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Texas Tech University

URC 2023 Abstract

Trinity Hoover

A Directed Content Analysis: Is Twilight a Fairy Tale?

This is a Femistisit directed content analysis of Twilight in reference to the Fairy tail theme. The film's main characters, Bella and Edward, are white and heterosexual, fulfilling the prototypical storyline that advances gendered stereotypical traits (Cooks et al., 1993). Common themes throughout the film included Edward saving Bella several times, portraying her as weak and unable to take care of herself. Bella also overlooks Edward's negative male characteristics of dominance, violence, and stalking behaviors. Other common fairy tale tropes included in this film were villains, magical attraction. Bella is seen as an object, literally as food, as a commodity as she is special and needs to be protected, and she is a child who needs to be told what to do. Overall, this film reinforces the fairy tale theme as these stereotypes push the idea that Bella's passive personality and fragile sense of self are compatible with the dominant traits of Edward, who shapes and molds every aspect of Bella while they are in a relationship. This is important because films are an important part of family bonding and are an important part of how we perceive the family unit and creation of it.

Presenter: 326

Trinity Hoover Junior College of Arts & Sciences Texas Tech University Affiliations: TrUE Project/Travel Funding Recipient

Abstract: A2326

Impact Area: Creativity & Culture; Commercialization

Session: 2, Frazier Alumni Pavilion

Project Author(s)

Trinity Hoover

Mentor

Shera Jackson HDFS College of Human Sciences