Gender, Sex and Representation

Running Head : Gender , Sex and Representation in the Superman Action Comics

Gender , Sex and Representation in the Superman Action Comics

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Gender , Sex and Representation in the Superman Action Comics

Abstract

In the modern literary world , writings both classic and modern are interpreted with their feministic undercurrents in themes and language Same is the case with the graphic novels among which the action series are more questioned than any other subgenre because of their element of gender discrimination in terms of power and representation

. This after succinctly providing the background og feminist criticism points out the thematic , linguistic and graphical aspects of the superman series in the light of feminist theory

Introduction

Pieces of literature are continuously interpreted in different frames of thought ever since their origin . It was in the late 1970s that the feministic theory had established strongly to introduce feministic critique of literature in terms of the literary themes as well as the language used by the authors . Novels like Pride and Prejudice are continuously questioned for the aspect of feminism harping in the background . In this scenario the graphic novels have greatly captured the interest of feminist critics because this genre not only provides the dialogue and themes to be interpreted in a feministic viewpoint but also offers a range of images that can be interpreted to have sexist connotations

Gender , Sex and Representation in the Superman Action Comics

Superman series among many other graphic novels is fundamentally gender based in its theme as the protagonist having the ultimate power is a male character . According to Simone de Beauvoir 's , one of the founders of feminist criticism , it is the association of males with the superior human qualities that relegates the female characters to an inferior position . In the case of Superman series , the qualities associated to the male character are not just superior but superhuman . The same point also elucidates the decision of the author to keep the female character as a part of the background . According to Judith Fetterley the very fact of not being properly acknowledged in the literature portrays the powerlessness of the female character intentionally made by the author (Oppermann , S .T : 1994

The excerpt also provides a good example of gender stereotyping creating unchanging beliefs about the role and abilities of males and females . In this regard some of the attributes associated with women are submissiveness , quietness and clumsiness etc . on the other hand the attributes of men are loudness , aggressiveness and athleticism etc (Aksu , B : 2005 . On page no . 11 of the chosen excerpt , the superman by saving Lois is stereotypically associated with the attributes of courage and power . His words ( I 'd advise you not to print this little episode ) directed to Lois are not responded thereby implying the attribute of submissiveness and quietness on the part of the female character . In the very next scene the female character is shown to be doing exactly the opposite of what she had been...