Literature Review of Exploring the transformation of female characters in superhero movies

            The literature review is based on the summary and review of secondary and primary research studies. The research will include maximum information about female character transformation in superhero films because of certain factors including time duration, cultural norms and values, and feminism.

             In accordance with the research study conducted to explore female characters, films have the power to bring changes in the norms and values of society by discussing these issues in the films (Kuhn, 1994). Particularly, films have influence over the concepts of race, gender, and human classes in society. Films as a source of entertainment engage the attention of people and share their ways of thinking about different aspects and artifacts of culture (Laura, 1999).

            According to the research findings, films support the creation of female role models in the society (Eppler, 2018). Researcher emphasis that female leading role presented in the films is also used as a way of spiritual therapy for many females. Female supporting feminism admire the female roles leading in the superhero and action movies.   Research findings of this research study support the idea that feminism and cultural norms encourage the transformation of female characters in superhero films (Eppler, 2018).

              Female roles are not always projected as positive roles. Most of the time films show psychoanalytic and project sexist ideologies. Female roles in male based films are supportive of gender discrimination and man power (Lindgren & Lelievre, 2009). Curvy figures and tight clothes of the female are given more importance in male dominated films. Male spectator pleasures and male gazes at female bodies shows that in these films female role is not a source to make meaning in the film but it is the image of meaning in these kinds of movies (Lindgren & Lelievre, 2009). Research findings support the idea that in male dominating movies and male’s superhero movies female characters are modified and transformed because of the trends and interests of movie viewers. Movie viewer’s interest and requirements can influence film genre and female role in the movies. Research findings relate to the present research study as it projects another possible reason for female character transformation in superhero films (Lindgren & Lelievre, 2009).

           Hillary Chute is one of the major voices of comic book scholarship, and she has argued that in literary studies there are several fields and diverse dialogues. The distinction remains in the nonfiction graphic novels for the genre nonfiction and the comic book format of the autobiographical works (Fretheim, 2017). A significant theoretical topic is taking more attention in which the role of female characters is presented, and studies considers single female superhero. The best example of single female superhero is Wonder Women. In the literature, the researchers identified the comparable attributes of one female superhero corresponding to the male superhero (Fretheim, 2017).

             The research identified significant lack in the readership in terms of the extending psychoanalytic elements and feminism. The influence of female superhero is contemporary in society and forces consequences are higher for the theoretical discourse. The literary criticism is higher on the female superhero regarding the arguments of gender binaries, sex, and identity of the comic character (Fretheim, 2017). The frequently referred superhero characters are superman and batman while Wonder Woman is unique in terms of the complex and original character. Another character is She-Hulk that represents female superhero character. There are number of female superheroes characters and the list includes Supergirl, Spider woman, Batwoman, and Ms. Marvel. The character of she-hulk represents association of different features for the monstrous feminine (Fretheim, 2017).   

              Another research study presented by Kuhn supports the idea that female role and characters are usually presented as visual accessories (Mann & J.Haffman, 2005). According to research findings, Hollywood films reflect the man and woman world as two different types of worlds. In female focused films, they have given strength to the female roles while other than this Hollywood use female characters as the source of entertainment for male characters in the films that give pleasure to male viewers (Mann & J.Haffman, 2005).

           Films give stress on the importance of woman representations in the movies to reflect the cultural values and social desires. Normally, in the societies males have a dominating role as compared to the female. There is a huge difference between the ratio of total powerful and independent males and females (David, 2017; Hu, 2019). Research claim that film shows a real projection of society. Concluding the research findings female character transformation in superhero films are mainly caused by the changes in social desires and reflection of cultural values in the films.  

               Another research study conducted by Martin in 2007 presents that children get influence from the female roles presented in the children rooms. Particularly, teenage girls idealize the female roles presented by these superhero movies (Martin, 2007). Female superhero movies show how female take responsibilities and work as an independent character to solve problems presented to them in the movies. Research article also discussed an example of X-Men movie that includes around 6-7 female characters dealing with different situations (Martin, 2007). Research findings conclude that female viewers and children supported and highly liked these characters that are evidence that these characters were shaped in accordance with the interest of children particularly girls. Relating these research findings with our research topic we can say that this information will be useful for our research study to throw light on the factors and reasons that are contributing in the transformation of female characters in the superhero movies (Itzkoff, 2019; Barrett, 2018).

           A research study conducted on the female characters in the films shows that feminism and its influence on the films are clearly projected in the female characters of superhero films. Female dominating and powerful role is the clear projection of feminism concepts in society (Stankiewicz & Rosselli, 2008). Research also discussed how in action films females’ fight bravely against male and show athletic skills shows the impact of feminism power on films.

