Inquiry Of Artists’ Construction Of Gender Identity

Thomas Mann and Luchino Visconti are two important artists in both literary and film industry. The depth of thought and the artistic style of their works has made them representative artists in the fields of literature and film. In this thesis, through the interpretation of the two texts of Death in Venice, we found the common characteristic in the creation of Thomas Mann and Luchino Visconti. They both pay attention to the construction of their own gender identity and the causes of artists*creative predicament.This thesis mainly conclude three parts:In first part we take Gustav Mahler as prototype and make an interpretation of the three artists and the background of the two texts. These three artists have established a three-dimensional coordinate of artists’creation predicament:the prototype has promoted the author’s creative inspiration; the sympathetic response between the author and the director in artists’ creation predicament and the construction of their gender identity; the director’s utilization of prototype music in order to reach a better expression of artists’ creation predicament and the theme of death.In the second part we have discussed the construction of their gender identity represented in the novel.The deep meaning of artists’creation predicament. The artists’ pursue of beauty resulted from the education and guidance of ancient Greek culture. And the culture has indirectly resulted in the quandary of the homosexual feelings embodied in the texts. In this part we have explained the source of the quandary and the embodiment of the quandary in the text of the novel. And we also analyzed the beginning and the reason of the gender identity construction.In the third part we have carefully examined the text of the movie and then using the theory of sexual repression hypothesis we analyzed the embodiment of sexual repression in novels and movies which is always the obstruction of the pursuing of beauty among artists.At the end of this thesis, according to the interpretation of the two texts and the background of the creation, we have found the differences and similarities between the artists and the prototype, the novel texts and the film texts. Three artists and creation predicament:the life of art; the predicament of existence; the harassment facing artists of the irreconcilable contradictions between inner spirit and the external social life. Then we have discussed the relationship of artists’creation predicament and the construction of their gender identity. Because of the love of junior and the boy’s honor in ancient Greek culture and literature, artists have their own idea on the pursuing of beauty. But contemporary life is no longer the same as ancient Greek in which people view the homosexual feeling as normal and the difference results in deeper depression and then lead to the creation predicament and the incapability of the pursuit and acquisition of art among artists.