Abstract

The purpose of this study is to compare the portrayal of a common female character between two superhero films, one directed by a man and the other by a woman, to observe how the gender of the director impacts the portrayal of said female character. This is particularly important for blockbuster Hollywood films, as they will be received by a wide audience internationally, and thus heavily influence other films in and outside of the genre. Using comparative film analysis through the lens of feminist film theory, this study analyzes the character Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie) in the films Suicide Squad (Ayer, 2016) and Birds of Prey: (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn) (Yan, 2020). Delving into topics such as agency, character depth, gender stereotypes, and sexualization, this study breaks down how each film handles these topics in reference to Quinn, citing director input through interviews and specific examples/scenes from each film. The findings of this project allow for a discussion on how male directors might better portray female characters within cinema, both in and outside of the superhero genre, by highlighting the positive examples of Quinn’s portrayal by each director while still pointing out the more negative differences, especially in terms of sexuality and sexualization.

Advisor

Nikoi, Nii

Department

Global Media and Digital Studies

Disciplines

Feminist, Gender, and Sexuality Studies | Film and Media Studies | Other Film and Media Studies | Visual Studies | Women's Studies

Keywords

Feminist film theory, agency, sexualization, gender stereotypes, Harley Quinn, Suicide Squad, Birds of Prey, film analysis, comparative analysis

Publication Date

2024

Degree Granted

Bachelor of Arts

Document Type

Senior Independent Study Thesis

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