CEU Electronic Theses and Dissertations, 2023
| Author | Oldham, Evelyn |
|---|---|
| Title | "Justice!": Representations of Romani Women in the Walt Disney Pictures' Adaptation of The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996) |
| Summary | This paper utilizes a critical feminist discourse analysis in combination with a feminist film critique and feminist art criticism, in order to create a multi-faceted analysis of the Walt Disney Pictures’ 1996 animated children’s film, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, to contend with its representations of Romani women. Drawing on Black feminist thought and an intersectional critique of the film’s depictions, this analysis considers how both racialization and sexualization shape Romani women as women of color in film. The paper further considers how stereotypes about and archetypes of Romani women in particular, and women of color more generally, are utilized as the often unchallenged totality of Romani women, particularly the further that these characters are from the main character position. The placement of Esmeralda - as the secondary main character and therefore lead Roma and woman - offers a wider breadth of roles which Romani women can fulfill, with deeper thematic purpose and characterization, though she does not escape the confines imposed by the intersection of her race and gender in how she was designed, animated, characterized, and ultimately produced. Alternative ways of conceiving of and portraying Romani women are, however, presented in the next, and a way forward is offered in the form of future collaborations that could generate female Romani characters with more nuance and depth. |
| Supervisor | Kóczé, Angéla |
| Department | Gender Studies MA |
| Full text | https://www.etd.ceu.edu/2023/oldham_evelyn.pdf |
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