Edward 'Ned' Hanlan: imagining Canadian masculinity and national identity from the success of an early rowing champion

This study explores Canadian professional rower Edward ‘Ned’ Hanlan who became nationally and internationally famous in the mid-to-late Victorian Era (1870s-90s). Applying a deconstructionist methodology to analyse illustrations and text of Hanlan’s numerous races, this project explores how nationalism and manliness were depicted and understood during this time. Images published in two Canadian magazines, Grip and the Canadian Illustrated News are examined to reveal how and why Hanlan was frequently exemplified as a role model for Canadians. The print media’s representation of Hanlan was informed by broader influences such as the Canada First movement and the appropriated sport of lacrosse to provide readers context to appreciate Hanlan as the standard for what it meant to be Canadian. Grip and the Canadian Illustrated News focused on connections between athletic prowess and manliness, and Hanlan’s physical composition in these images is examined through a consideration of hegemonic masculinity, the self-made man, reclaiming masculinity, muscular Christianity, and fatherhood. By equating Hanlan’s feats with the emergence of Canadian nationhood, the rowing world championships resonated with Canadians as well as serving the print media’s interests in promoting a Canadian masculine ideal.

Authors

• Mills, Adam
• University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science

• Edward "Ned" Hanlan
• Canadian masculinity
• national identity
• Canadian rowing champion
• Victorian era image of masculinity
• athletic prowess
• manliness
• physical composition

Identifier

hdl:10133/6963

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:opus.uleth.ca:10133/6963