Dissertation Information for Lauren K. WatelNAME:
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SCHOOL: ADVISORS: COMMITTEE MEMBERS: MPACT Status: Fully Complete Title: In the Family Way: Pregnancy in Contemporary Hollywood Cinema Abstract: My dissertation examines representations of pregnancy in contemporary Hollywood cinema. I argue that because contemporary Hollywood films make use of a trope of pregnancy that was formulated in response to secrecy and taboo, they cannot help but subtly reinforce the notion that women's lived experiences of pregnancy are still a taboo subject for mainstream cinematic representation. On the one hand, the films consistently link pregnancy with illness and death. On the other hand, the films consistently portray pregnancy as a redemptive plot element that inspires, and often forces, characters to become more caring, more connected with others, and more in touch with their emotions. I articulate the protagonists' dramatic metamorphoses as a shift in gender, from a gendering predicated on masculine autonomy and control to a more balanced gendering that emphasized the feminine attributes of caring and connection. Understanding the pregnant body as both pathological and redemptive allows contemporary Hollywood films to appear to address pregnancy while continuing to marginalize it. |
MPACT Scores for Lauren K. WatelA = 0 Advisors and Advisees Graph |