48 research outputs found
Sort by
From Daughter to Soldier: Analysis of Gender Subversion in Mulan Comic through Judith Butler’s Feminism
Get PDFThis study explores how gender identity informs female empowerment in the comic book Mulan (2020), analyzed through Judith Butler’s theory of Gender Trouble: Feminism and the Subversion of Identity (1990). Using a qualitative approach, the research examines both extrinsic elements (visual style, dialogue bubbles, and coloring techniques) and intrinsic aspects (plot, character development, and themes). The analysis reveals the findings. 1) Mulan’s struggles are framed by traditional Chinese values of devotion and duty, which she redefines against patriarchal constraints. 2) The comic employs themes of resilience and transformation, portraying Mulan’s resistance to restrictive gender norms. 3) Mulan’s journey illustrates that gender roles are not inherently tied to masculinity or femininity, but can be subverted to embrace autonomy and self-worth. These findings highlight the relevance of children’s comics as cultural texts that challenge stereotypes and highlight social issues, offering readers a deeper understanding of gender, empowerment, and identity
Biopower, Discipline, and Resistance in The Hunger Games (2012): A Foucauldian Analysis
Get PDFThis study examines The Hunger Games (2012), directed by Gary Ross, through Michel Foucault’s concepts of power, discipline, and biopolitics. Using qualitative content analysis, the research investigates how the Capitol maintains dominance over the districts and how resistance emerges within oppressive systems. The findings reveal: 1) the Capitol’s exercise of biopower reduces life to political control, exemplified in the ritual of the Reaping where sacrifice is normalized as governance. 2) disciplinary power is reinforced through spectacle and propaganda, such as televised ceremonies and the constant reminder of rebellion, which embed fear and institutionalize trauma across generations. 3) despite these mechanisms of control, acts of resistance emerge: Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark subvert Capitol authority through personal defiance, illustrating Foucault’s view that power inevitably produces resistance. By highlighting these dynamics, the film underscores how power operates not only through coercion but also through cultural production, surveillance, and ideology. This analysis contributes to the understanding of how popular culture reflects and critiques structures of domination and the possibilities of resistance in both fictional and real-world contexts
Reimagining Feminism in Beauty and the Beast: A Critical Analysis of Gender Roles and Power Dynamics
Get PDFThis research examines Vera Southgate “Beauty and The Beast” through the lenses of Feminist literary criticism. Focusing on how the story adresses traditional gender roles and transformation. Using Simone de Beauvoir to explore the role of women in society. As a result: 1) The narrative suppresses conventional evaluations by shifting focus from physical appearance to inner virtue and emotional transformation. Beast’s appearance does not fit societal expectations. It makes society, Beauty, does not accept the Beast by his physical appearance. 2) Traditional gender roles are actively imposed, marginalizing female agency and reinforcing patriarchal norms. The traditional gender roles between women and men in society are shown in this literature, where men are more dominant and providers while women are caretakers and submissive. 3) The interrelationship of power between characters illustrates a dialectical relationship in which dependence and autonomy are continuously renegotiated. True love is not based on physical appearance, but it is from the kindness from the heart. It can make a big transformation when someone finds their true love. This analysis is significant for its contribution to feminist literary criticism, as it illustrates the dual capacity of literature to both reinforce and challenge societal structures. It is expected that these insights will stimulate further research into the transformative potential of narrative in reshaping gender identities and power relations
Wooden Beginnings, Human Struggles: Pinocchio’s Character Development Through Erikson’s Psychosocial Stages
Get PDFThis study analyzes Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio through Erik Erikson’s psychosocial development theory to trace the character’s psychological growth across childhood stages. Using qualitative, descriptive analysis, the research examines how Pinocchio’s experiences embody Erikson’s developmental crises. The results reveal three key findings: 1) Pinocchio’s disobedience and peer influence illustrate Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt, reflecting a child’s struggle for independence under external pressures. 2) His refusal to heed guidance highlights Initiative vs. Guilt, as he experiments with choices but risks moral error. 3) His eventual responsibility and care for Geppetto demonstrate Industry vs. Inferiority, showing his attainment of competence and integrity. Pinocchio’s transformation into a real boy symbolizes the successful resolution of these crises, affirming Erikson’s claim that growth emerges from overcoming challenges. This study concludes that Pinocchio reflects universal childhood struggles and offers psychological insight into moral and social development
