Graduation Term

2017

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

School of Communication

Committee Chair

Phil Chidester

Abstract

This thesis examines gender performance and its relation to power in the television series Once Upon a Time (OUAT). On the surface, OUAT is a television show that constantly challenges the culturally-ingrained gender norms often found in fairy tales, as it creates new storylines for traditional fairy tales. This warrants a deeper examination of the series to understand if and how it is subverting these typical gender norms. To fully understand how gender operates in OUAT, I examined how gender affects and is affected by hegemony in the show and how this relates to our cultural understanding of gender and power. Using the narrative paradigm as a lens, I examined two character arcs for six different characters to determine the relationship between power and gender in the series. I found that OUAT actually reinforces hegemonic gender norms through regulation of appearance, traits and skills, and unequal distribution of power.

Access Type

Thesis-Open Access

DOI

http://doi.org/10.30707/ETD2017.Mahler.M

Download

Share

COinS