This post discusses the evolving portrayal of female characters in movies.
“Black Rose” and “Elevator Girl” are examples of two films that depict female characters in different social classes. The female protagonists in “Black Rose” represents the working-class desire for a more empathetic and justice-driven upper class, while the protagonist in “Elevator Girl” shows autonomy despite the patriarchal expectations of traditional Chinese society. By endowing female characters with beauty, intelligence, and physical strength, both films demonstrate the rise of female consciousness and the rejection of females as the stereotypical sexualized subject. However, as urban spaces transformed and the male gaze took over, male heroes in martial arts and action genres eventually replaced the female protagonists.
In contrast, American films have shown a persistent trend of rising femininity. While Snow White (1937) and Sleeping Beauty (1959) depicted princesses waiting to be rescued by the prince, The Little Mermaid (1989) and Beauty and the Beast (1991) showed princesses taking the initiative to pursue their mates. In Frozen (2013) and Frozen 2 (2019), the theme of love was replaced by the adventure and growth of princesses into queens, embodying the pursuit of independence, freedom, and equality for women.
Bai Qingyu 3035693480
Good analysis on the portrayal of female characters in the mentioned movies. More elaboration on the connection between urban spaces and the male gaze would help elucidate your point more clearly. I appreciate your comparison between Asian and Western depiction of female characters, but the choice of examples can be more deliberate so it draws a stronger comparative reading with “Black Rose” and “Elevator Girl”.