Is feminism outdated?: An examination of societal roles of women in popular films
LE3 .A278 2010
2010
Pyrcz, Greg
Acadia University
Bachelor of Arts
Honours
Political Science
Politics
This thesis examines the role that feminism can occupy in modern popular culture. I argue that within pop culture, specifically films directed towards women, feminism is presented as being outdated. This idea is called post- feminism. The purpose of this is to assert that the goals of feminism are outdated and no longer necessary in modern society. I assert that, within contemporary culture, the ideals of feminism are being subverted in order to further the idea that women should embrace traditional desires, such as marriage and families, over other personal or career desires. This thesis argues that this message is sent to the masses through films. Films are an important medium within culture, as in order to be successful and resonate with the audience, they must contain a relevant message about society. This thesis examines the post- feminism movement within films that are specifically directed towards women, referred to as chick flicks. The two films examined within this thesis are Sex and the City: the Movie ( 2008) and The Proposal ( 2009). These films are ones with a female protagonist in an overtly emotional storyline. I argue that the presence of post- feminism within these films ultimately encourages women to abandon the ideals of feminism.
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https://scholar.acadiau.ca/islandora/object/theses:685