Wonder Woman in Early Comic Books vs. Wonder Woman in Film
Wonder Woman, an iconic figure has undergone significant transformations in her appearance across numerous eras. My analysis compares and contrasts two versions of Wonder Woman: her depiction in comic books, particularly in the 1980s, and her portrayal in recent films, specifically the films in the 2020s. Using scholarly sources, my discussion explores the masculine and feminine characteristics associated with Wonder Woman in both forms of media, their impact on social expectations, and the psychological effects they may have on the viewers.
Wonder Woman, created by William Moulton Marston in 1941, embodies strength, justice, and empowerment. Her original form as a warrior princess from the Amazonian island of Themyscira, showcases superhuman abilities. In comic books, she represents hope and equality, this is a blend of stereotypical compassion and empathy with male like leadership and courage.
In comparison, Wonder Woman in films, especially in the films from the 2020s, offers a more balanced portrayal. The films dive into her role as a cultural icon and her impact on society, addressing issues like feminism and gender equality.
In the early comic books, particularly during the 1980s, Wonder Woman is characterized by physical strength, combat skills, and a sense of justice. She balances feminine morals such as compassion and nurturing with masculine traits like assertiveness and courage. These attributes are essential for her role as a superhero and symbolize the different characteristics of feminine and masculine ideas.
In films, the 2020s interpretation of Wonder Woman has her iconic attributes. This portrays her character, making her more relatable. Additionally, the films explore her relationships, personal struggles, and many dilemmas, further enhancing her as a character.
The construction of Wonder Woman’s attributes in both comic books and films reflects a blend of traditional masculine and feminine qualities. In comic books, her physical prowess and combat skills align with traditional masculine ideals of strength and power, while her compassion and empathy represent feminine virtues of nurturing and caring.
Similarly, in films, while Wonder Woman retains her physical strength and combat abilities, her emotional depth and vulnerability challenge traditional notions of masculinity, highlighting the importance of empathy and self-awareness. This nuanced portrayal subverts gender stereotypes and promotes a more inclusive and progressive understanding of femininity.
The depiction of Wonder Woman in both comic books and films demonstrates the constructed masculine and feminine through her multifaceted character traits and actions. In comic books, her ability to balance strength with compassion exemplifies the integration of masculine and feminine attributes, reinforcing the idea that true empowerment comes from embracing both aspects of one’s identity.
In films, Wonder Woman’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment challenges the expectations of gender roles and encourages viewers to rethink what it means to be masculine and feminine. Her portrayal as a strong hero sends a powerful message to many young female viewers
The portrayal of Wonder Woman in both the comics and the films influences real-life expectations by providing the viewer with a positive female character to look up to. By showcasing a strong female character with a wide range of traits, including both masculine and feminine, Wonder Woman challenges traditional gender norms and gives the viewer a sense of individuality.
Over time, Wonder Woman has evolved to reflect and challenge cultural and societal norms. In comic books, her character has become more complex, reflecting the growing changes in society on female inclusion and inner strength that wasn’t always a highly looked upon characteristic for a female character. Similarly, in films, such as the 2020s interpretation of Wonder Woman; they represent a drastic change from previous views about wonder women, portraying a softer version of the character and more concentration on the inner more sensitive characteristics.
Therefore speaking, the comparison between Wonder Woman in comic books and films reveals the changes over time of her character across different media. My critical analysis of said media and numerous scholarly sources, highlights the masculine and feminine characteristics of Wonder Woman and the impact she had on societal expectations and how these might have affected the viewers. Overall, Wonder Woman provides a powerful symbol of empowerment, inspiring audiences, especially of the female audience, to embrace their unique attributes whether that be of a more masculine or that of the feminine type.
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Cocca, Carolyn. 2020. Wonder Woman and Captain Marvel: Militarism and Feminism in Comics and Film. Google Books. Routledge. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=i2LyDwAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PT8&dq=wonder+woman+from+comic+book+to+films&ots=3UO3Ci7GW8&sig=VI7hBfruwZDCkOzyHElvoxxcagQ&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wonder%20woman%20from%20comic%20book%20to%20films&f=false.
Kirby, Philip. 2018. “Battle Scars: Wonder Woman, Aesthetic Geopolitics and Disfigurement in Hollywood Film.” Geopolitics 25 (4): 1–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/14650045.2018.1510389.
Robinson, Lillian. 2004. Wonder Women: Feminisms and Superheroes. Google Books. Routledge. https://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&lr=&id=R0CTAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=wonder+woman+from+comic+book+to+films&ots=NlSBa3v6sD&sig=BpH3-Nz9pY5bWFKCN6KtcEYEbjI&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=wonder%20woman%20from%20comic%20book%20to%20films&f=false.
Peyton Grant
Jayden did an excellent job comparing and contrasting early comic book Wonder Woman to modern film Wonder Woman. I liked how Jayden explained Wonder Woman’s evolution in terms of being relatable to the audience. Jayden is able to critically assess and articulate both interpretations of the character. Jayden also compares and contrasts Wonder Woman’s attributes that make her the character she is. I also enjoyed Jayden’s exploration of Wonder Woman’s break through of gender norms, which he touches on various times making it clear this was a focal point of the character both then and now. Jayden’s main points consist of first describing Wonder Woman and her evolution and describing comic book and film Wonder Woman. Jayden also makes sure to touch on the similarities both iterations of the characters share, showing what attributes have not changed. Jayden then concludes by comparing and contrasting the attributes of both, along with the social norms of both, even touching on the ways that society can be influenced by Wonder Woman’s interpretations. Jayden does not outwardly cite his scholarly sources in the text, along with not quoting or using passages from sources, though he does make reference to them. The only main thing I can see Jayden missed was the edition of in text citations, he still does have scholarly sources however they are in the bibliography only. The two images did indeed illustrate Jayden’s discussion. Jayden attached both a comic book cover of Wonder Woman along with an image of Gal Gadot’s interpretation of the character.