Unveiling Power Relations: A Comparative Analysis of Individual and Group Influence in Wish (2023) Movie
Get PDFThis study analyzes the representation of individual and collective power in Wish (2023) through qualitative thematic analysis, drawing on Thomas Hobbes’ theory of individual power and Michel Foucault’s concept of relational power. The findings reveal that: 1) the protagonist’s pursuit of autonomy reflects Hobbes’ notion of individual power; 2) the interconnection of magic and authority illustrates Foucault’s link between knowledge and power; and 3) the narrative highlights resistance to domination at both personal and societal levels. The film demonstrates how cinematic texts critique power structures, offering insights into authority, resistance, and collective agency in contemporary contexts
Power Relations In ‘Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse’ Movie (2023): A Foucauldian Analysis
Get PDFThis study aims at unveiling the power issue found in the movie, “Spider-Man: Across The Spider-Verse,” a multi-layered story and profound symbolism. This study analyzed the movie’s thematic effects using a variety of literary theories and cinematic analysis. Furthermore, the study investigated how the film\u27s nuanced use of images and visual themes enhanced the overall story and elicits emotional resonance in the spectator. Having the movie analyzed, the theory of Power, Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison by Mitchel Foucault (1977), was used to criticize the power dynamic issue in the movie. As a result, 1) Leadership Conflict and Sovereign Power: The clash between Miles and Miguel highlights a conflict in ideals within the spider society. Miguel, as a leader, exerts sovereign power to control events, showcasing the dynamic of leadership struggles. 2) Resistance Against Anomaly and Exclusion: The designation of Miles as an "anomaly" reveals the resistance within the spider-society against individuals who deviate from established norms. The effort to exclude anomalies reflects a form of resistance against those perceived as outliers. 3) Power Relations in Identity Discourses: The discourses shaping Miles\u27 identity, such as the "spider-society discourse" and "family discourse," contributes to shaping the dynamic power relations; Miles\u27 resistance to these discourses illustrates a struggle for individual recognition and acceptance. This analysis underlines the movie’s broader societal relevance and potential impact by studying the socio-cultural milieu in which it was produced
Cultural Identity in Contemporary Children’s Literature: A Jungian Archetypal Analysis of A Lucky Chinese New Year
Get PDFThis research investigates how archetypes within children\u27s literature not only reinforce cultural traditions and values in collective unconsciousness of individuals, but also emphasize the role of family unity and generational continuity in maintaining cultural heritage in a modern, globalized context in the preservation of cultural identity within the children\u27s book "A Lucky Chinese New Year." By analyzing the Hero, Child, and Caregiver archetypes as embodied by the characters, the primary Jungian theory used in the analysis is Carl Jung\u27s Archetypal Theory (1959), particularly focusing on the collective unconscious and universal archetypes. Meanwhile, Confucianism theory by Tu Weiming (1985) was used as the secondary theory to discuss cultural context. The study reveals how these archetypes support the themes of cultural preservation, renewal, and family unity. As the results: 1) Lily\u27s actions embody the Hero\u27s journey, demonstrating how even small actions by young individuals can significantly contribute to maintaining cultural traditions; This reinforces the idea that cultural preservation is a collective effort that transcends age. 2) The Child archetype in Lily symbolizes new beginnings and the continuity of cultural practices across generations, emphasizing the role of the younger generation in sustaining and revitalizing traditions and reflecting a cyclical pattern of cultural renewal. 3) The Caregiver archetype, embodied by Lily\u27s family, highlights the importance of family support in upholding and transmitting cultural heritage. Together, these archetypes illustrate the interconnectedness of individual and collective efforts in creating narratives with similar themes to ensure the cultural traditions are preserved and passed down to future generations; this demonstrates the powerful role of children\u27s literature in cultural preservation
Negotiating Identity: The Impact of Cultural Displacement, Memory and Adaptation on Children in Haiti is My Home
