Historical Texts

Superman: The movie. 1978.
Based on the DC comics character: Superman
Directed by Richard Donner.
Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures.
Budget: 55 million (est)

Superman: Shown are very masculine and strong.
High angle shot used to portray superman as superior and strong.
Lois Lane: dies in the end - weak subirdinate character - falls in love with the hero.
Superman wears tight clothing - could indicate female gaze - showing the male character as a sex object (casino royale)
Baudrillard (in Seduction, 1990) - "Men, too, are seducers - a male version of the perfect provocateur. The ideal man in ads in young, handsome, clean cut and sexually alluring."
Anthony Cortese - "Women are often shown as the "perfect provocateur" (Ibid.: 54):
Cortese - "Today's man has pumped his pecs and shoulders and exhibits well-defined abs..." (Ibid.: 58)


WonderWoman - 1976
Fictional DC Comics superheroine
Created by: William Moulton Marston
First appearance: 1941
Abilities: Speed, superhuman strength, flight, regeneration (similar to claire)
ability to descern truth, resistance to magic.
Wearing skimy clothing to show shes still shown as a sex object - conforming to the stereotype.


Lois and Clark - The New Adventures of Superman
First aired on ABC between 1993 - 1997.
More focus placed on the relationship on Clark Kent and Lois Lane, rather than Clarks alter ego.
Reinforces the gender roles of the two main characters. Clark being the hero, and Lois falling in love with superman and often being saved by him. Not shown to have a powerful role.


Thelma and Louise
Released in 1991
By Ridlet Scott
Written by: Callie Khouri
Thelma - passive housewife, married to a controlling husband
Louise - single, strong minded woman, who has had her own past.
Breaking the stereotype of men taking a road trip.
Shows the changing role of women.