A GENDER STUDY OR SHIFT OF BALANCE IN DAVID MAMET’S OLEANNA

Year 2018, Volume: 22 Issue: 1, 293 - 305, 10.04.2018

Faruk Kalay

Abstract

One
of the distinctive people in American literature and cinema, David Mamet writes
a great number of plays and scripts and many of which are produced or directed
by Mamet himself. Consisting of three acts and having minimalist
characterization, Oleanna concerns
about John, a faculty member in a university, and his female student Carol.
Mamet primarily questions about capitalism, American education system and also
tends to the subjects of sexual harassment. Even though Mamet arguing about the
relationship between man and woman is criticized by many feminists, he seems to
be very accomplished to indicate the deep psychology in both sexes. John who
lectures in a university looks superior to his student Carol in terms of his
masculinity and linguistic ability. However, this superiority relays to Carol
charging him with sexual harassment. The play ends with his endeavor to
manhandle her. In this study, one of Mamet’s most important works, Oleanna will be argued in terms of
feminism, linguistics and American education system.

Keywords

Oleanna, David Mamet, Linguistics, Feminism, Gender

A Gender Study or Shift Of Balance in David Mamet’s Oleanna

Abstract

One of the distinctive persons in
American literature and cinema, David Mamet writes a great number of plays and
scripts and many of which are produced or directed by Mamet himself. Consisting
of three acts and having minimalist characterization, Oleanna concerns about
John, a faculty member in a university, and his female student Carol. Mamet primarily
questions about capitalism, American education system and also tends to the
subjects of sexual harassment. Even though Mamet arguing about the relationship
between man and woman is criticized by many feminists, he seems to be very
accomplished to indicate the deep psychology in both sexes. John who lectures
in a university looks superior to his student Carol in terms of his masculinity
and linguistic ability. However, this superiority relays to Carol charging him
with sexual harassment. The play ends with his endeavor to manhandle her. In
this study, one of Mamet’s most important works, Oleanna will be argued in
terms of feminism, linguistics and American education system.

Keywords

Oleanna, David Mamet, feminizm, dilbilim, cinsiyetçilik

References

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