Nodiaus DiTonno

Abstract:

In my undergrad thesis, I analyze 4 movies by using the methods of close reading paired with intersectional feminist theoretical analysis to further investigate the scopes of feminism utilized when labeling these films “feminist” under this contemporary horror subgenre. Film journalists, movie critics, and filmmakers are not only equating limited scopes to exclusive forms of feminism, but are shaping a harmful narrative of what feminism is supposed to look like. The common trend I’ve seen when it comes to the films under the subgenre of “feminist horror” is that they fall under the scope of white western capitalist “neoliberal” (Rottenburg, 2018) feminism that focuses on individualism. The aspects of these films that are deemed as “feminist” are limited to: sex positivity, middle class representation which further perpetuates the cliche home invasion trope, individualism rather than collectivism, and equating capitalist ideology to feminist empowerment. Another complication this is creating is that if people who are unfamiliar with, have discourse with some of these aspects, or further spread this narrative see contemporary feminist horror movies as something that solely represents white western neoliberal feminism.