Citation

Luisi T. J. Child. Media 2019; 13(1): 20-35.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2019, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

10.1080/17482798.2018.1513852

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The following qualitative textual analysis examined female characters within the Toy Story trilogy and used grounded theory to explore themes between female characters and male characters based on their interactions. The study, built upon past literature in gaze theory, revealed six distinct interaction themes between female and male characters.

FINDINGS included that female characters were often emotionally supportive of male characters, were lusted after by male characters, were romantically aggressive towards male characters, and were paired with male characters at the conclusion of each film. Changes in themes throughout the trilogy and the presence of these themes in children's media, and in relation to existing theory, are also discussed.

Language: en

Keywords

children’s media; gendered interaction themes; male gaze; Pixar; symbolic annihilation; Toy Story