Get PDFThis research analyzes "Haiti Is My Home" through the framework of Stuart Hall\u27s Cultural Identity Theory (1990), investigating the emotional and psychological impacts of displacement on children, the influence of memory and nostalgia in identity formation, and the varied approaches to adaptation within a novel environment. The narrative centers on Marie, a young girl who is uprooted from Haiti to Boston following a catastrophic earthquake, as she endeavors to acclimate to her new surroundings while her cousin Johanne fully embraces their altered circumstances. The findings indicate: 1) The examination illustrates that displacement profoundly undermines Marie\u27s sense of self. Her emotional and psychological distress is manifest in her struggle to reconcile her past in Haiti with her current reality in Boston, intensing in feelings of alienation and resistance to assimilation. Conversely, Johanne embodies the constructive potential of adaptation, exhibiting resilience and enthusiasm regarding their newfound situation. 2) Memory and nostalgia are crucial in the formation of Marie\u27s identity, as her recollections of Haiti offer comfort, yet simultaneously worsen her alienation from Boston. Sensory stimuli, such as the aroma of familiar cuisine, tether Marie to her past, complicating her adjustment to her new environment. 3) The contrasting behaviors of Marie and Johanne underscore the varied ways in which individuals cope with displacement, illustrating that adaptation is shaped by both individual experiences and emotional connections to prior contexts. This suggests that cultural identity is constructed and shaped and continually redefined, especially in the context of displacement and migration. The narrative\u27s exploration of the issue of cultural dislocation highlights that identity is not static but is continuously reshaped in response to emerging realities
Challenging the \u27Dumb Blonde\u27 Stereotype: A Feminist and Intersectional Analysis of Gender and Professionalism in Legally Blonde (2001) Movie
Get PDFThis study examines how Legally Blonde (2001) depicts femininity using a qualitative content analysis: intelligence, and gender dynamics by applying feminist criticism, gender performativity by Judith Butler (1990) and intersectionality frameworks by Kimberlé Crenshaw (1991). In addition, the elements of the visual narratives (cinematography), such as: camerawork, tones of colors were analyzed. As the result: 1) It reveals how the movie subverts traditional gender stereotypes by showing Elle Woods’ transformation from being perceived as a “dumb blonde” to a competent lawyer, challenging societal expectations that femininity equates to a lack of intelligence. 2) It highlights the challenges women face in male-dominated professions, as seen in Elle’s experience navigating Harvard Law School while maintaining her feminine identity. 3) It focuses on how Elle’s success illustrates that professional competence and femininity are not mutually exclusive, as her journey critiques the rigid expectations placed on women in professional spaces. This research offers a detailed perspective on gender roles in media, highlighting how movies can either question or uphold societal expectations related to gender and career achievement
Deconstructing Power Relation in An Illustrated Children’s Storybook How Turtle Got His Shell, Why Tiger Can’t Climb Trees
Get PDFThis paper investigates the power relations present in the children\u27s narrative "How Turtle Got His Shell, Why Tigers Can\u27t Climb Trees" through the framework of Michel Foucault\u27s concepts regarding power, discipline, and resistance. The research utilized a qualitative approach, encompassing meticulous textual analysis and content examination, to discern and evaluate occurrences of power-related issues portrayed within the tale. Additionally, the illustrative components pertinent to these critical themes were subjected to scrutiny. By categorizing elements of power and resistance in a binary framework, the study affords a nuanced comprehension of the interplay between these factors within the narrative. The findings reveal: 1) Both narratives exemplify the manner in which power is manifested through hierarchical systems and regulatory practices, while simultaneously highlighting the intrinsic resistance that emerges within these power structures. 2) The selective distribution of knowledge in "How Turtle Got His Shell, Why Tiger Can’t Climb Trees" exemplifies Foucault\u27s assertion that knowledge is intertwined with power, whereby those in positions of authority utilize it to uphold control alongside resistance. 3) The narratives reflect the dynamics of power relations in multicultural contexts, where dominant and subordinate groups interact, often leading to both subtle and overt forms of resistance. The findings emphasize the importance of critical engagement with children\u27s stories to understand power dynamics and their impact on young readers. This illustrated children’s storybook serves as a poignant example of how children\u27s literature can reflect real-life power struggles and societal issues. This research highlights the need for literature that nurtures a child\u27s development and fosters a healthy sense of responsibility and respect within their communities