The Evolution of Menswear and Masculinity in Modern Criminal Narratives: Investigating Suburra and Mare Fuori

Abstract

In examining the dynamic interplay of maximalism and streetwear within the criminal genre, our analysis of Suburra and Mare Fuori uncovers a transformative phase that challenges conventional sartorial narratives, introducing a new lexicon of masculinity. These series, emblematic of youth and excess, reflect a societal evolution towards a multifaceted expression of male identity and power. Through this prism, the narratives not only subvert traditional aesthetic norms of the classical depictions in gangster cinema, but also foster a profound engagement with contemporary viewers. Our discourse, after a first reconstruction of the historical characteristics of the genre, navigates through the nuanced terrain of contemporary maximalism, distancing itself from the misinterpretations associated with “bad taste”, to celebrate a composite aesthetic that defies classical taste paradigms. This stylistic approach champions an eclectic freedom that elevates maximalism to a form of narrative and identity expression. In summation, this exploration not only reconfigures established narratives of style, masculinity, and authority but also posits a reimagined conceptualization of excess that synergizes cultural and social capital, heralding a new era in the criminal genre characterized by complexity, vibrancy, and excess.

Keywords

• maximalism
• streetwear
• criminal genre
• masculinity
• youth culture