The visual representation of female masculinity in Marvel and DC comic books

Abstract

This thesis seeks to understand the visual representation of female masculinity in Marvel and DC comic books, and further contribute to the fields of linguistics and gender studies. The subject matter discussed issues around gender identity, masculinity, and visual representation. Currently, there is a lack of literature available on the subject matter of female masculinity in comic books, therefore creating a gap in knowledge about how women are being represented in comic books. The goal of this thesis was to contribute to this knowledge, and in doing so, further adding more knowledge about the subject matter for future researchers in the field. The theoretical framework included a diverse approach of social theories and perspectives, namely: Multimodal Discourse Analysis, Intertextuality, Dialogicality, and Queer Theory. The goals of this thesis were to understand the various modes used in the representation of female masculinity that have evolved over time, and how these modes contribute to developing characters who challenge the traditional gender norms and rules. The data that was used for this thesis was collected from comic books in which female characters are in leading roles, namely Captain Marvel (Carol Danvers) and Wonder Woman.