sexualizing gaze... truth be told, [women] get somewhat addicted to the experience” (Bordo 135). This dynamic is evident in The Thomas Crown Affair with Catherine Banning, whose seductive introduction with high heels, a slit dress, and erotic music mirrors Bordo’s concept. Banning also uses subtle sexual tension in her dialogue, such as when she tells the detective, “Oh, come on, Lieutenant, who knows? You might enjoy it” (Taylor 25:57–26:02). This playful engagement with the gaze shows how Banning embodies Bordo’s idea of women sexualizing their own image, highlighting the film’s alignment with Bordo’s views on gender presentation.

Bordo also examines Industrial Revolution stereotypes, where men’s roles focused on relentless work, often ignoring appearance: “In the industrial era, men’s sphere... was performance oriented and demanded ‘no nonsense’” (Bordo 158). The film’s portrayal of Crown reflects an evolution of this stereotype. Crown is a successful CEO who maintains a polished, confident image while enjoying leisure activities like golf. This modern representation suggests a positive shift from the earlier, rigid male archetype, showing that Taylor’s portrayal aligns with Bordo’s idea of evolving male stereotypes.

For women, Bordo describes the Industrial Revolution ideal as the devoted homemaker who offers comfort and charm for men after their workday: “Women… were expected not only to provide a comfortable, well ordered home... but to offer beauty, fantasy, and charm for a man to ‘escape’ to” (Bordo 158). Catherine Banning challenges this stereotype, as she is an independent, financially successful art investigator with no reliance on a man. This reinvention of female roles contrasts with Bordo’s historical description, demonstrating how the film overlooks the old stereotype in favor of a modern, empowered woman. This suggests Bordo might agree that gender roles are being reshaped, as reflected in both the film and her writing.

Overall, The Thomas Crown Affair offers a positive portrayal of gender and social class, using its characters to transcend traditional stereotypes highlighted by Bordo. Banning’s intelligence and independence counter the notion that “women don’t act; they appear,” while Crown’s polished, capable image redefines masculine norms. The film aligns with Bordo’s argument that gender stereotypes are evolving, appealing to contemporary audiences by showing that these categories are fluid rather than fixed. The film and Bordo’s work together suggest that gender and social roles continue to be redefined, reflecting a more modern understanding of identity and power.