In the Shadow of Gender: The Construction of Masculine Domination and Violence Through the Conflict Between Hegemonic and Fragile Masculinities in the Films “Black Night” and “Burning Days”

This study aims to examine how patterns of hegemonic and fragile masculinity are constructed and represented in two Turkish films, Black Night and Burning Days. Through thematic analysis, it reveals how masculine hegemony transforms into symbolic and physical violence and how fragile masculinities are punished. Although both films have different cinematic narratives, they share a common universe in legitimizing and reproducing male domination. While Black Night focuses on physical violence, Burning Days depicts symbolic violence through institutional structures. The findings demonstrate that symbolic and physical violence function as main instruments in maintaining and reproducing masculine hegemony in everyday practices. By focusing on cinematic representations, this analysis makes visible the manifestations of gender inequality as reflected in Turkish cinema.