            Moreover, the research study also discussed that female role or character is shaped in two ways. At the first, films capture female hero as compared to feminine qualities including empathy, physical beauty, and sexy (hot) appearance in the movies. While on the other hand, female superhero movies also project the characteristics of female hero influenced by feminism concept (Jones, 2018). For instance, the physical strength of female to fight against male characters, and female intelligence level to dominate the supportive male characters (Lightworkers. com, 2019).     

            Sawyer and Kinnunen conducted research studies on the comic books on female character (for children). In accordance with their research findings female roles in the films and comic books are characterized by keeping the interest and psychological needs of the audience. Superhero films are mostly viewed by the young generation, therefore, these characters are developed according to their intellectual and intelligence level (Kinnunen, 2016; Sawyer, 2014). Desires and interest of viewers is a social factor that is influenced by cultural values and overall perception of society. Feminism based culture in society encourage the film makers to make films with dominating female characters. Summarizing the whole discussion and relating these findings with the research we can conclude that Sawyer and Kinnunen both support the idea that feminism is a major factor behind the transformation of female characters in the superhero movies (Sawyer, 2014; Kinnunen, 2016).

 REFERENCES OF of Exploring the transformation of female characters in superhero movies 

Barrett, G.-m., 2018. Marvel feminism: Real or comic fantasy?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-44643477

BOGAROSH, N. A., 2013. THE PRINCESS, THE DAMSEL, AND THE SIDEKICK: WOMEN AS THE “OTHER” IN POPULAR FILMS (2000-2011). [Online]
Available at: https://research.wsulibs.wsu.edu:8443/xmlui/bitstream/handle/2376/4938/Bogarosh_wsu_0251E_10818.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Curtis, N. & Cardo, V., 2018. Superhero comics and third wave feminism. Feminist Media Studies, 18(03), pp. 763-780.

David, A., 2017. Opinion Despite Wonder Woman’s Success, the Superhero Universe Is Still a Man’s World. [Online]
Available at: https://www.haaretz.com/opinion/don-t-be-fooled-by-wonder-woman-1.5480031

Eppler, C., 2018. Women's Perceptions of Using Short Films to Integrate Spirituality in Therapy. Journal of Systemic Therapies, 37(04), pp. 68-80.

Fretheim, I. M., 2017. Fantastic Feminism: Female Characters in Superhero Comic Books. [Online]
Available at: https://www.duo.uio.no/bitstream/handle/10852/57781/fretheim-master-finished.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

Hu, J., 2019. Higher, Further, Faster: Does ‘Captain Marvel’ Deliver on the Potential of a Female Superhero?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.theringer.com/movies/2019/3/12/18262125/captain-marvel-movie-feminist-superhero-wonder-woman-black-panther

Itzkoff, D., 2019. Can ‘Captain Marvel’ Fix Marvel’s Woman Problem?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/28/movies/captain-marvel.html

Jones, P., 2018. Diana in the World of Men: a character network approach to analysing gendered vocal representation in Wonder Woman. Feminist Media Studies, 01(01), pp. 01-10.

Kinnunen, J., 2016. BADASS BITCHES, DAMSELS IN DISTRESS, OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN?: Representation of female characters in superhero action films. Pro Gradu, 01(01), pp. 01-10.

Kuhn, A., 1994. Women's Picture; Feminism and Cinema. In: New York : Verso, p. 285.

Laura, M., 1999. Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema. Film Theory and Criticism : Introductory Readings, 01(01), pp. 833-844.

Lightworkers. com, 2019. ‘Captain Marvel’: Is a Superhero Movie About a Woman Automatically Feminist?. [Online]
Available at: https://www.lightworkers.com/captain-marvel-feminist/

Lindgren, S. & Lelievre, M., 2009. In the laboratory of masculinity: Renegotiating gender subjectivities in MTV’s Jackass.. Critical Studies in Media Communication, 26(05), pp. 393-410.

Mann, S. A. & J.Haffman, D., 2005. The Decentering of Second Wave Feminism and the Rise of the Third Wave*. Science & Society, 69(01), pp. 56-91.

Martin, J. F., 2007. Children’s attitudes toward superheroes as a potential indicator of their moral understanding. Journal of Moral Education, 36(2), pp. 239-250.

O’Meara, J., 2016. What “The Bechdel Test” doesn’t tell us: examining women’s verbal and vocal (dis)empowerment in cinema. Feminist Media Studies, 16(06), pp. 1-4.

Sawyer, E. A., 2014. POSTFEMINISM IN FEMALE TEAM SUPERHERO COMIC BOOKS. [Online]
Available at: https://collections.lib.utah.edu/dl_files/a5/e4/a5e47a20c4f348abf9031f20a5e4576ae5e2ae3a.pdf

Shackelford, A., 2013. The Grim Reality of Female Characters in Superhero Films. [Online]
Available at: https://everydayfeminism.com/2013/11/female-characters-superhero-films/

Stankiewicz, J. & Rosselli, F., 2008. Women as sex objects and victims in advertisment. Sex roles, 58(01), pp. 579-589.